looking for contacts of the families of the crew of a B-17

[RSwank]

I received the following from the Alain Toppan, the Mayor of Cornebarrieu. Note the ceremony is being planned for Tuesday, May 7, 2024.


Dear Rolland, Dear Gilles,

Please find below the e-mail I have sent to the families.

We could make an update early after New Year. Many thanks for your help !!

Enjoy the end of the year time,

Best regards,

Alain Toppan
Maire de Cornebarrieu

Envoyé de mon iPhone

Début du message transféré :

De: Alain TOPPAN
Date: 18 décembre 2023 à 22:04:58 UTC+1
À: [emails sent to Robert Freeman, Cindy Andrieu and Maryanna Weeks],

Cc: Simone DESLARZES
Objet: 80 years after a B-17 plane crash near Toulouse (France)


Dear All,

On Sunday June 25th, 1944, Mission 441, involving 240 planes, most of them B-17, took off from Nuthamstead (UK). The targets were two german airbases Francazal and Blagnac, near Toulouse in the South-west of France.

Around 9:30 am, one B-17G was shot down by the German flak. It crashed in a field of Cornebarrieu (near Blagnac airport).
Nine men composed the crew. Lieutenant Harold Gnesin was killed in the crash.
The other members :
John K Godwin,
William N Freeman,
Edward D Seward Jr,
John H Wilson,
Merril Butikofer,
Herbert L Brooks,
Chester R Isdahl,
Frank E Jenkins,
were made prisoners and transferred to Germany.
Lieutenant Harold Gnesin was buried on June 26th.

On June 25th, 2000, a ceremony took place in Cornebarrieu with many participants,
20230508_111848.jpg
a day of remembrance. Mrs Isabelle Lesser, sister of H. Gnesin and several crew members were present.

From this date, every year, a ceremony takes place remembering the sacrifice of Harold Gnesin. The ceremony is now coupled with the 8th of May (capitulation of Germany in 1945). Attached is a picture of the 8th of May 2023.

Weeks ago, Ruth Lesser informed us that several members of the family of Harold Gnesin (13 people) will attend the 2024 ceremony that will mark the 80th anniversary of the B-17 crash. This year, the ceremony will very likely be held on 7th of May, in order to have more official people present (on the 8th, they will attend ceremonies in Toulouse, and the 9th is a bank holiday in France).

Being Mayor of Cornebarrieu, I proposed to lead a working group focused on the 2024 ceremony preparation and content.

One very obvious question was emerging : is it possible to contact the relatives of the crew members ? Passionate historians have several very efficient networks and internet forums. They could spot several of you and your e-mail address.

The aim of this long message is very simple : to inform you about the 2024 ceremony and to ask you if you are willing to attend. Don't hesitate to contact me or Simone (in copy of this mail).
She is the President of the USA-France Association in Toulouse and already in contact with Ruth Lesser. She will be in the US next January.

We will keep you informed of the preparation, the plannings, etc. Don't hesitate to ask any question ! Please forward this e-mail to whom it may concern.

Many thanks in advance !

Sincerely,

--


Alain TOPPAN
Maire
Tel. 05 62 13 43 00
Fax. 05 62 13 43 09
www.cornebarrieu.fr
9, avenue de Versailles
31700 Cornebarrieu