Crashlanding B17-G at Wijk bij Duurstede

[smitcons]

On february 22, 1944 the A/C #42-31399, a brand new B-17G, piloted by 1Lt C.D. Crook, was tail-end charlie in a formation on the way to the Junker factory in Aschersleben. In the neighbourhood of Münster the group was attacked by a swerm of ME-109. The 42-31399 was hit in a engine and made a swallo dive. Crook decided to return and trying to fly back to England. One crewmember memorized that a "lone Messerschmitt" followed the B-17 and after crossing the Dutch border the Me shot out a second engine. The Messerschmitt made a pass and strafed the crew on the ground. A other crewmember wrote that the lone German fighterplane was a FW-190, which shot out two engines. Immediately after the crashlanding the German was "circling around the A/C and suddenly dove downs and strafed the ship." Crook himself reported to the Adjudant-General "that a fighter strafed us on the ground". A civilian eyewitness only reported that the B-17 was shot down by a German fighter which was circling arount after the crashlanding and strafed the american crew.

Another civilian witness saw later on that a Fieseler Storch from Fliegerhorst Gilze-Rijen landed near the B-17 and that two high ranking officers came out and inspected the B-17 inside.

Questions: Who knows if the fighter, which follows the B-17 to Wijk bij Duurstede, was a Me-109 or a FW-190 ? Was it common use that a crashlanded bomber was surveyed by officers of the Luftwaffe ? What happens with the B-17 # 42-31399 after the crashlanding? (It was heavily damaged and couldn't fly again).

Any info is wellcome
Leendert

[ron_Ra]

acoording the MARC it was an ME109

[smitcons]

Thanks, Ron. According of three sources it appeared it was a ME-109 that shot down the A/C and strafed the crew after the crashlanding. I suppose that the pilot claimed this target and it might be registered; does anybody know where I can find that info?

Leendert