Walter Schuck- 04/10/45 Oranienburg, B-17 Shot Down

Doing research on my father's mission #228 on 04/10/45. He, Capt Mel Fox, piloted B-17 # 44-8368. His plane was hit by a Me-262 in left wing. Plane caught fire, spun down.Crew bailed, all POW except for 1 death. Companion plane A/C # 43-38606 called " Moonlight Mission" shot down also by a Me-262, with 4 KIA and remainder POW. Father returned to USA months later as war ended. He died in 1978. Just found a story about Walter Schuck bringing down four B-17's that day at Oranienburg on 04/10/45. Wonder if he hit my father's plane that day? Read story about P-51 pilot Joe Peterburs chasing Walter during that battle, shooting out his jet engine with Walter forced to bail. Joe shot down too. Both lived. Decades later in 2005 Walter and Joe met as friends. It is possible they both are still alive? How to get in touch with Joe and Walter? It'd like to meet him, even if he shot down my father's B-17 of the 457th Bomb Group. If he did, what a remote chance... of meeting the German ACE who brought down by Father's B-17 crew, so long ago. Any thoughts out there? I secured my fathers WWII military records....all the data matches info I find on the internet. Bruce, Chas, SC, USA.

[VtwinVince]

Hi Bruce,

I assume you've read Schuck's biography with details of these combats? I believe Schuck is in poor health, but you might want to try and get in touch with him through Horst Kube, who is a member here.

Thanks. I am a new member. I'll search this site and try contact.

Have not read his bio. Just learned of him as I searched the internet. Just started my WWII research and have made good progress. Should have done this years ago, as many B-17 pilots and Me-262 pilots have passed away.This in the 20 plus years I've sat on my father's military records. But, I did not have today's internet tools in 1991.....Thanks.

[Joe Peterburs]

Hi,

Joe Peterburs here, may be able to provide some info. Contact me at my e-mail address.

[chuckschmitz]

Hi BEH531,

Schuck does indeed cover the mission your dad was on. There are pictures of the crew and aircraft in the book. For your info there is a print called Escort fury by Robert Bailey that shows Shuck bailing out. If you need any copies of pages in the book let me know.

Chuck

Hello Bruce,

my name is Mario. I am an local air war historian from Oranienburg, Germany. I've done a lot of research according the 8th AF missions onto my hometown during WW2, especialy of the April 10th mission. I am also member of a group of enthusiasts researching for missing air men and yes, we've found the crash site of your fathers plane and, together with a team of JPAC members, we were in August 2007 on the site to find out what happens to Sgt. Lloyd J. Blood, who is still in MIA status.

To Joe Peterburs,

my kindest regards to you from Oranienburg. I am always remeber our meeting at Burg in September 2004. I hope you are well and I wish you a nice birthday party on next Tuesday.

Tally Ho

Mario

Mario,

I just emailed Joe Peterburs at home. I'll see if my email reaches him. Thanks.
Bruce Fox Howard, USA, South Carolina.

[Joe Peterburs]

It was great to hear from you Mario and am happy to see that you are still doing your fantastic research. Thank you for your kind birthday greeting. For Bruce - I worked extensively with Mario during his research of the 10 April Oranienberg mission and he has a wealth of information.

Mario,

Joe Peterburs and I have been communicating. He reports to me Walter Schuck shot down on 04/10/45 a B-17 from the 303rd Group, then A/C # 44-8427 " Hens Revenge", then Mel Fox's A/C # 44-8368 and next A/C # 43-38606 " Moon Light Mission". The last two planes from the 457th Bomb Group. He saw a lot of this that day. Joe chased and hit Walter's Me-262. Walter bailed as did Joe soon after. I've emailed Joe a chart of Mel's 30 missions and another chart of each crew for every flight. Interesting to outline the crews. Most airmen kept flying together as a team. I located Obits for most of the crew of 04/10/45, all have passed away, those I could find info on. Joe says researcher Christer Bergstrom in Sweden may have more info about the air battle that day. Any German old news articles showing the plane's wreckage? One reader told me the name of the German town in which the wreckage of A/C #368 fell. Officials identified the plane by the radio badge. I'll look for that post. Walt is now 94 and lives near Otterndorf. Thanks, Bruce Fox Howard, USA