Airwar over Denmark

Airwar over Denmark

 By Søren C. Flensted

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B 17G 42-107082 crashed Store Heddinge 13/5 1944.


The aircraft belonged to USAAF, 8 Air Force, 379 Bomb Group, 526 Bomb Squadron.
The aircraft was coded LF-N and was named “Lassie-Come-Home”.
T/O Kimbolton. OP: Primary target Poznan. Diverted to Stettin due to overcast.


1st Lt Robert M Dunn Jar. was flying as High Squadron leader southwest of Stettin when “Lassie-Come Home” at 15:30 hours was attacked by German fighters and a fire broke out in the left wing. Dunn left the formation and ordered the crew to bail out.

Tail gunner S/Sgt James T. Miller left through the tail hatch while Waist gunner S/Sgt Edwin G. Ayres and Ball turret gunner S/Sgt John Fode left through the rear door. Bombardier 2nd Lt Harry D. Jensen, Navigator 2nd Lt George Krassner, Co-pilot 2nd Lt William H. Churchill Jar., Engineer T/Sgt John T. Whitelaw, Radio operator T/Sgt Evar W. Anderson and Pilot 1st Lt Robert M Dunn Jar. left through the bomb bay.

They all landed safely near Gingst on Rügen at approximately 15:35 and were captured by the Germans and taken to Fliegerhorst Bug-Rügen except Dunn who was taken to Fliegerhorst Papow. On 14/5 they were all shipped off to Dulag Luft in Oberursel.

“Lassie-Come-Home” continued north until over the Danish island of Sjælland where it circled for about an hour before it crashed in Bjælkerup town where it destroyed a small house to end up hitting one corner of Store Heddinge Hospital. Luckily no one was hurt.

 

 

 


   (Jerry Krassner)

Navigator 2nd Lt George Krassner

 


   (Jerry Krassner)

George Krassners POW-card.



Since no flyers were found it was first thought that they had escaped and later believed that they had bailed out over Sweden.

On Rügen the Germans found the crew but no aircraft and it was believed that it had crashed into the Baltic Sea.

After interrogation at Dulag Luft the officers were sent to Stalag Luft III Sagan while the sergeants were sent to Stalag VIIA Moosburg. They all returned to USA after the war.

 


 

 


   (Via Peer Petersen)

 


   (Via Peer Petersen)

 



Sources: MACR, LBUK, Mike Mucha.

 

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