B 17G 42-37790 - Near Haarslev                                                               Updated: 10 AUG 2021

Airman Surname Init Rank Service Sqdn P_link Plane Operation Crash_site Crash_d Buried_d C_link At_Next
o888280.htm Britko E S/Sgt USAAF 418 p267.htm B17 42-37790 Bomb G Near Haarslev d200244 o888 o888.htm POW
o888277.htm Cribbs E 2ndLt USAAF 418 p267.htm B17 42-37790 Bomb G Near Haarslev d200244 o888 o888.htm POW
o888279.htm Dunbar R L S/Sgt USAAF 418 p267.htm B17 42-37790 Bomb G Near Haarslev d200244 o888 o888.htm POW
o888278.htm Dyblie E B S/Sgt USAAF 418 p267.htm B17 42-37790 Bomb G Near Haarslev d200244 o888 o888.htm POW
o888275.htm Egan T M T/Sgt USAAF 418 p267.htm B17 42-37790 Bomb G Near Haarslev d200244 o888 o888.htm POW
v999059.htm Evans I G T/Sgt USAAF 418 p267.htm B17 42-37790 Bomb G Near Haarslev d200244 v999 v999.htm EVD to S
o888274.htm Markussen O H 2ndLt USAAF 418 p267.htm B17 42-37790 Bomb G Near Haarslev d200244 o888 o888.htm POW
o888276.htm Scott G C 2ndLt USAAF 418 p267.htm B17 42-37790 Bomb G Near Haarslev d200244 o888 o888.htm POW
o888281.htm Smith R A 2ndLt USAAF 418 p267.htm B17 42-37790 Bomb G Near Haarslev d200244 o888 o888.htm POW
o888282.htm Udick M E S/Sgt USAAF 418 p267.htm B17 42-37790 Bomb G Near Haarslev d200244 o888 o888.htm POW


Den 20. februar 1944 om eftermiddagen styrtede B-17G 42-37790 »Miss Behavin« ned ved Haarslev (oversigt her, tæt på her).(Kilde:Per Christensen behavin.dk)
Se også B-17G 42-37790+propeller og Den lange version fra Anders Bjørnvad: De fandt en vej. Overblik og detaljer i  Google Map p267 B17 42-37790.

Målet var tilsløret af skyer, så formationen angreb det sekundære mål Stettin (Szczecin). Over Stettin blev "Miss Behavin" kraftigt beskudt af antiluftskyts og en af
de 4 motorer blev ramt, så propellen ikke kunne kantstilles (for at reducere luftmodstand) og som resultat droppede flyet ud af formationen. Kl. 14:52 nær den danske
kyst kaldte Lt. R.A. Smith over radioen og fortalte, at han ville prøve at nå Sverige. Hans fly var ramt over målområdet og røg kraftigt.
(Kilde: MACR-rapport om mistet fly) Angreb fra tyske jagere beskadigede flyet yderligere, og besætningen var nødt til at springe ud med faldskærm.

Flyvehistorisk Tidsskrift skriver:
"Flyet blev ramt af flak over målområdet, og en motor blev beskadiget. Før Fyn forlod flyet den amerikanske formation og blev umiddelbart efter angrebet af 7-8
FW 190. Det lykkedes amerikanerne at nedskyde og beskadige 3 FW 190, før alle 10 besætningsmedlemmer måtte springe ud med faldskærm.
2nd Lt Orlin H. Markussen (co-pilot, moderen var født i Odense) og T/Sgt Thomas M. Egan (Engineer/Top Turret Gunner) blev hurtigt fanget af tyskerne, og de
tilbragte en nat ved radarstationen i Skovby, før de blev ført til Odense og senere til Stalag Luft I. Fem andre besætningsmedlemmer blev i løbet af eftermiddagen
taget til fange ved Båring strand (Left Waist Gunner S/Sgt Edward Britko, Bombardier S/Sgt Ernest Cribbs, Right Waist Gunner S/Sgt Robert L. Dunbar, Ball Turret Gunner S/Sgt Edward B. Dyblie og Tail Gunner Michael E. Udick) medens det lykkedes 2nd Lt Reginald A. Smith (Pilot) og 2nd Lt Gerald C. Scott (Navigator) at få kontakt med modstandsbevægelsen. Næste dag blev begge flyvere og deres hjælpere angivet til tyskerne i Odense. T/Sgt Ira Gordon Evans (Radio Operator) fik
også kontakt med modstandsbevægelsen, og den 7. marts blev han sejlet til Sverige i båden »Hans Steensen«." (FT 85-78-26 - fulde navne fra p267MACR)

