B 17F 42-30421 crashed in the North Sea on position 53`35N 07`10E on 2/10-1943

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B 17F 42-30421 crashed in the North Sea on position 53`35N 07`10E on 2/10-1943.

The aircraft belonged to USAAF, 8 Air Force, 388 Bomb Group, 561 Bomb Squadron
T/O between 12:56 and 13:10 Knettishall. OP: Emden.

Three to four minutes after having dropped the bomb load 42-30421 ran into problems. Apparently it was hit by flak and the propeller on number one engine was feathered while at the same time a minor fire started in number two engine. The aircraft entered a spiral dive while the crew bailed out. Ten parachutes were observed.

The body of Radio Operator S/Sgt John A. Parsons was found washed ashore in Beach area 12 at Lilleøre near Thyborøn on 29/11 and was laid to rest in Lemvig cemetery on 3/12 1943. On 4/5-1948 his remains was disinterred and evacuated to the American Cemetery at Neuville en Condron in Belgium by the US military. Today he rest in Ward 3 Row 9, New Lexington Cemetery, New Lexington, Perry County, Ohio, USA.

The rest of the crew were:

Pilot Lt Joseph F. Felece who was laid to rest on 14/2-1944 in the Memorial Cemetery, Island of Wangerooge. Today he rest in Sacred Heart Cemetery, Syracuse, Onondaga County, New York, USA.

Bombardier 2.Lt Joseph W. Kendall who is missing in action or buried at sea. He is commemorated on the Tablets of the missing at Netherlands American Cemetery. Margraten, Netherlands.

Co-Pilot 2.Lt Donald D. Wilson. His body was recovered from the North Sea 2 miles north of Langeoog Island by a fishing boat from Neuharlingersiel. He is believed to rest in USA.

Navigator 2.Lt Joseph W. Sullivan who is missing in action or buried at sea. He is commemorated on the Tablets of the missing at Netherlands American Cemetery. Margraten, Netherlands.

Engineer T/Sgt Burton Rubens who was found washed ashore north of Kampen on 27/11-1943 and was interred in the local cemetery Westerland, Sylt Island, Germany. He now rest in Ardennes American Cemetery, Neupre, Belgium.

Right Waist Gunner S/Sgt Eugene R. Harper who was laid to rest in the Evangelical-Lutheran Cemetery on Helgoland on 16/11-1943. He now rest in Crown Hill Cemetery Wheat Ridge, Jefferson County, Colorado, USA.

Tail Gunner S/Sgt Billy M. Salyer who was buried on 8/12-1943 in the Memorial Cemetery Island of Wangerooge. He now rest in Ardennes American Cemetery, Neupre, Belgium.

Left waist Gunner Sgt William F. Harrington who is missing in action or buried at sea. He is commemorated on the Tablets of the Missing at Cambridge American Cemetery, Cambridge, England.

Ball Turret Gunner S/Sgt Henry R. DeKeyrel who is missing in action or buried at sea. He is commemorated on the Tablets of the missing at Netherlands American Cemetery. Margraten, Netherlands.

Sources: Finn Buch, BL, UA, ABMC.

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