Crash of a Martin B-26B Marauder off Ijmuiden: 1 killed

Date & Time: May 17, 1943 at 1212 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
41-17979
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
While approaching the Dutch coast, the aircraft was shot down by the German Flak and crashed into the sea, two miles west of Ijmuiden. A crew member was killed while five others were rescued.
Crew (322nd BG/450th BS):
Lt Col William R. Purinton,
2nd Lt William H. Kinney,
Lt Edward F. Jefferis Jr., †
S/Sgt Jean J. Duhamel,
S/Sgt Robert J. Gunther,
Sgt Lester F. Miller.
Probable cause:
Shot down by the German Flak.

Crash of an Avro 683 Lancaster in Hamm: 6 killed

Date & Time: May 17, 1943 at 1200 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
ED910
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Scampton - Scampton
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Circumstances:
The aircraft left RAF Scampton in the evening of May 16 to attack the Lister Dam located in the region of Dortmund. While overflying Germany by night, the aircraft was shot down by the German Flak and crashed in the Boselagerschen Forest. Six crew members were killed.
Crew (617th Squadron):
P/O W. H. T. Ottley, †
Sgt R. Marsden, †
F/O J. K. Barrett, †
Sgt J. Guterman, †
F/Sgt L. Johnston, †
Sgt F. Tees,
Sgt H. Strange. †
Probable cause:
Shot down by the German Flak.

Crash of a Martin B-26B Marauder in Bodegraven: 4 killed

Date & Time: May 17, 1943 at 1158 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
41-18080
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
While flying west of Utrecht, the aircraft collided with another USAAF B-26B Marauder registered 41-17991 and carrying a crew of six as well. Both aircraft went out of control and crashed in a field located in Bodegraven, west of Utrecht. Two crew survived in each aircraft while all eight other occupants were killed.
Crew (452nd BS):
Cpt William Converse, †
2nd Lt Berton H. Ramsey, †
Lt Arthur E. Garni, †
T/Sgt James D. Thompson,
Sgt Kenneth H. VonLindern, †
Sgt Frank Lamonica.
Probable cause:
Mid-air collision.

Crash of a Martin B-26B Marauder near Bodegraven

Date & Time: May 17, 1943 at 1158 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
41-17999
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The aircraft was hit by debris from the mid-air collision between both Marauder 41-17991 and 41-18080. The captain attempted an emergency landing in a field and the aircraft came to rest near Bodegraven. While the aircraft was damaged beyond repair, all six crew members were taken PoW.
Crew (452nd BS):
Lt David V. Wurst,
2nd Lt Robert L. Starr,
2nd Lt A. E. Speer,
Cpl George Heski,
S/Sgt Robert J. Dempsey,
Sgt Reginald Foster.
Probable cause:
Hit by debris from a mid-air collision.

Crash of a Martin B-26B Marauder in Bodegraven: 4 killed

Date & Time: May 17, 1943 at 1158 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
41-17991
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
While flying west of Utrecht, the aircraft collided with another USAAF B-26B Marauder registered 41-18080 and carrying a crew of six as well. Both aircraft went out of control and crashed in a field located in Bodegraven, west of Utrecht. Two crew survived in each aircraft while all eight other occupants were killed.
Crew (452nd BS):
Lt Richard O. Wolfe, †
Lt Jack E. Vandergrift, †
2nd Lt John H. Burns, †
Sgt Kleber L. Jones,
Sgt Chester J. Walas,
Sgt John L. Nash. †
Probable cause:
Mid-air collision.

Crash of a Martin B-26B Marauder in Maassluis: 2 killed

Date & Time: May 17, 1943 at 1152 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
41-18052
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
While approaching Rotterdam from the west, on a bombing mission, the aircraft was shot down by the German Flak and crashed in the Maas River located in Maassluis. Two crew members were killed while four others were taken PoW.
Crew (450th BS):
Lt Vincent S. Garrambone,
2nd Lt Leonard S. Lang,
2nd Lt James R. Hoel,
Sgt John L. Stefanowicz, †
Sgt John Logan,
Sgt Melvin O. Cage. †
Probable cause:
Shot down by the German Flak.

Crash of a Martin B-26B Marauder in Rozenburg: 3 killed

Date & Time: May 17, 1943 at 1151 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
41-17982
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
While approaching Rotterdam from the west, the aircraft was shot down by the German Flak and crashed in a field located in Rozenburg. Three crew members were killed while three others were taken PoW.
Crew (322nd BG/452nd BS):
Lt Col Robert W. Stillman,
Lt Ellis J. Resweber, †
2nd Lt William R. Betz, †
S/Sgt Morgan S. Freeman,
T/Sgt Clyde D. Willis,
S/Sgt Edward K. Hagetter. †
Probable cause:
Shot down by the German Flak.

Crash of an Avro 683 Lancaster III in Castricum: 7 killed

Date & Time: May 17, 1943 at 0258 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
ED877
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Scampton - Scampton
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
7
Circumstances:
The aircraft left RAF Scampton in the evening of May 16 to attack the Möhne Dam located east of Dortmund. Following an uneventful mission and while overflying The Netherlands by night to return to its base, the aircraft was shot down by the German Flak and crashed in flames in a field. All seven crew members were killed.
Crew (617th Squadron):
S/L H. M. Young,
Sgt R. Horsfall,
Sgt C. W. Roberts,
Sgt L. Nichols,
F/O V. S. Macausland,
Sgt A. G. Yeo,
Sgt L. Ibbotson.
Probable cause:
Shot down by the German Flak.

Crash of an Avro 683 Lancaster III in Netterden: 7 killed

Date & Time: May 17, 1943 at 0236 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
ED937
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Scampton - Scampton
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
7
Circumstances:
The aircraft left RAF Scampton in the evening of May 16 to attack the Möhne Dam located east of Dortmund. Following an uneventful mission and while returning to its base, the aircraft was shot down by the German Flak and crashed in a field located in Netterden, at the border with Germany. All seven crew members were killed.
Crew (617th Squadron):
S/L Henry Eric Maudslay, pilot,
Sgt J. Marriott, flight engineer,
F/O R. A. Urquhart, navigator,
W/O A. P. Cottam, wireless operator,
P/O M. J. D. Fuller, bomb aimer,
F/O W. J. Tytherleigh, air gunner,
Sgt N. R. Burrows, air gunner.
Probable cause:
Shot down by the German Flak.

Crash of an Avro 683 Lancaster III in Rijen: 7 killed

Date & Time: May 17, 1943 at 0200 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
ED865
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Scampton - Scampton
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
7
Circumstances:
The aircraft left RAF Scampton in the evening of May 16 to attack the Sorpe Dam located southeast of Dortmund. While overflying The Netherlands by night, the aircraft was shot down by the German Flak and crashed in flames in a field. All seven crew members were killed.
Crew (617th Squadron):
P/O Lewis Johnstone Burpee, pilot,
Sgt Guy Pegler, flight engineer,
Sgt Thomas Jaye, navigator,
F/Sgt James Lamb Arthur, air bomber,
P/O Leonard George Weller, wireless operator and air gunner,
Sgt William Charles Arthur Long, air gunner,
W/O Joseph Gordon Brady, air gunner.
Probable cause:
Shot down by the German Flak.