1st Lt. Ben Howe pilot KIA
B-17F #42-30068.
561st Bomb Squadron 388th Bomb Group
Missing Air Crew Report (MACR) # 3068 applies. There is a mistake in the MACR, however. The date of the event is given as 1944, not the actual 1943.
On August 19, 1943, the unit was tasked for their 4th mission, a strike on Woensdrecht Airfield, but a mistake by the group's lead navigator brought them in 21 miles off-course. Diverting to a secondary target at Gilze-Rijon because of weather, the squadron began its bomb run.
The aircraft received flak hits in #4 engine, and began losing power and altitude. Dropping out of formation, the pilot executed a wide left turn and managed to regain his place in the formation after the squadron turned off target. This pace could not be maintained and intensive fighter attacks brought more damage.
Rapidly losing altitude over the Dutch coast, the aircraft fire was spreading. The pilot called "Bail Out" but only the navigator and bombardier were able to respond. The aircraft was last seen under fighter attack, burning fiercely, and losing altitude.
The two crew members who bailed out were captured by the Germans, interrogated, and sent to Stalag Luft III until they were liberated in May, 1945. The other 8 crewman all perished in the crash and fire.
They were buried in a military cemetery at Haamstede and later returned to the families for private burial.
The crew of the aircraft consisted of:
1st Lt. Ben Howe pilot
2nd Lt Paul Gruhn co-pilot
2nd Lt Joel Tutt bombardier
2nd Lt Arthur Pilley navigator
SSgt George Connelly top turret gunner
SSgt William Ryan right waist gunner
SSgt James E. Hillier left waist gunner
SSgt William J. Stamp tail gunner
SSgt Dale Theodore Butt ball turret gunner
SSgt Stephen A. Toth radio operator
In some instances, this aircraft has been mis-identified as the B-17 named "Phartzac" of the 350th Bomb Squadron, but that particular aircraft was lost on the infamous Bremen mission of 8 October 1943.
- John Dowdy
B-17F #42-30068.
561st Bomb Squadron 388th Bomb Group
Missing Air Crew Report (MACR) # 3068 applies. There is a mistake in the MACR, however. The date of the event is given as 1944, not the actual 1943.
On August 19, 1943, the unit was tasked for their 4th mission, a strike on Woensdrecht Airfield, but a mistake by the group's lead navigator brought them in 21 miles off-course. Diverting to a secondary target at Gilze-Rijon because of weather, the squadron began its bomb run.
The aircraft received flak hits in #4 engine, and began losing power and altitude. Dropping out of formation, the pilot executed a wide left turn and managed to regain his place in the formation after the squadron turned off target. This pace could not be maintained and intensive fighter attacks brought more damage.
Rapidly losing altitude over the Dutch coast, the aircraft fire was spreading. The pilot called "Bail Out" but only the navigator and bombardier were able to respond. The aircraft was last seen under fighter attack, burning fiercely, and losing altitude.
The two crew members who bailed out were captured by the Germans, interrogated, and sent to Stalag Luft III until they were liberated in May, 1945. The other 8 crewman all perished in the crash and fire.
They were buried in a military cemetery at Haamstede and later returned to the families for private burial.
The crew of the aircraft consisted of:
1st Lt. Ben Howe pilot
2nd Lt Paul Gruhn co-pilot
2nd Lt Joel Tutt bombardier
2nd Lt Arthur Pilley navigator
SSgt George Connelly top turret gunner
SSgt William Ryan right waist gunner
SSgt James E. Hillier left waist gunner
SSgt William J. Stamp tail gunner
SSgt Dale Theodore Butt ball turret gunner
SSgt Stephen A. Toth radio operator
In some instances, this aircraft has been mis-identified as the B-17 named "Phartzac" of the 350th Bomb Squadron, but that particular aircraft was lost on the infamous Bremen mission of 8 October 1943.
- John Dowdy
1st Lt. Ben Howe pilot KIA
B-17F #42-30068.
