42-97401 Stinker Jr

media-23059.jpeg UPL 23059 Locals investigate B-17 42-97401 which crash-landed between the villages of Neerwinden and Raatshoven (Racour) in Belgium.

Sent through to the museum by Gerard Uyttebroek who has shared research carried out by his brother Georges Uyttebroek from Neerwinden (Belgium). Some of the people sitting on the plane where family members of theirs.

Object Number - UPL 23059 - Locals investigate B-17 42-97401 which crash-landed between the villages of Neerwinden and Raatshoven (Racour) in Belgium.

Delivered Cheyenne 26/2/44; Kearney 14/3/44; Grenier 2/4/44; Assigned 601BS/398BG [3O-T] Nuthampstead 28/4/44; Missing in Action ? 17/10/44 with Hancock, Belgium ;

Salvaged 8AFSC 29/11/44. STINKER JR.



The aircraft crashed in the fields between the village of Neerwinden and Raatshoven (Racour) in Belgium.



Excerpt from a local newspaper:

'The crew could leave the plane safely. Of course the crash attracted a lot of local people to the spot. The inhabitants of the adjacent villages gave the crew a warm welcome with food and local drinks. Suddenly the crowd got seized with panic and fear as two fighters approached in the air and started to circle over the spot. Lucky enough it were two American fighters. An American jeep came to pick up the crew and brought them to Brussels from where they went off to London the next morning.'



Connections

See how this entry relates to other items in the archive by exploring the connections below.

Units served with

The insignia of the 398th Bomb Group.
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

People

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 398th Bomb Group 602nd Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 398th Bomb Group 603rd Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Gunner
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 398th Bomb Group 601st Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Flight Engineer; Top Turret Gunner
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 398th Bomb Group 602nd Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-723286
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Navigator
Formal black and white portrait of Air Force Col. William G. Comstock in uniform
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 398th Bomb Group 602nd Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-705905
  • Highest Rank: Colonel
  • Role/Job: Pilot

Places

Events

Event Location Date Description

Crashed

3400 Neerwinden, Belgium 17 October 1944

Revisions

Date
ContributorLucy May
Changes
Sources

Correspondence with Gerard Uyttebroek who has shared research carried out by his brother Georges Uyttebroek from Neerwinden (Belgium). The people sitting on the plane where family members.

Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

Dave Osborne, B-17 Fortress Master Log

42-97401: Gallery (7 items)