Memorial Crash Site B-17 Teuven

This memorial marks the crash site of an American B-17 bomber that crashed at this location on Aug. 17th, 1943.

The memorial was reveiled on August 26th, 2023.

During a mission to Germany on August 17th, 1943, the B-17 over the village of Geel, Belgium, was hit in one of its engines, leaving the plane uncontrollable. The two pilots put the plane on autopilot, after which the crew was able to leave the plane by parachute.

The bomber continued to fly for more than 16 kilometers before crashing at this location, burning a farm. Local residents who descended on the crash site tried to search for survivors. Not knowing that every one had already left the plane. Not much later, the remaining ammunition in the plane exploded, hitting Count Yves de Sécillon with shrapnel in his neck. Attempts to save his life at a doctor's office in nearby village of Aubel, was to no avail. The count died of his injuries.

The entire crew survived the crash. Three of the ten crewmembers managed to reach England again and could be redeployed. The captain Lieutenant Forkner spent the rest of the war in hiding in Maastricht. The remaining six became prisoners of war untill the end of the war.

(Brief summary of what is written on the memorial.)

Do you have more information about this location? Inform us!

Source

• Text: Ed Lewandowski
• Photos: Ed Lewandowski
• Informatie op het herdenkingsbord.