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B 17G 42-31377 crashed near Hørdum 22/2 1944.
The aircraft belonged to USAAF, 8 Air Force, 92 Bomb Group, 327 Bomb Squadron
and was named “Pot O Gold”.
T/o AAF Poddington ca 09:45. OP: Aalborg West air base.
Around 09:45 hours 62 aircrafts took of to bomb Aalborg West air base. The main
purpose was to draw German fighters away from targets in Germany which would be
attacked by other American forces. At approximately 14:00 hours the bombers were
over Aalborg but were not able to drop their bomb load due to heavy overcast,
and they set course back towards west. When they were back over the North Sea
they were attacked by German fighters from 11./ JG 11 and 10./ NJG 3.
(Via Finn Buch)
“Pot O
Gold” was attacked by Oberleutnant Hans Müller of 10. / NJG 3 flying JU 88 C-6 D5+AV
and severely damaged. Pilot 2nd Lt William Lavies turned back towards land since
it would mean certain death to bail out over the cold North Sea. Lavies lowered
the landing gear to show the JU 88 that he had given up and was followed back
towards the coast by the JU 88. Upon reaching land the crew left the B 17 and at
approximately 15:15 hours it crashed to the ground in a field belonging to
“Koustrup Møllegård” farm two kilometres west of Hørdum.
(Via Finn Buch)
Navigator 2.Lt Francis B.
Peacock landed away form the rest of the crew and managed to stay at large until
the day after at 08:00 when he was captured by the Wehrmacht near Hvidbjerg.
Co Pilot 2.Lt Elijah C. Vaughan, Bombardier 2.Lt Robert S. Shuman, Top Turret
gunner S/Sgt Neil E. Ryers, Ball turret gunner Sgt Lester F. Schrenk, Right waist
gunner Sgt Peter Guastella, Left waist gunner Sgt William E. Harman, Tail gunner
Sgt Vern C. Swindler and Radio operator S/Sgt John J. Walcott all landed safely
near Hørdum and were at 15:15 hours all captured by the Wehrmacht. It is known
that at least Schrenck was sent to Stalag Luft VI Heydekrug. He was liberated by
British troops south east of Hamburg on 3/5 1945.
(Via Finn Buch)
Ball turret gunner Sgt Lester F. Schrenk
Pilot 2nd Lt William Lavies landed in parachute in the frozen Ove Sø lake and
froze to death before he could be rescued. His body was taken to Frederikshavn
cemetery where it was laid to rest on 26/2 1944. His remains were disinterred on
1/5 1948 and were evacuated to the American cemetery at Neuville en Condron in
Belgium by the US military. Today he rest in USA.
(Via
Finn Buch)
Sources: LBUK, BF, MACR, AS 54-148, UA, JJ, RL 19/458, Sgt. Lester F. Schrenk
via FB
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