Dom Pastore Jr
04-21-2001, 04:42 PM
PLEASE HELP !! I'm attempting to determine the Luftwaffe unit(s) responsible for downing a US 8th AF B-17g at approximately 12:00 noon on Feb. 3, 1945 in the Hamburg - Neumunster area. (Re: B-17g a/c # 42-97678, "The Birmingham Jewell", piloted by 1st Lt. William A. Webber, of the 379th Bomb. Group / 525th Bomb. Sqdn. 379th B.G.'s Mission #275. MACR #12217 / KU-3646 )This a/c had aborted it's bombing mission to Berlin, and was attempting to return home on three engines. As it approached the vicinity of Hamburg, it was attacked by two or possibly three Me109 fighters. The Me109's made several passes which caused the B-17 to be engulfed in flames, eventually exploding in mid-air. The destroyed a/c finally came to rest just east of Jevenstedt, near Rendsburg. ( The debris was spread over one square kilometer.) Of the 9 man crew, 5 managed to bail out and become POW's. The remaining 4 were KIA, and were given a military brial in Neumunster by Luftwaffe personnel. The assorted Luftwaffe documents refer to the following units; Airbase HQ A 5/II, Airfield Command Neumunster -OR- Air District Command II, Hamburg-Blankensee. one report is addressed to; Command Airfield Zone 7/III, Lubeck-Blankensee. Is there ANY way to determine which Luftwaffe unit was responsible for, or credited with shooting down this particular B-17 ? To my knowledge, this was the only US B-17 a/c that was lost anywhere near this particular area. Hopefully, that fact may make determination a little bit easier. If there's no way to determine responsibility for the shoot down, is there any way to determine which Luftwaffe fighter unit(s) was responsible for, or based in that particular area ? If someone would be so kind as to assist me in this matter, I will be MOST DEEPLY APPRECIATIVE. THANK YOU. Regards, Dom Pastore Jr. (dpast32@aol.com)