POW
ORIGINAL CREW #29 418TH BS
AC #42-3237 "STYMIE"
MACR #1030
|
1ST LT ERNEST A. KIESSLING |
P |
-- |
-- |
SEE NOTES
|
|
1ST LT JOHN F. STEPHENS |
CP/P
|
POW |
10 OCT 43 |
POW MUNSTER (HAD TAKEN OVER AS
1ST PILOT OF THIS CREW)
|
| 1ST LT DAVID SOLOMON |
NAV |
POW |
10 OCT 43 |
POW MUNSTER (LT JOHN BRADY CREW)
|
| 2ND LT STANLEY O. MORRISON |
BOM |
KIA |
25 JUN 43 |
BREMEN (With CREW #1, LT PETRICH) |
| T/SGT JOHN SHAY |
TTE |
POW |
10 OCT 43 |
POW MUNSTER |
| S/SGT GEORGE F. KNOLLE |
WG |
POW |
10 OCT 43 |
POW MUNSTER |
| T/SGTMAX U. DRUDGE |
BTG |
POW |
10 OCT 43 |
POW MUNSTER |
| S/SGT CARL E. BATTIN |
ROG |
POW |
10 OCT 43 |
POW MUNSTER |
| S/SGT CASIMIR A. RACZYNSKI |
WG |
POW |
10 OCT 43 |
POW MUNSTER |
| S/SGT WILLIAM F. YOUNG |
TG |
POW |
10 OCT 43 |
POW MUNSTER |
CREW THAT FLEW 10 OCT 43 MUNSTER MISSION:
| 1ST LT JOHN F. STEPHENS |
P |
POW |
10 OCT 43 |
MUNSTER |
| 1ST LT HOYT L. SMITH |
CP |
POW |
10 OCT 43 |
MUNSTER |
| 2ND LT RUDOLPH GRUM |
NAV |
POW |
10 OCT 43 |
MUNSTER |
| 2 ND LT WILLIAM J. MOORE |
BOM |
POW |
10 OCT 43 |
MUNSTER |
| T/SGT JOHN SHAY |
TTE |
POW |
10 OCT 43 |
MUNSTER |
| S/SGT GEORGE F. KNOLLE |
WG |
POW |
10 OCT 43 |
MUNSTER |
| T/SGT MAX U. DRUDGE |
BTG |
POW |
10 OCT 43 |
MUNSTER |
| S/SGT CARL E. BATTIN |
ROG |
POW |
10 OCT 43 |
MUNSTER |
| S/SGT CASIMIR A. RACZYNSKI |
WG |
POW |
10 OCT 43 |
MUNSTER |
| S/SGT WILLIAM F. YOUNG |
TG |
POW |
10 OCT 43 |
MUNSTER |
NOTES: ON THE 100TH FIRST MISSION, 25 JUN 43. LOUIS GRATE, BOMBARDIER OF
CREW #1 WAS REPLACED BY LT STANLEY O. MORRISON. THE REASON FOR THE
EXCHANGE IS UNKNOWN; AN EXCHANGE OF PERSONNEL BETWEEN SQUADRONS, SUCH AS
THIS, WAS RARELY SEEN. MORRISON'S SPOT ON CREW 29 WAS FILLED BY LT
WILLIAM F. MOORE WHO BECAME A POW ON 10 OCT 43. DAVID SOLOMON MOVED TO
CREW #32, REPLACING HARRY CROSBY WHEN CROSBY BECAME GROUP NAVIGATOR. LT
RUDOLPH GRUM REPLACED SOLOMON ON CREW #29 AND BECAME A POW ON 10 OCT 43.
LT ERNEST KIESSLING WAS GROUNDED AFTER TEN MISSIONS FOR SURGERY AND LT
JOHN STEPHENS TOOK OVER AS PILOT, LIKELY THIS IS WHEN LT HOYT L. SMITH
BECAME THE CO-PILOT COMING FROM CREW #28. HE BECAME A POWON 10 OCT 43ALONG WITH STEPHENS. T/SGT CARL E. BATTIN REPLACED S/SGT FRANK S.
