eBay: Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress

[Wayne Little]

Good stuff.

 

[Snautzer01]

30721 (381st BG, 533rd BS, "Sweet and Lovely") returned to USA Jul 12, 1945

 

[Snautzer01]

24419 Virgin Sturgeon, later renamed Honey Chile II (92nd BG, 327th BS, later to 97th BG, 341st BS) destroyed on ground at Briskra, North Africa by attack of five Ju-88s Jan 10, 1943

see also: B-17F 41-24419: A Short Story

 

[Snautzer01]

24457 (5th BG, 31st BS, "The Azte's Curse") crashlanded due to brake failure Apr 23, 1943 and w/o

 

[Snautzer01]

30197 (385th BG, 550th BS, 'Mission Belle') lost Apr 11, 1944. MACR 3822
from 1944 Crash -  8th Air Force - 385th Bombardment Group - B-17F - "Mission Belle" #42-30197 :

Mission Bell" with registration number 42-30197.
It had so far participated in over 60's bombing mission over Germany.
The plane had once again started with hundreds of other
from Great Ashfild in England in the morning. Bomb Group Mission
was to wipe out industries in Politzer (then a German city that now belongs to Poland).

In bombing struck one of the engines at Mission Bell by
German anti-aircraft shell and became inoperable. Mission Bell could
therefore no longer keep up with the bomb group, but left the for-
mation. Shortly thereafter, also stopped on the third engine of the plane.
In this mode, the pilot reported that they planned to travel to
neutral Sweden to make a forced landing.

Swedish military telegraphed to the army leadership that a Flying Fortress
had been discovered south of Utlangan at 13:44. It was Mission Bell
an hour later, after circling in the skies between Kristianopel
Bergkvara and, finally, emergency landing at Molle Hall.

But the local HOME GUARD respective military was what was on the welcoming committee Molle Hall on the afternoon of April 11, 1944?

The crew of Mission Bell consisted of the following young airmen:
Duane Pangle, pilot (Lieutenant)
Önner Davis, co-pilot (Lieutenant)
In Samuel Kaiser, navigator (Lt.)
Robert C. Breasbois, tower gunner (Sergeant)
Herbert L Witherington, new towers (sergeant)
James E. Gant, telegraph (Sergeant)
Herold C jones, bombardier (Sergeant)
Thomas W. Cavanagh, bombardier (Sergeant)
Arthur V Brandt, right gunner (Sergeant)
Vincent L Corleto, left gunner (Sergeant)

The pilot, Duane Pangle, told me before he died with the rank of major in
March 2003, that his entire crew were interned in camps in the Loka
Värmland and held there until just a few months before the end of the war
in May 1945.

 

[michaelmaltby]

"...his entire crew were interned in camps in the Loka
Värmland and held there until just a few months before the end of the war
in May 1945."

No disrespect intended ..... but this was a hardship?

 

[Snautzer01]

I do not understand, could you please explain?


Internment camps in Sweden during World War II - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

A number of British and US servicemen, primarily crew members of the aircraft damaged during bombing missions over Germany, found themselves on Swedish soil, and were interned by the Swedish authorities. Unlike civilian refugees from Germany, who were kept in internment camps, British and American airmen were placed in hotels and bed and breakfast establishments in the Falun area, and enjoyed relative freedom. They received their regular military pay from their home countries, which allowed them to be much better off than the local Swedish residents.[6]

 

[michaelmaltby]

Internment in neutral Sweden -- where there was peace and plenty -- is neither as dangerous as flying daylight bombing over occupied Germany nor as restrictive as spending time imprisoned in a Stalag. What don't you understand?

 

[johnbr]

 

[johnbr]

 

[johnbr]

 

[johnbr]

 

[Snautzer01]

Internment in neutral Sweden -- where there was peace and plenty -- is neither as dangerous as flying daylight bombing over occupied Germany nor as restrictive as spending time imprisoned in a Stalag. What don't you understand?

i can not understand the remark. still dont. lets leave at that.

Inter view with the pilot on landing in Sweden
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P3rdnSTV4rY

at 1 min 31

 

[michaelmaltby]

Read and comprehend the meaning of your own words, Snautzer01:

"....British and American airmen were placed in hotels and bed and breakfast establishments in the Falun area, and enjoyed relative freedom. They received their regular military pay from their home countries, which allowed them to be much better off than the local Swedish residents.[6]"

 

[Snautzer01]

42-97272 303rd BG 359th BS, "Duchess Daughter" in taxi accident Jul 6, 1944

 

[Old Wizard]

 

[Snautzer01]

B-17G-1-BO 42-31047, 381st BG, 535th BS, Little Duchess-Wolverine shot down by fighter at Ottbergen,

 

[Gnomey]

Lovely shots!

 

[Old Wizard]

 

[Snautzer01]

9042 ("The Berlin Sleeper" 97th BG, 34th BS) at Polebook Mar 1942, flown on first 8th AF mission Aug 17, 1942;
transferred (92nd BG, 325th BS) at Bovington Sep 1942; transferred ("Ridge Runner" 303rd BG, 359th BS) at
Molesworth; transferred to Honington RG Apr 22, 1943; transferred to 403 AD RG Langd Lodge May 6, 1943;
transferred to AFSC at Bovington Jul 26, 1943. WO May 20, 1945.