13 April 1944 - B-17 east of Frankfurt am Main

[Flupke]

Hello Rob

There are several B-17 crashed in this area at nearly the same time, do you have a more precise place than E of Frankfurt?

Regards
Phil

[rob van den nieuwendijk]

Hello Phil,

Thanks for your reply - the only data I have is that the B-17 crashed in Planquadrat QT 3 05 Ost S. At about 5.000 metres the Boeing exploded, after five or six crewmembers had baled out. Hope you can idenitfy this bomber.

Regards,
Rob

[Leendert]

Rob,

The "14.03 hrs" claim may point to the one made by Hptm. Heinrich Sannemann of 6./JG3 at that time.
Location of claim is given as Gelnhausen, some 25-30 km east of Frankfurt/Main.
However, actual crash site of B-17 may have been elsewhere

As Phil has written, several B-17s were shot down east of Frankfurt, including near Aschaffenburg.

Groet,

Leendert

[Flupke]

You are probably trying to identify the B-17 shot down by the Hptm Sannemann Heinrich 6./JG 3

Quite difficult to be sure but it should be one of the following

Elmhausen (Grossgumpen??) D-64686 B-17G-20-BO 14:00 KU-1528---Fighters #42-31433 384BG 547BS SO-V "Rum Pot"

Elmhausen ?? D-64686 B-17G-30-DL Fighters #42-38112 384BG 545BS JD-J

Fischbachtal "Messbach" D-64405 B-17G-45-BO 13:45 KU-1540---Fighters #42-97228 384BG 545BS JD-G "G.I. Jive"

Keilberg ,E of Aschaffenburg D-63856 B-17 12:30 KU-1537---Fighters #42-31508 401BG 613BS IN-Q "Command Performance"

Oberelsbach D-97656 B-17 14:00 KU-1524---Fighters #42-37827 351BG 508BS J

Rohrbrunn / Weibersbrunn D-63879 B-17 14:00 KU-1536---Fighters #42-97464 401BG 614BS IW-D

Vielbrunn D-64720 B-17G-45-BO 14:20 KU-1534---Fighters #42-97233 384BG 545BS JD-K

Regards
Phil

[rob van den nieuwendijk]

Hello Phil and Leendert,

Yes, I am trying to identify the claim of Hptm Heinrich Sannemann of 6./JG 3. Thought it would be difficult to identify this one. The only sure fact is that five or six crew members baled out. Hope any of you can tell me which B 17 this might have been. Thanks for your help.

Regards,
Rob

[Leendert]

Rob,

It so happens that majority of crews of the B-17s Phil has mentioned became POW, with max 1 or 2 KIA in each plane.
One exception is 42-38112 with 4 KIA and 6 POW.

This a/c came down near "Elmahausen" according http://384thbombgroup.com/php/One384...ftKey=42-38112

Elmahausen seems not to exist, and nearest come two towns called Elmshausen, but one is north and the other one due south of Frankfurt/Main...

Perhaps a board reader from Germany can bring some light in this matter?

Groet,

Leendert