18 april 1945 cr. of B-17 493.BG

[barkas]

Hallo Fiends,

please, who knows details about crash of B-17 of 493. BG on 18 April 1945 after return from combat mission? Serial nummber of B-17, place?

The crew was pilot Kenneth H. Sainz, co-pilot Thomas W. Landry.

Thomas W. Landry later remembered
https://www.historynet.com/how-legen...-world-war-ii/

Thanks, Jan

[Alex Smart]

From the link in the above post it would be the following-

LANDRY, Thomas Wade.
SAINZ, Kenneth Harry.
493rd BG/ 860th BS.
There are two events mentioned.
The 1st was when they crash landed their B17 in a French field , no crew were injured.
The 2nd was when the aircraft looked to be out of fuel. Landry flipped a switch which enabled fuel to flow and the engine picked up and the aircraft landed at its base ,again no injuries.
So I assume the 18th April 45 is the 1st event that you refer to Jan.

[Leendert]

On 18 April 1945 Lt Sainz was flying B-17 "#452".
No immediate reference to a c/l found so far on that date, just that one a/c returned early due to an engine failure. Mission to Kolin, Czechoslovakia.

Regards, Leendert

[Buckeye30]

This must be 44-8452, to 493rd Oct. 30 1944; evidently not badly damaged as she went to 100BG in late May ( this says Nov. 1944 but the 100BG Association (Mike Faley) has confirmation). "B" is the Squadron designator and ID was a small tail letter.



https://www.americanairmuseum.com/ar...rcraft/44-8452


Regards
Nick

[barkas]

Great, thanks, gentlemen!