Jacob G. Heilich                                                                                      Updated: 03 AUG 2021

Airman: o888202.htm Surname: Heilich Init: J G Rank: S/Sgt Service: USAAF Sqdn: 565

P_link: p329.htm Plane: B24 42-95144 Operation: Bomb G Crash_site: Langelandsbælt

Crash_d: d200644 Buried_d: o888 C_link: o888.htm At_Next: POW

Under formationsflyvning i 20.000 fods højde mellem Ærø og Langeland den 20. juni 1944 fik Liberator B24 42-95144 under et sammenstød med Liberator B24 100351 skåret halen af og styrtede i havet omkring 2 km sydøst for Keldsnor Fyr på Langeland, omkring her. Også det andet fly styrtede ned.

De to fly med 20 flyvere gik ned, meget af tiden i spin, der gjorde det vanskeligt at komme ud. Pilot Powers så kun 3 faldskærme fra eget fly. Romick i et andet fly
så kun 5 faldskærme. Flyverne omkom af udmattelse og det kolde vand, hvis ikke de som Heilich blev reddet efter en halv time. Wagner fra den afskårne halesektion
blev fundet 19 dage senere med faldskærm. 3 af de 20 overlevede.
Se B24 100351 * p328MACR * p328MACRberetninger * p328form + B24 42-95144 * p329MACR * p329MACRforklaring * Wagner rapport om kollisionen og mere.

Left Waist Gunner Staff Sergeant Jacob G. Heilich var den eneste overlevende. Han blev reddet af en dansk fisker og derpå taget til fange. Efter krigen talte han i
Nürnberg med piloten på det fly, der havde været årsag til kollisionen. (Hovedkilder: FAF og AOD) Heilich skrev i p329MACRforklaring at han gravede en grav.
Det passer med P/O M.A.G. Fournier fra Halifax JD456 begravet i Magleby, Hans ven Howard R. Penfield blev fundet drevet ind 02 SEP 1944, begravet i Magleby,
Han skrev også om 9 lig fundet i havet, som skulle begraves næste morgen. Ses ikke i andre kilder!

15 SEP 2019: Muligt bombefly fundet ud for Langelands kyst - TV2 * 8 OKT 2019 Mindst 7 bomber fundet ved flyvrag syd for Langeland - TV2FYN
8 OKT 2019: Bomber fra Anden Verdenskrig sprænges i fynsk farvand - TV2FYN * 9 OKT: Jagten på bomber og amerikansk soldat fortsætter ved flyvrag - DR FYN
9 OKT 2019: Forsvarets minedykkere skal sikre flyvrag efter fund af bomber - FKO
Bemærk beretningen fra Romick. Hvilken B-24 blev fundet i SEP 2019? Oversat:
p328 "B24 100351 eksploderede, da det ramte vandet. Det gjorde det andet fly ikke." Så p329 B24 42-95144 uden hale blev fundet med bomber! 10 flyvere.

During a formation flight at an altitude of 20.000 feet between Ærø and Langeland on 20 June, 1944 Liberator B24 42-95144 had its tail cut off in a collision with
Liberator B24 100351 and crashed into the sea about 2 km southeast of Keldsnor Lighthouse on Langeland, about here. Also the other plane crashed.

The two planes with 20 airmen went down, most of the time in spin that made it difficult to get out. Pilot Powers only saw 3 parachutes from his own plane.
Romick in another plane only saw 5 parachutes. The airmen perished from exhaustion and the cold water if they were not rescued after half an hour like Heilich.
Wagner from the tail that was cut off was found 19 days later with his parachute. 3 of 20 airmen survived.
See B24 100351 * p328MACR * p328MACRaccounts * p328form + B24 42-95144 * p329MACR * p329MACRstatement * Wagner report about the collision and more.

Left Waist Gunner Staff Sergeant Jacob G. Heilich was the sole survivor. He was rescued by a Danish fisherman and then captured. After the war, in Nuremburg, he talked with the pilot of the plane that had caused the collision. (Main sources: FAF and AOD) In p329MACRstatement Heilich wrote that he dug a grave. It matches
P/O M.A.G. Fournier of Halifax JD456 buried at Magleby. His friend Howard R. Penfield was washed ashore on 02 SEP 1944 and he was buried at Magleby.
He also wrote about 9 bodies found at sea that were to be buried next morning. Not seen in any other sources!

This B-24 Liberator belonged to 565 BS, 389 BG, 2 CBW, 2 BD, 8 AF of the USAAF. See the 389th Bombardment Group at the 8th Air Force Historical Society.
American Air Museum has B24 42-95144 European Clipper and the 10 crew members, crashed after mid-air collision with 42-100351, 565 BS, 389th Bomb Group.
See the 389th Bombardment Group at History of War. It took off from RAF Hethel - USAAF Station 114. See Control Towers - RAF Hethel airfield.
Which B-24 was found in September 2019?
p328 "B24 100351 blew up when it hit the water. The other aircraft did not." (Account by Romick) So p329 B24 42-95144 without tail was found with bombs!
Notice articles and TV items since 15 SEP 2019 in the section in Danish.                                                                                                                10 airmen.