14/10/1944 B17 crash near Brugge, Belgium

[Luc Vervoort]

Hi,


In A-4 Journal IX TAC is mentioned on 14/10/1944

Called Major Girardo, Glider 235, and asked him to send transportation to 85 Gp Hqs to pick up B17 crew that had crash-landed east of Bruges, H8799. Crew is at 95 Gp Hqs, Gent.

H8799 is Sint-Kruis Brugge (Belgium).
Which was this B17 and crew ?

Many thanks and best regards

Luc

[Leendert]

Luc,

I'm after this crash landing for a long time, but no luck so far... Witnessess in the neighborhood I spoke with a long time ago told me of a B-17 at the little airfield at St. Croix/Maleveld that later became B.63. Apparently at least one wounded crew member. "Cockpit all bloody", probably the nose section for bombardier.
Stories went that B-17 had three engines running and that it took off again some days later, using the full length of the short runway....
There has been confusion with B-17 42-107078, but this one landed at RAF Ursel, 16 km east, on 21 Nov 1944. Accounts of this incident clearly tell of a 'RAF Typhoon base', which St.Croix/Kruis definitively was not.

Witnesses also told me that German troops were still in the area, with British/Canadian artillery in action, so date of 14 Oct 1944 matches quite well.
Read somewhere too that (this?) B-17 was hit by Flak while over Vlissingen/Flushing, so it barely made liberated territory. Unfortunately no report known to me if B-17 actually was hit there.

With date more fixed, the report you mentioned (also) gives me some hope again to finally solve this mystery...

Groet,

Leendert,

[Leendert]

Info of Bits & Pieces offer no conclusive answers (yet)..

14 Oct 1944

44-8136 379th BG "emergency landing in liberated France" according website.
43-37856 486th BG with Hughes - f/l at/near Amiens
43-38029 486th BG with Olson - did c/l in BE, but a/c "exploded on ground" This was near Liège.

No other B-17's mentioned, perhaps also look on 13 Oct 1944 and IX TAC report of 14 Oct 1944 was made when crew had showed up at RAF HQ 85 Group, then at G(h)ent.

Groet,
Leendert

[Luc Vervoort]

Leendert,


Thanks for the replies and info.



Information about 44-8136 can be found at
https://francecrashes39-45.net/page_...av.php?id=4582
This plane crashed in France.


43-37856 no information found on francecrashes39-45. But perhaps it was not a real crash, just an emergeny landing


43-38029
The A-4 Journal IX TAC mentions for this plane (also on 14/10/1944):



Received call from Capt Beeston, S-2 Officer of the 70th Wg. He advised that two crew members of a B17 had bailed out and were now at Wing Hqs, Liege. Pilots names are : Sgt Joe Campbell , 33685604, and Sgt.Wm B Ghant, 1414820. Plane No. is 029, the crew belonged to the 486 Bomb Gp, 835 Sq. No knowledge of whereabouts of plane. Suggested … be taken to 8th AF Detachment. At A-92, St.Trond. (He will do).


13/10/1944 could perhaps also be possible.


Best regards


Luc

[Luc Vervoort]

Leendert,



43-38029 crashed at Linsmeau, Belgium (Postal code 1357).


Best regards


Luc