Two B-17 losses 1945

[Brian]

Hi guys

5 April 1945
B-17 44-8283 34BG (Lt George Mehling + Crew) hit by AA over Nuremburg and again 5-7 miles east of Dunkirk (could the latter have beeni friendly fire?)

7 May 1945
B-17 44-8640 334BG (Lt Lionel Sceurman + crew) hit by AA fire and crashed into Channel (could this have been friendly fire at this late date?)

Cheers
Brian

[Bill Walker]

The Germans held and actively defended Dunkirk right up to VE day. An RCAF squadron lost a Dakota that strayed over Dunkirk late in the war as well.

[Brian]

Thanks for the reminder, Bill

Much appreciated
Brian

[Laurent Rizzotti]

More details on the first loss:

Mission #158 April 5, 1945 B-17G 44-8283 B/G “Dinah-Mite”Missing in Action Nuremburg flak. At bombs away, one bomb hug up on one end of the shackle. The plane left formation and began trailing behind, eventually losing sight of formation due to low visibility. Crossing the coast 5-7 miles East of Dunkirk, flak and machine gun fire hit the plane, seriously wounding Harris (B). A fire broke out behind #2 engine and the left alerion was shot out. Share (R) was also wounded. Ditched in the English Channel. At ditching Harris (B) was either dead or near dead. Huntley (CP) apparently never managed to get out. Deines (WG) got out but was holding on the tail section and would not release, saying he could not swim, even though he was wearing a MaeWest. He went down with the tail, still holding on. With 18BS. Pilot: Mehling. No Missing Air Crew Report. 3 Killed in Action, 6 rescued from the Channel and 5 returned to duty. Share (R) was severely wounded and lost his right leg as a result.
MEHLING GEORGE (P) LT
KIA HUNTLEY WENDELL M (CP) 2 LT 18 O-2063534
RTD BRITTON HARRISON (N)
KIA HARRIS RUSSELL L 2 LT 18 O-2071975 MI
RTD NIATAS STEPHEN (TT)
WIA SHARE JACK (R) SGT 18 32678875
RTD LAMPREY ROBERT (BT)
KIA DINNIS ALBERT E (WG) SGT 18 19202185
RTD MORGAN LOU (TG)

Source:
http://valortovictory.tripod.com/crews/Mehling.htm
___________________________

My comments: 5-7 miles East of Dunkirk was at the limit of the German-held zone. The Germans held about 20 km of coast around Dunkirk until May 1945 (the frontline there didn't move from September 1944 to the end of the war except for local attacks).

[Laurent Rizzotti]

And the other one:

On May 7th, 1945, B17G 44-8640 took off from Horham Airfield, an Eighth Air Force base in Suffolk, to take part in a 'Chowhound' mission over German occupied Holland. These missions, to drop supplies and food to Dutch civilians in German occupied territory, were carried out by the RAF and American forces, the German authorities having given safe passage to these humanitarian flights. On the return leg 48640 overflew the Dutch port of Ijmuiden, then a German E-boat base, and was fired on by an SS machine gun unit, which scored hits on the aircraft including No 2 engine which caught fire. The aircraft came down in the sea about 3 1/2 miles off Southwold, Suffolk. Of the 8 crew and 5 passengers on board there were four survivors. This was the last B17 shot down in the European Theatre of Operations. (From Bill Cook and Ian Hawkins, Framlingham Eighth Air Force Memorial Museum, England).

Source:
http://209.85.229.132/search?q=cache...&ct=clnk&gl=fr
(the above link is no more available on the Net due to teh disparition of compuserve, but is still available via Google)

Another source gives a different number of survivors (2):

This aircraft was assigned to the 388th BG, Knettishall 4/12/1944.
It transferred to the 334th BS 95th BG 5/12/1944. Piloted by L. Sceurman, it went missing on “Operation Chowhound” 7/5/1945. It crashed into the sea with the loss of 11 crew, two survived, returning to duty.
This was the last aircraft of the Eighth Airforce to be lost in World War Two.

Source:
http://www.95thbg-horham.com/page354.html

A picture of the crew is available there http://www.95thbg-horham.com/page175.html.

Several of the men shown died in the crash. The ABMC website lists the following casualties for 334th BS for this day:
BUBOLZ EDWARD H JR SSGT
KELLER JOHN J SSGT
KORBER ROBERT W TSGT
LANKFORD WILLIAM R SSGT
MCPHERSON GANO E JR SSGT
REPISCAK JOSEPH P S

[BC]

The location of the B-17 on 7 May 1945 was approximately 14 miles off Benacre, Suffolk. It has been repeatedly said that flak over Ijmuiden hit the B-17 when it strayed from the designated "corridor" during the food-drop mission. However, in conversation with Cliff and Stan Bishop, I was informed that there is no mention whatsoever in the MACR of enemy action involved.
5th ERS at Holton were involved in the rescue of survivors.

BC

[Brian]

Hi Bob

What was the probable cause of its loss, then?

Cheers
Brian

[BC]

A: Engine failure/fire and ultimately the engine came out of the wing. Attempted to ditch but hit a swell and broke up.

Photo of 44-8640 in flight appears in several books including Martin Bowman's Four Miles High.

BC

[FoxyTerrier]

Originally Posted by Brian

Hi guys

5 April 1945
B-17 44-8283 34BG (Lt George Mehling + Crew) hit by AA over Nuremburg and again 5-7 miles east of Dunkirk (could the latter have beeni friendly fire?)

Cheers
Brian

My father was Lt George Mehling and I never heard him mention the possiblity of friendly fire.

Joni Mehling Snyder

[Brian]

Thanks Joni et al

The findings seem fairly conclusive re both losses.

Cheers
Brian