Crash Site B-17 43-38531 LN-B Rijsbergen

Rijsbergen (Tiggeltscheberg) 7 October 1944 B-17 43-38531 LN-B
On Saturday 7 October 1944 at 1.18 pm the B-17 LN-B made a crash landing on the Tiggeltscheberg. The aircraft belonged to 350 Bomber Squadron of 8 USAAF (RAF Station Thorpe Abbotts Norfolk) and took part in bombing mission 669. Part of this mission was an attack on the oil installations at Merseburg-Leuna (Leipzig) with 129
B-17s, including the B-17 LN-B named Sad Flag.

Crew members Halifax Mk V LK959 ZL-D were:
Pilot 1st Lt Albert Grigg USAAF
Co-Pilot 2nd Lt. Harry Moulder USAAF
Navigator F/O Fred Dace USAAF
Bombardier 2nd Lt. Ralph Westerburg USAAF
Engineer T/Sgt J.V. McDonald USAAF
Radio On T/Sgt Victor Lockard USAAF
Air Gunner S/Sgt Lawrence Rogers USAAF
Air Gunner S/Sgt Shirley Broussard USAAF † 22 years
Air Gunner S/Sgt Raymond Gunn USAAF † 19 years

During the third run over the target, fuel starvation was discovered and the aircraft left formation. The twelve 500-pounder bombs and all non-essential material, including armaments, were dropped. The LN-B set course for England, but the navigator had lost its way. Approximately 100 km before the Dutch border, the pilot was able to make contact with his Group Leader and was instructed to divert to Eindhoven Airport. But the LN-B didn't make it either. It became a field near Rijsbergen; the Tiggeltscheberg. During the approach, the LN-B was fired upon by 20mm Flak whereby Air Gunner Broussard was fatally hit. The pilot brought the aircraft to 1200 ft with the three engines still running and ordered to bail out. Not everyone heard that order. The aircraft crash-landed with five men on board, killing Air Gunner Raymond Gunn. The crew was captured by the Germans. Air Gunners Broussard and Gunn are buried at the Roman Catholic cemetery in Rijsbergen. In February 1946 they were transferred to the military cemetery in Margraten and later, at the request of the families, transferred to their place of residence in America.

The B-17 LN-B then fell prey to the local population, who completely demolished the aircraft in a short time. Everything that was useful or seemed interesting was taken. The Germans have called on the population to hand in the stolen items, but not much has happened.

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Source

• Text: http://www.militairhistorischmuseumachtmaal.nl/
• Photos: Martin Damen