Shot down hours later? | B-17G 42-31373 „Flak Stop“
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- Опубликовано: 5 мар 2024
- The story about the B-17G 42-31373 „Flak Stop“ of the 452nd Bomb Group.
It was shot down on 06 March 1944 with Lt. Charles F. Wagner and his crew.
At least, two picture were found in NARA and possibly the last pictures of this B-17 and crew.
But, I am not sure about the date of the pictures.
This video about „Flakstop“ will also explain why I am note sure about the date of the pictures (may it’s wrong).
=== Crew of „Flakstop“ on 06 March 1944 ===
Pilot: 2Lt. Charles F. Wagner - KIA
Co-Pilot: 2Lt Alan R. Willis - EVD
Navigator: 2Lt. Clyde J. Martin - EVD
Bombardier: 2Lt Henry H. Gladys - EVD
Engineer: T/Sgt. Donald Arthur Porter - EVD
Radio Operator: T/Sgt. Francis Shaffer - KIA
Ball Turret Gunner: S/Sgt. Lloyd J. Freeman - POW
Waist Gunner: Sgt. Joseph E. Tracy Jr. - KIA
Waist Gunner: S/Sgt. Frederick V. Richmond - KIA
Tail Gunner: T/Sgt. George L. James - KIA
=== NOTE ===
The footages and pictures in this video are showing originals from WW 2.
But not showing the actual footage or picture about the subjected B-17 and crew. Unless I mention it in the video. I am not a native English Speaker. So, sorry my pronunciation isn’t accurate. You can active the subtitle with the transcript.
=== Voice Over Actors & AI Voices ===
I am using voice over actors or AI voices for the eyewitness statements.
=== Corrections ===
None
=== Sources ===
MACR 2916
= Escape & Evasion Reports:
2Lt. Clyde J. Martin E & E 2276
T/Sgt. Donald A. Porter: E & E 2047
2Lt. Alan R. Willis: E & E 1676
2Lt. Henry H. Gladys: E & E 1677
= Pictures
Bremen + Caption:
catalog.archives.gov/id/20489...
06 March 1944 (Berlin) + Caption - 1:catalog.archives.gov/id/20489...
06 March 1944 (Berlin) + Caption - 2:
catalog.archives.gov/id/20489...
Single B-17 of the 452nd BG (Berlin) at 03:29 - Possible "Flakstop"
catalog.archives.gov/id/20489...
= Mission List
1: img1.wsimg.com/blobby/go/e654...
2: www.angelfire.com/ne2/b17sunr...
=== Musik/Music ===
None
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I am interested to the history of the B-17 Flying Fortress since 2000 and doing research since 2017. It's still my hobby beside my full time job. I want to be accurate as possible with the information in my videos. However, if you find any mistakes or have additional information, please correct me and let me know :)
#b17, #b17bomber, #WarStories
Every 6th of march the students of group 8 of the Prins Mauritsschool in Staphorst remember the lost soldiers of the Flakstop by the monument at the Zwarteveenweg in Staphorst. It crashed in a meadow nearby the school.
thank you for the information. I didn't knew that before. I will fix your comment below the video :)
My Great Uncle Clyde was the Navigator on this B-17 Flakstop. When I asked him about this, he had said they were on their 5 1/2 mission when they were shot down. He lived to the age of 97 passing away in 2020. He always had a little windmill in his garden to show his love for the Dutch people who risked their lives to smuggle him back to the Allied lines.
Thank you for sharing, Tracy. I read your comment to "Flak Stop" on my web site too. And did you noticed the replies?
Tracy, my Father was Co-pilot Alan Willis. He stayed in touch with your great Uncle Clyde. I spoke with Clyde by phone but never had the honor of meeting him. My Dad passed away in 1991. I am going to Holland and Belgium in August to visit the memorial at the crash site in Staaphorst and to visit Charlie Wagner’s grave at Margratten. Wagner stayed at the controls so the others could bail out. By the time the surviving crew made it out, Flakstop was too low to jump. Wagner attempted a crash landing in the field so that the plane would not crash into the village. His sacrifice saved the lives of the 5 surviving crewmen, who went on to lead productive lives. Two of the guides who escorted my Dad and bombardier Hank Gladys across the Meusse River at Maastricht were captured and executed by the Nazis. Joke Folmer, who was given the presidential Freedom medal by President Truman for her work in the Dutch Resistance, escorted your great uncle and my Dad from Meppel to Roermond. She was captured and sent to a concentration camp but survived and lived a long and distinguished life. Sgt Freemans survived captivity, including the infamous “long march” of allied PoWs in 1945 as the war ended. All 4 remaining crewmen were part of “operation marathon” which established secret camps in the Belgian Ardennes for allied flyers. My Dad and Hank were repatriated on Sept 6 1944 by elements of the American Army as they moved through southern Belgium - exactly 6 months to the day that they were shot down.
My Dad held the Dutch people in very high regard. The bravest on earth. I owe my life and my family to them and to Lt. Charles Wagner.
@@B17FlyingFortress you have a website? Please post the address. Thank you so much for doing this video.
One of the B17s my father flew in was triangle G tail marking. 52 bombing missions in the B17s. RIP to the crews who never came back. o7
Triagle G is the unit sign for the 305th Bomb Group. 52 missions is a lot!
these are getting better and better
My videos? I am learning with every video and just swtiched to another software. But research hasn't changed much :)
Great video and well done on your historical record.
thank you for watching! :)
Thank you! Very interesting!
Thank you.
Another great video . Well researched and presented . Thank you .
thank you for watching!
The plane crashed at 3.30 p.m. Before it came down it made a turn above Staphorst. Lots of people saw it. Also the children at the primary school. It was at the moment the lestime was done. Some children ran to the wreck. They saw: 'Two men lay next to the plane, under parachutes. Germanen soldier guarden the burning plane. L.J. Freeman jumped out the plane, but his parachute did not open. So he fell down an broke his leg. Local people help him and brought him to an farm nearby.
incredible information. Lloyd Freeman had a lot of luck to survive.
The chute didn't open completely? Years ago I read an account by a B17 crew member whose chute did not fill, and his legs got caught in the shrouds. His fall was slowed and stopped by the limbs of fir trees and he survived, though I think he was blinded in one eye, which apparently burst. Captured, and his guards had a hard time looking at him. I guess if you have enough people dropping out of the sky with chute failures, a few will get lucky. Every minute lived thereafter must seem like a gift.
Excellent video, thank you.
thank you for watching! :) I am doing my best I can and I have a lot of fun to create these videos. :)
Once again, thank you
thank you for watching :)
My father flew with the 452nd shot down May 12,1944
he became POW?
TY 🙏
Oh wow, thank you for sharing this video! This was my grandfather’s plane.
Thank you for watching! :)
Wow exactly 80 years ago
yeah, it was planed :) I am trying to publishing video of B-17, when they went lost at same day +/- 80 years ago. Of course, not working everytime, but I am trying :) Thank you for watching! :)