MAZARKA PRIOR TO THE CREW'S OVERSEAS FLIGHT AND WAS TAKEN PRISONER ON 10
0CT 43. AFTER SEVERE FLAK DAMAGE AND ATTACKS BY FIGHTERS THE PILOTS MADE
A SUCCESSFUL BELLY LANDING. MAX DRUDGE WAS WOUNDED IN THE RIGHT WRIST
AND HAND BY A 20-MM AND T/SGT BATTIN SUFFERED A BROKEN ARM, THE
REMAINDER WERE NOT INJURED AND ALL BECAME POWS.
CREW COMBAT MISSIONS Lt Kiessling & Lt Stephen's B17F 23237
"Stymie" unless otherwise noted
|
NBR
|
Date
|
Time
|
Target
|
Results
|
Remarks - Aircraft
|
|
-- |
6/22/43 |
4:00 |
Diversion, North Sea |
Completed a. b. |
-- |
|
01 |
6/25/43 |
5:00 |
Bremen, Subyards |
Abortive c. d. |
-- |
|
-- |
6/26/43 |
4:03 |
LeMans, Aero Eng |
Target obscured, abort |
-- |
|
-- |
6/28/43 |
5:45 |
St. Nazaire, Subpens |
Completed |
Returned Early, Spare Aircraft according to
Andrews |
|
02 |
6/29/43 |
5:40 |
LeMans, Aero Eng |
Completed |
-- |
|
03 |
7/4/43 |
11:00 |
LaPallice, Harbor |
Completed |
-- |
|
04 |
7/10/43 |
5:30 |
LeBourget, Air Field |
Abortive |
-- |
|
05 |
7/14/43 |
5:45 |
LeBourget, Air Field |
Abortive |
-- |
|
-- |
7/17/43 |
-- |
Hamburg, Aero Eng |
-- |
Flat Tire on Take off |
|
06 |
7/25/43 |
7:35 |
Warnemunde, A/C Fac |
Completed |
230066 "Mugwump" |
|
-- |
7/28/43 |
-- |
Oschersleben, A/C Fac |
Returned Early |
could not locate formation |
|
07 |
7/29/43 |
7:20 |
Warnemunde, A/C Fac |
Completed |
-- |
|
08 |
7/30/43 |
6:10 |
Kassel A/C Factory |
Completed |
-- |
|
09 |
8/12/43 |
5:00 |
Wesseling, Synthetic Oil |
Completed |
-- |
|
-- |
8/14/43 |
3:50 |
Diversion, North Sea |
Complete |
(last mission with Lt Kiessling) |
|
10 |
9/6/43 |
9:15 |
Stuttgart, Ball Bearings |
Completed |
(Lt Stephens takes over Crew) |
|
11 |
9/7/43 |
3:30 |
Watten, V-weapons |
Completed |
-- |
|
12 |
9/9/43 |
4:00 |
Beauvais-Tille, AF |
Completed |
-- |
|
13 |
9/15/43 |
6:45 |
Paris, Aircraft Factory |
Completed |
-- |
|
-- |
9/23/43 |
-- |
Vannes, Airfield |
Returned Early |
, #3 Supercharger on 42-6094 failed |
|
14 |
9/26/43 |
-- |
Paris |
Completed |
A/C 42-6094 |
|
15 |
9/27/43 |
5:45 |
Emden, Port |
Completed |
A/C 42-6094 |
|
16 |
10/2/43 |
6:00 |
Emden, Docks |
Completed |
A/C 42-6094 |
|
17 |
10/4/43 |
6:05 |
Hanau, Rubber Works |
Completed |
A/C 42-6094 |
|
-- |
10/8/43 |
-- |
Bremen |
Returned Early |
#1 propeller leaking oil |
|
18 |
10/9/43 |
10:15 |
Marienburg, A/C Fac |
Completed |
-- |
|
19 |
10/10/43 |
-- |
Munster, MY |
Crash Landed |
near Borken, Ger (e) |
Notes:
a. First Combat Mission for the 100th Bomb Group
b. Completed-bombs dropped
c. Abortive-returned without bombing
d. Abortive but counted as a completed mission-aircraft lost (3)
including a plane with Stymie's regular crew bombardier, Stanley O.
Morrison, who was (KIA)
e. "Stymie" and crew lost in action on 19th mission toward the
tour requirement of 25 -all ten crew members POW.
Newspaper articles concerning the crash of "Stymie" and John F.
