Hi ,
 
It seems that this aircraft made a crashlanding in Belgium , is this correct and if so where did this happened.
 
30/11/1944
B-17G-95-BO
43-38739                                                                  493BG-860BS
1st Lt Eugene B Miller
Salvaged the 22/12/44

From "The B-17 Flying Fortress Story:"
 
43-38738:  Del Lincoln 14/9/44;  Grenier 27/9/44;  ass 493BG Debach 1/10/44;  b/d Merseburg 30/1/44 w/?;  sal 22/12/44.
 
No MACR provided.

Howard Keller (LTC, USA, Ret)

Thanks

Was there a mis type as Alain was asking about 43-38739 and Howard replied about 43-38738.

Dave Sandruck, USAF Ret
Nephew of Irvin Wentz, KIA 9 Dec 1944
99 BG, 347 BS
Tortorella (Foggia), Italy

Hello Alain,
 
According to Project Bits and Pieces, 43-38739 crashed in Belgium -- no specific location provided.
 
I also checked the 493rd BG microfilmed documents I have and found the following paragraph in the mission report for the 30 Nov 1944 mission to Meresburg:
 
"LOST AIRCRAFT:  Aircraft 43-38739 was lost due to battle damage near the enemy lines.  Four crew members bailed out, including the Navigator, Bombardier, Engineer, and Tail Gunner.  A TWX from "Town Major Roulers", has been received to the effect that these four men are in good condition.  The TWX also stated that the Pilot and Co-Pilot remained with aircraft and remainder of crew presumably bailed out.  There has been no further reports about this crew.  Other aircraft in the formation did not see aircraft 43-38739 leave the main formation."
 
1st LT Eugene Miller was not on the 31 Dec 1944 Officer Roster, but was on the roster dated 31 Jan 1945.
 
Hope this helps,
 
 
 
 

David Schmitt
d.schmitt@prodigy.net
son of 1st LT Donald J. Schmitt, USAAF, co-pilot
assigned to 493rd BG/863rd BS at Debach, England
from Nov 1944 thru May 1945

Hello David ,
 
Thank you very much for this wonderful information.Do you have anything on the crew itself ?
 
Alain
Belgium

Hello Alain,
 
I don't have Load List information on the microfilm.  I did go back through the Officer Rosters and found 2nd LT Eugene Miller first appeared on the September 1944 roster.  Then, I went through the Special Orders (daily reports) for September and found him listed on the SO for 23 Sep 1944 (along with his crew) and being assigned to the 860th BS:
 
2nd LT Eugene B. Miller - pilot
2nd LT Lyle I. O'Blenness - co-pilot
2nd LT Erick R. Oslin - navigator
2nd LT Lester H. Swanson - bombardier
Cpl Edward Beimel Jr - gunner
Cpl Frank A. Burns - flight engineer
Cpl Max E. Dopson - gunner
Cpl William V. Hesson - flight engineer
Cpl Richard Kinney - gunner
Cpl Gerald R. Orsley - gunner
 
This is the Miller crew as they reported to the 493rd BG.  I found no documents related to the 30 Nov 1944 crashlanding, so no listing of the crew on that mission.  Although, they were likely flying together.
 
Don't hesitate to let me know if you have any questions.
 
Take care,
 
 

David Schmitt
d.schmitt@prodigy.net
son of 1st LT Donald J. Schmitt, USAAF, co-pilot
assigned to 493rd BG/863rd BS at Debach, England
from Nov 1944 thru May 1945

Hi David ,
Thanks once more for the help.
 
Alain

Hi David ,
 
It's me once again , what do you mean by " A TWX from "Town Major Roulers" . Whas did a telegram , wireless transmission ? Why am i asking this , because Roulers is the french name of the town of Roeselare in Belgium , so that could be the place where the aircraft crashlanded ?
 
Greetings Alain

Hello Alain,
 
The quote I provided from the Mission Report is exactly as written.  Yes, I assume that "TWX" refers to a wireless transmission or telegram.  As for the "Town Major Roulers", when I first saw it I thought it might refer to an individual.  Someone who was familiar to the 8th AAF and who may have previously provided assistance.
 
Let me know if you find out anything else.
 
Take care,
 
 

David Schmitt
d.schmitt@prodigy.net
son of 1st LT Donald J. Schmitt, USAAF, co-pilot
assigned to 493rd BG/863rd BS at Debach, England
from Nov 1944 thru May 1945

Alain,
 
Actually a TWX was a teletype, not a wireless or a telegram.
 
Hal

Hi Gentlemen ,
 
Thanks for the help , i think we can assume that the teletype came from the mayor of the town of Roulers. So therefore i guess that the aircraft craslanded in that area.
If i can find out something more about this event i will let you know right away.
 
Greetings
Alain
Belgium

Good evening gentlemen,
 
I am very intrigued by the information that you have gathered in regrads to 43-38739.  I am the grnadson of 2nd Lt Lyle O'Blenness, co-pilot of the above B-17.  I was always told stories as a child, but over time they tend to meld together.  If you have any new information about the event, please post and I will do likewise.  Unfortunately, my grandfather is recently deceased and I never took the time to really document all of the information.
 
Best regards,
 

Cory O'Blenness- Grandson of Co-Pilot of 43-38739, Lyle I O'Blenness. 493rd.860th

Hello Cory ,
 
If i can find out something more i will let you know right away.
 
Alain
Belgium

In response to your reply Alain, I appreciate any help.  Upon visiting with my family we got a little more information on the event, that I thought people might find interesting. 
 
EB (pilot) and my grandfather did stay with the plane longer than the rest of the crew.  From accounts of the family throughout the years, the plane had suffered damage from FLAK, causing one of the props to come off and virtually take the nose off the plane.  Nobody was seriously injured, but the crew was told to bail out.  EB and my grandfather ( not sure if there was anyone else left at this time) stayed with the plane.  Finally my grandfather told EB they needed to get out, but EB said he was taking it back.  It seems that due to the damage, everytime they tried to leave the controls the plane would starting a spiraling decent.  Finally, my grandfather bailed out and EB stuck with it for awhile longer.  Eventually, EB did bail out and as he decended, the aircraft kept cirling around him and his chute.  Meanwhile my grandfather landed safely in Belgium close to the front lines.  It seems that had it been earlier in the month, it would have been in German held territory.  Once on the ground, my grandfather was assisted by the local population and at some point promised the silk parachute to one or two of the ladies assisting him.  He had to cut the chute in two to keep the two ladies from fighting over the parachute.  He was able to then borrow a bicycle from a local farmer and ride to a british army post and make it back to England some time later.  When he returned, they had already packed up his belongings and assumed he was not coming back.  He later found out that all of the crew made it back safely, including EB.  In total, my granfather flew 33 missions and I was able to meet quite a few of the flight crew at numerous reunions when I was younger.  I hope this gives you a little more insight to the event and hopefully more information will come about.  I appreciate the response and hope to stay in contact.

Cory O'Blenness- Grandson of Co-Pilot of 43-38739, Lyle I O'Blenness. 493rd.860th

Hello Cory ,
Thanks for the information.
 
Alain
Belgium