Crash Site Consolidated B-24H Liberator 42-52123

On January 11, 1944, the B-24 of USAAF 713 Bomb Squadron took off from Royal Air Force Seething Air Base as part of an attack wave of 372 aircraft to bomb the German aircraft factories in Braunschweig. Due to bad weather, many bombers had to break off the attack and divert to secondary targets. En route, the B-24 was attacked by several German Messerschmitt Bf109 fighters of the 2./JG 27 Jagdgeschwader. As a result of an attack by German fighters, the B-24 crashes after an explosion in mid-air here in the woods near Exloo around 12.15 pm. All American crew members were killed in this German attack.

All fallen crewmembers were reburied in American cemeteries in Louisville, Ratliff and Margraten.

Crew:
Pilot 2nd Lt. J.E. Urban O-676878 USAAF USA Buried Zachary Taylor Nat Cem
Co-Pilot 2nd Lt. A.P. Anthony O-808492 USAAF Kolhorn
Navigator 2nd Lt. F. Brenner O-687928 USAAF Kolhorn
Bombardier 2nd Lt. S. Friedman O-688184 USAAF Kolhorn
Engineer S/Sgt. H.M. Smith 17038532 USAAF Kolhorn
Radio Operator S/Sgt. W. Mc Clellan 38285507 USAAF Kolhorn
LW Gunner S/Sgt. G. Petula 12183208 USAAF Margraten L-14-12
RW Gunner T/Sgt. R.D. Barber 14040228 USAAF Kolhorn
BT Gunner S/Sgt. J.B. Deffner 32675587 USAAF Kolhorn
T Gunner S/Sgt. J.J. Kelly 32782047 USAAF Kolhorn

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Source

• Text: Stichting Luchtoorlog Onderzoek Drenthe, in samenwerking met en mogelijk gemaakt door de Historische Vereniging Carspel Oderen.
• Photos: Rob Wethly, SLO Drenthe (1, 3), Bert Deelman (2, 4)
• Nationaal Comité 4 en 5 mei
• Stichting Luchtoorlog Onderzoek Drenthe