Frank Gorgon       Photo: AS 25 MAY 2015   Updated:  18 JUN 2015                             1948 -           Ardennes, BELGIUM

Airman: u096099.htm Surname: Gorgon Init: F Rank: Sgt Service: USAAF Sqdn: 427

P_link: p307.htm Plane: B17 42-31241 Operation: Bomb G Crash_site: Ødegård

Crash_d: d290444 Buried_d: b090644 C_link: c096.htm At_Next: Svinø

Den 29. april 1944 kl. 14.05 styrtede B17 42-31241 ned i Ødegaard, her efter et bombetogt
til Berlin. Se også Google Map p307. Zoom. 

Flyvehistorisk Tidsskrift skriver:
"Over målet blev flyet ramt af flak, og no. 4 motor måtte stoppes p.g.a. brandfare. Flyet blev ledsaget af to P-51 i ca. 10 minutter, hvorefter bombeflyet nu satte kurs
mod Sverige i stor højde. Over Storstrømsbroen blev flyet angrebet af en Me110 i ca.16.000
feet's højde, medens de samtidig blev beskudt af flak fra broen.
Den tyske jager blev ramt og styrtede ned i Vålse Vig, samtidig med at den amerikanske besætning sprang ud med faldskærm. Flere landede i det kolde vand i
Vålse Vig og 5 druknede. Co-piloten Robert R. Kerr fik hurtigt kontakt med modstands-
bevægelsen i området, og den 29. maj var han allerede tilbage i England.
Det tomme fly fortsatte i en svag bue fra Vålse Vig til Tårs Vig, nord om Sakskøbing og mod
øst, og ca. 5 km NØ for Sakskøbing havde det omsider tabt så megen
højde, at det styrtede ned i »Ødegård«, der blev svært beskadiget." (FT 86-92-28)

Sgt (Left Waist Gunner) Frank Gorgon blev fundet drevet ind ved Enø.
Han blev begravet den 9. juni 1944 på Svinø Kirkegård. (Kilde: FAF og AOD)
I 1948 blev han og andre Amerikanske flyvere fra Svinø flyttet til Ardennes American Cemetery i Belgien for at blive overført til USA.. (Kilde: FAF) Kom i tjenesten fra Michigan. Begravet på Ardennes American Cemetery Plot B Row 39 Grave 6 i BELGIEN.
Hæderstegn: Air Medal, Purple Heart. (Kilde: ABMC)
Se Monument for 46 amerikanske flyvere.

4 flyvere fra B17 42-31241 blev begravet på Svinø Kirkegård, 4 blev krigsfanger, 1 har ingen kendt grav og 1 flyver nåede Sverige. Mere ved hver flyver.
10 flyvere.

On 29 April 1944 at 14.05 hours B17 42-31241 crashed into the farm Ødegaard, here after a bombing raid on Berlin. See also Google Map p307. Zoom.

(Danish) Aviation Historical Review writes:
"The plane was hit by flak over the target and engine no. 4 had to be stopped due to danger of fire. The plane was accompanied by 2 P-51s for about 10 minutes.
Then the bomber headed for Sweden at a great height. Over the bridge Storstrømsbroen it was attacked by a Me110 at a height of about 16,000 feet while they were
fired at from the bridge. The German fighter was hit and crashed into the Vålse Vig, while the American crew bailed out. Several of them landed in the cold water of
the Vålse Vig and 5 drowned. Co-Pilot Robert R. Kerr soon made a contact with the resistance movement in the area, and on 29 May he was already back in England. The empty plane continued in a slight curve from Vålse Vig to Tårs Vig, north of Sakskøbing and to the east. At about 5 km north east of Sakskøbing it had gradually
lost so much altitude that it crashed into the »Ødegård« which was heavily damaged." (FT 86-92-28)

Sgt (Left Waist Gunner) Frank Gorgon was found washed ashore at Enø. /Zoom out) On 9 June 1944 he was buried in Svinø Churchyard. (Source: FAF and AOD)
In 1948 he and other American airmen from Svinø were taken taken to Ardennes American Cemetery in BELGIUM to be transferred to the USA. (Source: FAF)
He stills rests there, Plot B Row 39 Grave 6. He entered the Service from Michigan. Awards: Air Medal, Purple Heart. (Source: ABMC)
See Monument to 46 American airmen.

4 airmen from B17 42-31241 were buried in Svinø Churchyard, 4 became POWs, 1 has no known grave and 1 airman reached Sweden. More at each airman.

This B-17 belonged to 427 BS, 303 BG, 41 CBW, 1 BD, 8 AF of USAAF. It took off from RAF Molesworth - USAAF Station 107.
See 303rd Bomb Group Heavy with a Mission Report No. 144 of Apr 29 1944 about this crew. See also B17s in airmen.dk and a drawing of the crew of a B-17.
10 airmen.