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B 17F 42-30371 crashed in the North Sea south west of Fanø
island 9/10 1943.
The aircraft belonged to USAAF, 8 Air Force, 388 Bomb Group, 560 Bomb Squadron
and was named Iza Angel II.
T/O Knetishall. OP: Gdynia.
While under fighter attack from Bf 109 fighters a fire started in the right hand
wing. The aircraft left the formation in a shallow dive and exploded just before
it hit the water. At approx. 15:45 a falling aircraft and six parachutes
descending were observed from Sønderho on the island of Fanø and the lifeboat
crew were alerted. At 17:00 hours the boat was put in the sea. Apart from the 12
man crew a German officer and two privates as well as Doctor Trolle of Sønderho
were onboard.
On the sands of “Flak Stjert” was observed three flyers that were
picked up. Two of whom were wounded from bullets in their legs and were treated
by Doctor Trolle. The search continued until 21:00 hour when the boat returned
to Sønderho. The three flyers were taken to the Wehrmacht barracks at Magsøbo
where they spent the night. The flyers were Ball turret gunner S/Sgt Francis J.
Antalek, Left waist gunner Sgt William R. Caruso and Right waist gunner T/Sgt
John L. Dugan.
The next day they were taken to Esbjerg air field.
(Via Finn Buch)
Left waist gunner Sgt William R. Caruso
It is believed that the following three survivors were picked up by a German
ship and taken to Esbjerg air field: Pilot Captain Henry J. Nagorka, Navigator
2.Lt John B. Leverone and Bombardier 2.Lt Michael G. Mahoney.
From Esbjerg they were all sent to Germany and POW camps.
Three dead crewmembers were found washed ashore near Sønderho.
Radio operator
T/Sgt Robert A. Blankenburg was found on 11/10 and was laid to rest in Fovrfelt
cemetery in Esbjerg on 12/10 1943.
On 5/11 the body of Tail gunner S/Sgt Wilbur P. Quinn was found. He was laid to
rest in Fovrfelt cemetery on 9/11 1943.
Engineer/ Top turret gunner T/Sgt Edward Keisler was found on 21/12 and was laid to rest in Fovrfelt cemetery on 30/12
1943.
On 30/4 1948 their remains were disinterred and were evacuated to the American
cemetery at Neuville en Condron in Belgium by the US military where Keisler
still rest. Blankenburg and Quinn now rest in USA.
Co-Pilot 2.LT Gilbert N. Parker has no known grave and his name is found on
Tablets of the Missing at Cambridge American Cemetery, Cambridge, England.
Sources: MACR, AS 64-906, LBUK, Lifeboat log Sønderho, UA, FB, BE.
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