Crash Site 'Marie Helena'

After a flight with several aircraft for a bombing raid on Bremen, they got into a fight with German fighters on the way back.
A dozen aircraft crashed, including the B-17 "Marie Helena" with 10 crew members on board. They all died in one of the fields in Bellingwolde.
The crew consisted of:
2Lt. Raymond J. Gormley, 1st Pilot
2Lt. Edward J. Fox, 2nd Pilot
2Lt. Peter J. Motta, Navigator
2Lt. William J. Heath, Bombardier
T/Sgt. Dale von Seggern, R.O.G.
T/Sgt. Jay. A. McPhee, T.T.E.
S/Sgt. Donald R. Hilton, B.T.G.
S/Sgt. Charles Presley, W.G.
S/Sgt. William A. Avery, W.G.
S/Sgt. Clay E. Rife, T.G.

Next to the names of the crew, the following text is written on the monument:

On October 8, 1943, B17F 42-3386 MARIE HELENA crashed in this area.
The aircraft had taken off from Thorpe Abbotts base
in England to bomb the city of Bremen.
During the return flight it was attacked by German fighters.
Where it collided with the Van Oblt plane. Erich Hondt.
All 10 Americans were killed.

They died for our freedom.
Lest we forget.

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Source

• Text: Bert Deelman
• Photos: Bert Deelman