B17 losses 2 march 1945

[Horst Weber]

Originally Posted by wise62

Hi,

12 USAAF b17 have been lost the 2 march 1945, 10 above Germany, Austria and Czecoslovakia macr 12812,12847,12851,12852,12853,12855,12856,12857,12 858,12859
2 into the Channel (macr 12846 - 12848).

The same day, around 15h00 am (french time) a b17 exploded over the village of St Inglevert (Northern France - between Calais and Marquise - along the coast). One of its engine felt on a house, killing a young woman.
This engine has just been unearthed this year and is a Wright cyclone, a little part is marked Boeing.
From an old witness, an airman may have been have found, unopened chute, dead.

However not one of the above has been found in this french area.

Is there another possible B17 bomber?

Thanks for help

Wise62

not one of the planes above corresponds to this event

Good evening wise62

This day, 1st AD attacked on it's mission oil-targets in East-Germany refinery-areas and had an extraordinary amount of losses class FTR LOC (Failed to return, loss ocured behind friendly lines). This means, that the aircraft didn't make it to it's home base, but somewhere in allied territory, between the German hold territory and the home base it landed, in which condition ever.

Under these circumstances, no MACR was compiled, since the USAAF received quickly information, what happened to the crew and the aircraft.

This 2nd March 1945, 1st Air Division had 15 incidents like that. Close candidates for your accident are:

- 92nd BG, 327th BS, B-17G-95-BO s/n 43-38853, salvaged 17 March 45
- 351st BG, 509th BS, B-17G-80-BO s/n 43-38116, on March 3rd to
2nd Strategic Air Depot, salvaged March 4th 1945.
- 398th BG, 603rd BS, B-17G-45-BO s/n 42-97313, salvaged 14 April 45

This incidents could match up with your description of the reports for that day. All other B-17 FTR-LOC incidents that day are not really matching up, since the particular unit regained in March or April 1945 their a/c, which went FTR-LOC that 2nd March 1945.


Hope this helps

Best wishes !

Horst Weber

[Frank Olynyk]

Wise62,

MACRs contain the aircraft engine serial number(s). Whether anyone has indexed these I do not know. But if you can locate the serial number on the recovered Wright Cyclone engine, someone may be able to find the corresponding MACR. Assuming there is such a MACR.

Enjoy!

Frank.

[vathra]

Originally Posted by Horst Weber

This day, 1st AD attacked on it's mission oil-targets in East-Germany refinery-areas and had an extraordinary amount of losses class FTR LOC (Failed to return, loss ocured behind friendly lines). This means, that the aircraft didn't make it to it's home base, but somewhere in allied territory, between the German hold territory and the home base it landed, in which condition ever.

Under these circumstances, no MACR was compiled, since the USAAF received quickly information, what happened to the crew and the aircraft.

Horst,

one question regarding losses where no MACR was made.
I have found some 30 cases of B-17 and B-24 that fell in Yugoslavia, and MACR was not made since all crew was quickly evacuated through allied missions. Since it was behind enemy lines, Escapa statements was made.

In that case, was there any document made that contains serial numbers of engine, MG and plane?

[Horst Weber]

Originally Posted by vathra

Horst,

one question regarding losses where no MACR was made.
I have found some 30 cases of B-17 and B-24 that fell in Yugoslavia, and MACR was not made since all crew was quickly evacuated through allied missions. Since it was behind enemy lines, Escapa statements was made.

In that case, was there any document made that contains serial numbers of engine, MG and plane?

I really don't know, since I haven't seen one yet. But you surely find this data in lists for the technical/maintenance branches of the units prior each mission.
For the engines, you need the a/c AAF s/n and the installed engine-s/n to track down by the flying hours the engine's next inspection. Perhaps, something like that existed for the MG, too.

But these are files, you may not find, if they still exist, in public archives. Here, I think you must go down to the unit's technical files of the individual a/c.

Best wishes !

Horst Weber