Stephens. . Bocholter Borkener Volksblatt -- Thursday, June 19, 1986:
BOCHOLTER BORKENER VOLKSBLATT--Thursday, June 19, 1986 Search for
Eyewitnesses
An American on the trail of the story of his youth: In 1943, John F.
Stephens was forced to make an emergency landing in the Bocholter area.
Now, 43years after this memorable experience, Stephens returned to
Westmunsterland to locate the site where the crew of the Bomber type
"Flying Fortress" involuntarily became acquainted with Bocholt. Until
now his search has been without success. Stephens is hoping for help
from the public. Source: 100th bomb Group Foundation database.
On October 10, 1943, a US Bomber had to make an emergency landing in the
area near Bocholt "Where is the friendly interpreter?" Pilot John F.
Stephens wants to get in contact with eye-witnesses of the event
Bocholt/Kreis Borken. It happened on October 10, 1943. On that Sunday an
American bomber, Type B-17--"Flying Fortress", had to make an emergency
landing in the Bocholter area. 'The ten man crew, including their
leader, 20 year old Lt. John F. Stephens, were taken prisoners by the
German Air Force. 'Today, more than four decades after this event, this
same John F. Stephens is a guest of the Bundesrepublic. He is trying to
locate the place where in 1943, he had to make an emergency landing with
his B-17, and hopes to find people he met at that time who remember the
event. So far he has been unsuccessful. But, he is confident that with
the help of BBV newspaper, he'll have more luck.
On October10, 1943, the order of the day for the, at that time, 20 year
old U. S. Lt. , was to leave from Ipswich in Great Britain, and head
towards Muenster, to bomb the railroad station and the tracks in that
city. The "Flying Fortress" belonged to the 100th Bomber- group of the
8th Air Force. Stephens aircraft belonged to one of numerous groups,
each consisting of sixteen bombers, who left Great Britain on that
mission. Shortly before reaching their destination, the pilot indicated
engine trouble. One of the four engines failed. Stephens had no other
choice but to leave the group and turn west. he tried to hold his bomber
at a low altitude, and was able to cross the German defense- line
Wesel-Borken-Rheine with his plane. But soon thereafter, the situation
became critical. The missiles of a German "Messerschmidt" hit the right
wing of his B-17, which had burst into flames. John F. Stephens had to
make an emergency landing. "In a meadow somewhere in the Bocholter area"
is where John F. Stephens remembers the successful landing occurred.
"There was a farm nearby". Some members of the ten-man crew attempted to
flee. However, they were caught by German soldiers and locked in a barn.
John F. Stephens, the pilot, was able to communicate with a German Air
Force officer. "The first thing he did, was congratulate me for the
clean landing", said Stephens. "They were surprised that I could land
the aircraft so well with its burning wing. 'The American Lt. first
asked for medical help for his two injured crew members. Each of the
Sergeants had a broken arm. Only one problem: The German officer did not
speak English, the American Lt. , did not speak German. A
twelve-thirteen year-old girl who was amongst the curious crowd, came to
the rescue. She asked, in perfect English, if she could be of any help,
and took the role of an interpreter. The American soldiers were first
locked in a building close by, which looked to Stephens like an old
schoolhouse. Later, they were taken to some sort of prison. The two
injured Sergeants received medical attention in a hospital. A few days
later, the Sergeants and officers were separated. The officers were
transported via train to an Air Force base near Frankfurt, where they
remained for a few days. They were then taken to an air force camp near
Sagen, on the Oder (river), which was called "Stalag Luft III. There
Stephens and his crew were held prisoners until the end of 1944, when
the Russians drew closer. The final prison camp where the American
soldiers were held was located northeast of Munich. It was from here
that they were released on April 29, 1945. John F. Stephens, later a
teacher, now retired, came to Bocholt with the intention of finding the
site where his landing took place, and also the kind girl who acted as
interpreter. "Today she would be in her mid 50's", according to
Stephens. Inquiries at the city register were without success, but he
seems convinced that his emergency landing took place in the Bocholter
area. "Whoever saw our plane would not forget it. Both wings burnt
themselves out without an explosion. There was a big white square
painted on the tail of the B17 with a large 'D', and the number 23237 on
it. " His request to the readers of the BBV: "Please contact the editor
at 02871-955140 if you can remember this event of October 10, 1943. " He
is anxious to get in contact with eye witnesses and exchange some
recollections. John F Stephens and his wife Gale will be vacationing in
Holland until July 9. They will return immediately to Bocholt if someone
comes forward in the meantime. After that, the couple will travel to
Norway. The grandparents of Gale Stephens are of Norwegian descent, and
emigrated to the U. S. A. at the end of the 19th century. "Maybe we will
find some relatives in the Trondheim area", she hopes.
