Gordy Alton
02-26-2001, 02:34 AM
I am submitting a letter from a member of the crew of 42-4714, shot down on 'Black Thursday', the second Schweinfurt raid.
Please email Robert, and myself, with any answers, as well as a post here, if possible. This query came to me through the 91BGMA, of which I am also a member.
Thanks,
Gordon Alton
___________________________________________
Subj: Fw: Information Request :
Date: 2/24/2001 3:19:22 PM Pacific Standard Time
From: kriegie-1@juno.com (Robert M Slane)
To: B17banta@aol.com
CC: arthurgf@iopener.net, promethean@earthlink.net, tennismac@webtv.net
--------- Forwarded message ----------
From: kriegie-1@juno.com
To: Rudolf.Schmid@gmx.de
Date: Mon, 19 Feb 2001 20:59:47 -0600
Subject: Information Request :
Message-ID: <20010219.205950.-140045.0.kriegie-1@juno.com>
For Rudolf Schmid: :
I am Colonel Robert Slane -a retired U.S. Air force Officer. I just recently joined the 91st Bomb Group e-mail "ring".
I am writing you in the hope that you might know some one or some organization that might be able to research the records of German Flying Units and perhaps locate one or more members of the German Aircrew that strafed my aircraft as my crew was "bailing out"of a B-17 aircraft on 14
October, 1943.(Schweifurt mission).
I "crash landed" aircraft B17f, number 42-4714, adjacent to the village of Viviers, France (southeast of Metz ,France.) My tail gunner was still aboard the aircraft but he had been killed -- His name was Claud J. Smith.The remainder of the crew successfully bailed out. I was
captured at the aircraft and initially imprisoned in a cell in Viviers -
The next day, 15 Oct., a German Officer - with wings on his tunic, came to the prison cell to see me. He wanted to know my age - I was two months past 20 years - however, I gave only my name, rank and serial number. He appeared amused at my refusal to give my age. He also had me remove my B-15 flying jacket. Noting that I was wearing only a thin
khaki shirt, he handed the jacket back to me. I had the strong feeling that this man was probably the pilot of the Ju-88.
The previous night,,-the first night in the prison cell - ,a man dressed in black leather like a motorcyclist - appeared with a
guard.,opened the cell door and entered the cell. He was dark and spoke with a French accent. He pulled out a pistol, pointed it at me and demanded my wrist watch. After obtaining the watch he then pointed to my
helmet and goggles and I gave those articles to him. He attempted to take my pilot wings but I resisted and told him "no" in English. This person, young and short in stature appeared to me to be a French man.
I did not see the German pilot again The day after his visit ,late in the afternoon, we were taken by truck to a railroad station (probably Delm) to start our trip by rail to the Dulag at Frankfurt .
The Navigator, Glen Foster, evaded and made it to Switzerland .The remainder of my crew -seven of us - were captured and became prisoners
of war.
Thank you for any help or advice you can provide.
Robert M. Slane
------------------
Remember those who gave their all.
Please email Robert, and myself, with any answers, as well as a post here, if possible. This query came to me through the 91BGMA, of which I am also a member.
Thanks,
Gordon Alton
___________________________________________
Subj: Fw: Information Request :
Date: 2/24/2001 3:19:22 PM Pacific Standard Time
From: kriegie-1@juno.com (Robert M Slane)
To: B17banta@aol.com
CC: arthurgf@iopener.net, promethean@earthlink.net, tennismac@webtv.net
--------- Forwarded message ----------
From: kriegie-1@juno.com
To: Rudolf.Schmid@gmx.de
Date: Mon, 19 Feb 2001 20:59:47 -0600
Subject: Information Request :
Message-ID: <20010219.205950.-140045.0.kriegie-1@juno.com>
For Rudolf Schmid: :
I am Colonel Robert Slane -a retired U.S. Air force Officer. I just recently joined the 91st Bomb Group e-mail "ring".
I am writing you in the hope that you might know some one or some organization that might be able to research the records of German Flying Units and perhaps locate one or more members of the German Aircrew that strafed my aircraft as my crew was "bailing out"of a B-17 aircraft on 14
October, 1943.(Schweifurt mission).
I "crash landed" aircraft B17f, number 42-4714, adjacent to the village of Viviers, France (southeast of Metz ,France.) My tail gunner was still aboard the aircraft but he had been killed -- His name was Claud J. Smith.The remainder of the crew successfully bailed out. I was
captured at the aircraft and initially imprisoned in a cell in Viviers -
The next day, 15 Oct., a German Officer - with wings on his tunic, came to the prison cell to see me. He wanted to know my age - I was two months past 20 years - however, I gave only my name, rank and serial number. He appeared amused at my refusal to give my age. He also had me remove my B-15 flying jacket. Noting that I was wearing only a thin
khaki shirt, he handed the jacket back to me. I had the strong feeling that this man was probably the pilot of the Ju-88.
The previous night,,-the first night in the prison cell - ,a man dressed in black leather like a motorcyclist - appeared with a
guard.,opened the cell door and entered the cell. He was dark and spoke with a French accent. He pulled out a pistol, pointed it at me and demanded my wrist watch. After obtaining the watch he then pointed to my
helmet and goggles and I gave those articles to him. He attempted to take my pilot wings but I resisted and told him "no" in English. This person, young and short in stature appeared to me to be a French man.
I did not see the German pilot again The day after his visit ,late in the afternoon, we were taken by truck to a railroad station (probably Delm) to start our trip by rail to the Dulag at Frankfurt .
The Navigator, Glen Foster, evaded and made it to Switzerland .The remainder of my crew -seven of us - were captured and became prisoners
of war.
Thank you for any help or advice you can provide.
Robert M. Slane
------------------
Remember those who gave their all.