Location of Preisenzath/Priensenzath in Germany

[Horst Weber]

Originally Posted by RodM

Hi Wolfgang,

thanks for the suggestion. I think Friesenraht is too far south in this case to be the location.

Hi Horst,

the aircraft was Lancaster KB870, lost on the night of 15-16 March 1945. Four other Lancasters crashed near Krefeld and SE of Krefeld. KB870 likely crashed in a similar area, perhaps W or SW of Krefeld. A surviving crew member estimated they baled out 10 miles east of the Rhine and 15 miles north of München-Gladbach.

The Americans recovered two bodies at the crash site of KB870 and recorded the location as "Preisenzath". The RAF Post-Presumption Memorandum for KB870 states the aircraft crashed at "Priensenzath".

Cheers

Rod

Good evening Rod !

Bill Chorley's book "Bomber Command Losses 1945" states, that LANCASTER KB870 crashed that 15/16 March 1945 in American held territory. The four survivours of the crash were treated by the Americans. Now can be assumed, that the crash site was located in the Netherlands or in Belgium, close to the German border. The term "Prinsenzath" is leading to a Dutch location.

Horst Weber