Now the BBV staff is looking for more information (O2871-955140). Who
recalls details about the emergency landing of the "B-17 along the
Rheder Chaussee? Who can remember another place near Bocholt where thls
event on October 10, 1943could have taken place? John F. Stephens who
at present time is vacationing in Holland, wants to come back to Bocholt
the week after next, to look over the sites.
Bocholter VOLKSBLATT - Borkener Friday, June 20, 1986
Emergency landing of the "Flying Fortress" on the Rheder Chaussee?
"B-17" across from the House Tenking
Yesterday we received telephone information from more than 30 BBV-readers
Bocholt/Rhede. Is there a BBV-reader who can remember, that on Sunday,
October 10, 1943an American bomber "B 17 Flying Fortress" made an
emergency landing between Bocholt and Rhede? It was supposed to be on a
meadow along the Rheder Chaussee, close to the Ketteler farm across from
the House Tenking. In the meantime we found some circumstantial evidence
about it. The pilot of the plane, John F. Stephens, also thinks, that
the incident almost 43years ago, possibly took place on that site.
After yesterday's BBV publication about the emergency landing of the
American plane in the fall of 1943, the phone in the editor's office
didn't stop ringing. More than 30 readers reached for the phone and were
sure, that they witnessed the landing of the "B 17". The calls pointed
to the Honsel farm in Buengern, a meadow along the B 67 (high- way)
close to the Lankerner School, to farms and surroundings in Mussum,
Liedern, Barlo, and even Anholt and Werth. Always, the caller stressed,
it was an American plane.
Some remembered the type "Flying Fortress" or the big "D" on a white
background which was painted on the tail of the "B-17". It was also
confirmed that one wing was burning but the bomber didn't explode.
The information given by the callers was alike except for a minor
detail: The date, October 10, 1943could not be right. The records for
that day indicate there were no bombings, crashes, or emergency landings
in the area of Liedern-Werth, it is all documented in the Bocholter City
Registrar's Office. The manager of the City Registrar's Office. Dr. Hans
D. Oppel, confirmed that yesterday for the BBV.
Although two tips proved to be very interesting, they pointed to the
meadow along the Rheder Chaussee. Both callers are very sure, that on
October 10, 1943a "B 17" made an emergency landing there. One of them
remembers that it was on a Sunday. The plane supposedly was facing
toward the House Tenking. Two members of the crew ran in the direction
of the Winkelhauser Mountains, but were soon captured. The caller said,
that after a while 8 American flyers were led off across the Hardt and
Neu St. , "all tall boys". They were locked up in the old school house
in Neu St. ln that point the account of the two callers differ, The
second caller is sure. that the US flyers were taken to Bocholt.
John F. Stephens, who was informed yesterday afternoon by phone from the
BBV, reacted with a spontaneous cry of enthusiasm; "That's smashing". It
could have been along the Rheder Chaussee, he surmised. Yes, there were
8 of them who were led off. Two members of the ten men crew were injured
and transported to a hospital.
Velen -- Landing site found
With the support from our readers, the former aircraft commander
John F. Stephens from Pennsylvania, USA, is at the end of his search. As
reported, after a mission to Muenster, he was forced to make a belly
landing by German fighter planes, right before the Holland border.
Stephens was searching for eyewitnesses and the landing site. Photos
prove, that the B 17 nearly undamaged came to a stop before a forest in
Holthausen.
BORKENER ZEITUNG--Saturday, June 21, 1986
Photographs of the landing Site dispel aIl doubt:
U. S. bomber "Stymie" came down in Holthausen
Former interpreter is found/Gasoline taken in milk can.