561st Bomb Squadron 388th Bomb Group
Missing Air Crew Report (MACR) # 3068 applies. There is a mistake in the MACR, however. The date of the event is given as 1944, not the actual 1943.
On August 19, 1943, the unit was tasked for their 4th mission, a strike on Woensdrecht Airfield, but a mistake by the group's lead navigator brought them in 21 miles off-course. Diverting to a secondary target at Gilze-Rijon because of weather, the squadron began its bomb run.
The aircraft received flak hits in #4 engine, and began losing power and altitude. Dropping out of formation, the pilot executed a wide left turn and managed to regain his place in the formation after the squadron turned off target. This pace could not be maintained and intensive fighter attacks brought more damage.
Rapidly losing altitude over the Dutch coast, the aircraft fire was spreading. The pilot called "Bail Out" but only the navigator and bombardier were able to respond. The aircraft was last seen under fighter attack, burning fiercely, and losing altitude.
The two crew members who bailed out were captured by the Germans, interrogated, and sent to Stalag Luft III until they were liberated in May, 1945. The other 8 crewman all perished in the crash and fire.
They were buried in a military cemetery at Haamstede and later returned to the families for private burial.
The crew of the aircraft consisted of:
1st Lt. Ben Howe pilot
2nd Lt Paul Gruhn co-pilot
2nd Lt Joel Tutt bombardier
2nd Lt Arthur Pilley navigator
SSgt George Connelly top turret gunner
SSgt William Ryan right waist gunner
SSgt James E. Hillier left waist gunner
SSgt William J. Stamp tail gunner
SSgt Dale Theodore Butt ball turret gunner
SSgt Stephen A. Toth radio operator
In some instances, this aircraft has been mis-identified as the B-17 named "Phartzac" of the 350th Bomb Squadron, but that particular aircraft was lost on the infamous Bremen mission of 8 October 1943.
- John Dowdy
B-17F #42-30068.
561st Bomb Squadron 388th Bomb Group
Missing Air Crew Report (MACR) # 3068 applies. There is a mistake in the MACR, however. The date of the event is given as 1944, not the actual 1943.
On August 19, 1943, the unit was tasked for their 4th mission, a strike on Woensdrecht Airfield, but a mistake by the group's lead navigator brought them in 21 miles off-course. Diverting to a secondary target at Gilze-Rijon because of weather, the squadron began its bomb run.
The aircraft received flak hits in #4 engine, and began losing power and altitude. Dropping out of formation, the pilot executed a wide left turn and managed to regain his place in the formation after the squadron turned off target. This pace could not be maintained and intensive fighter attacks brought more damage.
Rapidly losing altitude over the Dutch coast, the aircraft fire was spreading. The pilot called "Bail Out" but only the navigator and bombardier were able to respond. The aircraft was last seen under fighter attack, burning fiercely, and losing altitude.
The two crew members who bailed out were captured by the Germans, interrogated, and sent to Stalag Luft III until they were liberated in May, 1945. The other 8 crewman all perished in the crash and fire.
They were buried in a military cemetery at Haamstede and later returned to the families for private burial.
The crew of the aircraft consisted of:
1st Lt. Ben Howe pilot
2nd Lt Paul Gruhn co-pilot
2nd Lt Joel Tutt bombardier
2nd Lt Arthur Pilley navigator
SSgt George Connelly top turret gunner
SSgt William Ryan right waist gunner
SSgt James E. Hillier left waist gunner
SSgt William J. Stamp tail gunner
SSgt Dale Theodore Butt ball turret gunner
SSgt Stephen A. Toth radio operator
In some instances, this aircraft has been mis-identified as the B-17 named "Phartzac" of the 350th Bomb Squadron, but that particular aircraft was lost on the infamous Bremen mission of 8 October 1943.
- John Dowdy
Inscription
1 LT US AIR FORCE
WORLD WAR II
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