File 406. 1943-12-11/11 B-17F 42-30218 Lt. Beatty dyke Ferwerd

Details
Date: 1943 Dec 11/11 A/C Type: B-17F  Fortress SN: 42-30218 Code: A/C Nickname: Heavenly Daze
 File: 406 Airforce: USAAF Sqn/Unit: 95 BG - 335 BS Mission/Raid: Emden
1 Pilot 2Lt. Robert E. Beatty                POW 9 RWG S/Sgt. Arthur E. Klemp  KIA, Ferwerd.
2 Co-pilot 2Lt. John B. Kernochan          POW 10 TG S/Sgt. John M. Gallo      KIA, Ferwerd.
3 Nav. 2Lt. David E. Goss                     POW 11    
4 B 2Lt. Joseph C. Forand              POW 12    
5 E T/Sgt. Milton C. Spangenberg   KIA Zwaagwesteinde 13    
6 RO T/Sgt. Albert G. Laney              POW 14    
7 BTG S/Sgt. August Pereira                KIA, buried Ferwerd 15    
8 LWG S/Sgt. Douglas J. Miller     WIA, buried Leeuwarden 16                    

Was attacked by fighters on the way back from Emden. Crew jumped northeast Leeuwarden over Hallum, Veenwouden, Twijzel and Zwaagwesteinde. Aircraft crashed near the Wadden Sea dyke at Ferwerd, with 5 men in the rear still inside.
 


Sgt. Milton C. Spangenberg's parachute did not open and fell to his death. The message to jump did not reach the gunners in the rear and they crashed with aircraft in a meadow. Sgt. Laney was taken alive from of the wreck (POW). Also Sgt. Douglas J. Miller was recovered alive but severely wounded. He died in hospital in Leeuwarden and was buried there. Sergeants Pereira, Klemp and Gallo were found dead in the wreckage. They were buried on the coast in the Ferwerd Protestant Churchyard.    


















































According to Dutch site Marrum Online with article on this aircraft, came co-pilot 2Lt. John B. Kernochan traumatized from POW in Germany. In May 1945 he jumped off the 20th floor of Hotel Commodore in New York.





Sources/Read more: 

- MACR
- http://www.fieldsofhonor-database.com/index.php/american-war-cemetery-margraten-s/58392-spangenberg-milton-c 
- http://www.95thbg-horham.com/page251.html 
- Dutch: http://www.marrumonline.nl/geschiedenis/marrum-tijdens-de-bezetting-1940-1945 
 
- File Ferwerd Cemetery:  http://www.zzairwar.nl/dossiers/860.html






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