Velen-Ransdorf. Searched for--found! Today there is corn planted on this
field, the meadow and the tall trees are gone. It looked quite different
43years ago. Then it was October 10, 1943, a sunny Sunday, when a B-17
of the U. S. fleet crashed on a meadow between the farm
Schulze-Weddeling, and the Koetterhaus camp. Virtually undamaged, the
four-engine bomber, also called, the "Flying Fortress", lay in front of
large oak trees, not far from the B525 (Highway). Eight men jumped out
of the plane--uninjured. but, two of the ten men crew were hurt. Amongst
the uninjured was the pilot, Lt. John F. Stephens. This week, 43years
later, Stephens came to BZ for help. The article about the - emergency
landing and the search for eyewitnesses drew a flood of phone calls.
There were many clues.
At the end, pictures finally proved where on the meadow the air- craft
was put down. Lt. Stephens can be happy: He remembered a young girl who
spoke with the crew in perfect English. She also was found. The events
of this day were reconstructed from statements of eyewitnesses and from
a book which was kindly recommended from the homeland researcher
Adalbert Friedrich from Raesfeld. Stymie is mentioned in the book,
'Muenster October 10, 1943" (Aschendorff) by Ian Hawkins. Radio operator
Carl Battin remembers: "During the short time we were over Muenster we
were hit by the anti-aircraft artillery.
Our pilot Lt. John Stephens reduced the altitude at once and tried to
reach the Canal in a lower level flight. We were very heavily attacked
by German fighter planes. The enemy was chasing us from all directions
and forced us to make a belly landing. Our front rifle man was hit with
a 20-mm in his right hand and I had a broken arm. the rest of the crew
was not hurt. We were soon taken prisoners. " So far the presentation
from the American view point. The source is wrong in one point: "Stymie"
made the emergency landing in Aalten- Holland. In conversation with the
BZ the former bomber pilot confirmed, that those 2 men belonged to his
crew and it had to be his aircraft which slithered over the meadow in
Holthausen, took down fences and then stopped. In his conversation he
also mentioned the black D and the numbers 23237 on the white square
painted on the tail. They are identical with the pictures made available
to us. At that time Franz-Josef Liesner pushed the shutter release
button on his little Agfa-Fox. Today he is the principal at the
Hauptschule of Suedlohn. More pictures were added from the families
Effink-Tenk and Schulze-Weddeling. Liesner, at that time 16 years old,
remembers: "People came from all over. It was quite sensational. "The
children took all kinds of things from the plane.
One of the first persons at the B-17, "Flying Fortress" was Helmut
Schulze, at that time 12 years old. "At first, we were not afraid, but
then, all of a sudden a few negroes came out, we never saw one before,
then we ran. " Still today when plowing, we find pieces of the aircraft,
says the farmer. He himself picked up some ammunition and kept it. The
girl, which the bomber pilot remembers, is probably Anni Buetterhoff,
born Osterhalt. She was attending a Middle-School and was 14 years old.
Anni Buetterhoff: "The first question the flyers ~ asked was: Here
Holland?". They asked me where they were, after I asked them "Can I help
you?" She knew that two flyers were taken prisoner in the evening at the
railroad station in Suedlohn, they had had a beer in the stations
restaurant beforehand. Ludwine Hilian also tried to remember. The
witness who lives in Dortmund told us, that children and grown ups fell
upon the plane and took whatever was not nailed down. One flyer was
pinned in the rear.
All witnesses agreed in their explanation, that German soldiers arrived
immediately. They came on motor cycles. The flyers were put in a barn
after the injured were taken care of. Close to the landing spot, about
500 m away, there was what they called a fake airport. Maybe that was
the fighter plane base which was mentioned by radio operator Battin. It
is possible that the crew spotted the dummies. Hubert Schulze-'Weddeling
still remembers what happened in the late evening: "There were no more
empty milk cans left on the surrounding farms. The farmers emptied the
tanks of the aircraft. "At this time the former bomber pilot is still in
Holland. Together with his wife Gale, he'll take a close look at the
landing site in the following weeks. He is very anxious to meet with the
eyewitnesses.
