B-17 "Mission Belle" 42-30197

On the morning of the 11th April 1944 started B-17 42-30197 from the AAF Station 155 ( Great Ashfield ). It did belong to 385th BG, 551st BS, and carried the name MISSION BELLE on the nose. The 385th Bombgroups planes was on a mission to Politz. At the bombing run, did the plane recieve anti aircraft fire and the pilot reported that he was unable to keep up with the formation. The planes number three engine was out and another engine was failing. The pilot told about his decision to go to Sweden and left formation.

Swedish army reported to the headquarter by telegram: At the time of 1344 did an american airplane pass south of Utlangan. Airplane landed 500m from Nord Kvarnen at Rorsang south Kristianopel. Crew is safe and taken charge of by homeguard.

From a newspaper in Kalmar:

As told shortly forcelanded a flying fortress on farmer John Dahlqvists properties near Kristianopel. The plane type was Boeing. It has a 10 men crew, young americans, who are unhurt,even though the landing did not take place without misshaps. The plane hit first a stonewall, that did surround the farmland that became the landing place,and the tail of the airplane did rip off. Landing gear had not been lowered, and the plane hit the ground with the right wing first, and this caused the plane to make a nearly 180 turn on the ground. Big damage occured, one of the four engines was completely ruined and the underside of the plane was teared off. The biggest damage was on the aft of the airplane which was completely broken. A repair seems to be out of question, so the plane will be dismantled and scrapped. The airplane did turn around a while over Kristianopel, and was even a while up to Bergkvara. Shortly after the plane made the landing was swedish military personal at the sight, and took care of the american crew. The crew were well aware of that they were in sweden and did not try to hide their knowledge about this. On the farmland that the plane landed, was both people and horses working. It is a wonder that no one was injured. According to the markings on the plane had it participated in 18 raids over Germany. The 10 americans has been taken to internment camp.

The crew was interned at internment camp number 4 at Loka and the internment period was from 12th April 1944 to 9th October 1944. The plane was scrapped because of the damage at the landing.

Crew on B-17 42-30197 MISSION BELLE was:

Pilot: 1st Lt.Duane Pangle
Co-pilot: 2nd Lt. Onner D. Davis
Navigator: 2nd Lt. Samuel I. Kaiser
Togglier: T/Sgt. Robert C. Breasbois
Top turret gunner: T/Sgt. Herbert L. Witherington
Radio operator/Gunner: T/Sgt. James E. Gant
Ball turret gunner: Sgt. Herold C. Jones
Tail gunner: S/Sgt. Thomas W. Cavanagh
Right waist gunner: S/Sgt. Arthur V. Brandt
Left waist gunner: S/Sgt. Vincent L. Corleto

Plane landed at Kristianopel south of Kalmar. (updated: 2003-02-13)