Anders Bjørnvad nævner at 316 B-17 Flyvende Fæstninger passerede hen over Danmark ved middagstid den dag. Se Google Map p266-270 20FEB44
Se Foto af en B-17 + B-17 i airmen.dk.
Skudt ned over DK: B17 4239894 Brahesholm, B17 4231126 Bellinge, B17 4237951 Haldagerlille og B17 42-37790 Haarslev. Nødlandet: B17 4230246 Tirstrup.
10 flyvere. 

On 20 February 1944 in the afternoon B-17G 42-37790 »Miss Behavin« crashed into Haarslev Mark (overview here, at close range here). (Source: Per Christensen)
See also B-17G 42-37790+propeller and The long version from Anders Bjørnvad: They found a way (De fandt en vej p. 103-105 translated by AS)
Overview, details and names of places on Google Map p267 B17 42-37790.

The target was obscured by clouds, so the formation attacked the secondary target which was Stettin (Szczecin). Over Stettin "Miss Behavin" encountered heavy flak and was hit in No. 2 engine. Then the propeller could not be feathered (to reduce air resistance) and as a result, the plane dropped out of the formation.  At 14:52 hours near the Danish coast Lt Smith called over the radio saying he was going to try and reach Sweden. (Source: MACR - Missing Air Crew Report p267MACR)
Attacks from German fighters damaged the plane more and the crew had to bail out.

(Danish) Aviation Historical Review writes:
"The plane was hit by flak over the target area and one engine was damaged. The plane left the formation before Fyn and immediately afterwards it was attacked by
7-8 FW 190s. The Americans managed to shot down and damage 3 FW 190s before all 10 crew members had to bail out. 2nd Lt Orlin H. Markussen (Co-Pilot, his
mother was born in Odense) and T/Sgt Thomas M. Egan (Engineer/Top Turret Gunner) were soon captured by the Germans and they spent one night at the radar
station at Skovby, before they were taken to Odense and later to Stalag Luft I. 5 other crew members were captured in the afternoon at Baaring Beach (Left Waist
Gunner S/Sgt Edward Britko, Bombardier S/Sgt Ernest Cribbs, Right Waist Gunner S/Sgt Robert L. Dunbar, Ball Turret Gunner S/Sgt Edward B. Dyblie and
Tail Gunner Michael E. Udick).

Pilot 2nd Lt Reginald A. Smith and Navigator 2nd Lt Gerald C. Scott managed to contact the resistance movement. Both airmen and their helpers were reported to
the police on the following day. Radio Operator T/Sgt Ira Gordon Evans also got in contact with the resistance movement, and on 7 March he was sailed to Sweden
with the ship »Hans Steensen«." (FT 85-78-26 - full names from MACR)

316 B-17 Flying Fortresses passed Denmark at noon on 20 February 1944. (Source: Anders Bjørnvad) See Google Map p266-270 20FEB44.
Shot down over DK: B17 4239894 Brahesholm, B17 4231126 Bellinge, B17 4237951 Haldagerlille og B17 42-37790 Haarslev. Crash landed: B17 4230246 Tirstrup.

This B-17 belonged to 418 BS, 100 BG, 13 CBW, 3 BD of 8 AF, USAAF. See also the 100th Bomb Group (Heavy) with operational details.
It took off from RAF Thorpe Abbott - USAAF Station 139. See also 100th Bomb Group Memorial Museum and Photo of a B-17+ B-17s in airmen.dk.
10 airmen.