BORKENER ZEITUNG Wednesday, July 2, 1986
U. S. Bomber Pilot returns to the landing site in Holthausen:
"I TOUCHED THE EARTH AND FELT ALIVE"
To meet again with eyewitnesses/The entire crew went back to USA
Velen-Ramsdorf. The meeting this time after different circum- stances,
more than 4 decades later, was very heartfelt. High School English was
pulled from memory, pictures were taken, people kissed and hugged. This
uncommon scene occurred at a meeting at the Schulze- Weddeling farm. The
past came alive. All the pieces they remembered from that sunny Sunday,
Oct. , 10, 1943, fit together like a puzzle. The reason: US Bomber Pilot
John F. Stephens, who in 1943was forced to make an emergency landing,
when German fighter Planes, and anti- aircraft artillery attacked him
while on an attack mission at Muenster, met with eyewitnesses from that
time. The pilot of the B 17 " Flying Fortress" was at that time 22 years
old, asked the BZ for help in finding the landing site of his aircraft.
Numerous hints from our readers, notes from diaries, and pictures of the
4 engine plane finally proved, that the "Flying Fortress" with the
nickname "Stymie", came to a stop not far from the B525 (highway)
between Suedlohn and Velen, only a few yards in front of large oak
trees. As the pictures show, Stephens put the aircraft down with
virtually no damage.
Stephens, who together with his wife Gale is on a European trip, also
remembers a young girl who shortly after the landing helped to cross the
language barrier. Anni Buetterhoff, who was the interpreter at that
time, got a big kiss as a welcome. " I'm happy to meet you after all
those years". The commander of the B 17 explained, that after their
captivity, the entire crew returned to the USA in 1945. He is still in
contact with some of the 10 man crew. One of the eyewitnesses, who was
somewhat involved in the event, was Bernhard Busch. While waiting for a
train in the late evening hours to go back to his post, he took the two
American flyers prisoner, who tried to cross the border to Holland after
the landing. The at that time lance corporal told us, he got 5 days
leave as a bonus. Elisabeth Thesing also remembers details: "Two of the
American flyers- were injured, they were taken care of right away. They
brought pillows from the Koetterhaus Camp. You could see, both were in a
lot of pain. "The other 6 flyers:- were immediately locked in a barn
after the German Military men arrived on motor cycles. On the very same
spot, which looks different today than at the time of the landing,
Stephens found little pieces of the plane. Stephens: "I just can’t
believe it". The teacher since retired, was very moved when he saw
ammunition and a piece of a tank which belonged to his plane. Hubert
Schulze-Weddeling, who kept those parts: "Please be careful those parts
are still sharp. "
The reconstruction of the events from that day showed that the American
flyers were probably taken to the school of Holtnausen.
Stephens said, it was already dark 'When German Air Force officers came
and congratulated him for the "clean landing". The witnesses recalled,
that in discussions between the anti- aircraft soldiers and Jabo Pilots,
they each wanted credit for the crash of the Stymie. Like Stephens
explains, the prisoners were only in Holthausen a few hours. "We were
transported to an air force base in Frankfurt". After that they were put
in an air force camp in Sagan on the Oder. lt was called "Stalag III".
"The time in prison, during which the Russians came constantly closer,
was the hardest for us. " Other- wise the prisoners were treated quite
fairly by the Germans. The last stop before the trip back home, was a
camp near Munich. The former enemies listened with interest and
commented on some details. They all felt the same: There should never be
another war. One event in particular captivated the listeners: "When I
climbed out of the left exit of the aircraft, I touched the ground and
squeezed a handful of dirt in my fist", that was proof for him that he
got out of the plane alive. After a hearty good bye, a thank you for the
hospitality, and with the hope to see each other again, they parted.
John and Gale Stephens accepted an invitation for a short visit to the
Oedinger Schuetzenfest. The couple is staying a few more days in
Holland. After that, both of them are traveling to Norway.
The following report was filed by Grant Fuller in 1994:
Taps: Ernest A. ("Doc") Kiessling, Pilot - 418th, of heart attack, 4 July
1994. The Houston Post reported that the retired Colonel "was an
active community member" of Friendswood, Texas, where his wife of
forty-four years, Frankie, lives. He was the Director of the Clearwood
Improvement District for eight years, a director of the Houston Model
Cities program, and a lecturer in the School of Business and Industrial
Engineering at the University of Houston. On 23 September, his ashes were
interred at Arlington National Cemetery. "Doc and his wife were active in
the Association, attending many of the reunions as well as the
mini-reunions in the Houston area." (Grant Fuller) |
-end-
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