Collided with another aircraft 13 November 1943 in B-17 42-37830. Killed in Action (KIA).



Bernard Cress is my Great Grand Uncle. He was the flight crew navigator who perished in the planes crash in Holland. He is the gentleman in the light colored coat in the front row.



8th Air Force; 96th Bombradment Group; 413th Bombardment Squadron;

stationed at Snetterton Heath, England

A/C Serial # Date MACR Group Squadron A/C Type

42-37830 11/13/1943 1388 96 413 B-17



I 'borrowed' this story from one of the crew's memorial online which is here:

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/64390479/william-milton-fuhrman

...



The 96th Bomb Group went overseas, in April 1943, to the European Theater of Operations (ETO), and was stationed at Snetterton Heath, England. The 96th acquired the nickname of the "Snetterton Falcons".



On 13 November 1943, 40 B-17's of the 96th Bomb Group, along with an escorting formation of P-47 fighter planes, took off for a bombing mission on Bremen, Germany. As they neared their target, Flak rose up, and German fighter planes attacked the formation. In the confusion of bursting flak, and evasive actions, two of the B-17's collided in mid-air. One B-17 managed to stay air-bourne and make it back to the base. The other B-17 sustained crippling damage, sending it into a fatal spiraling nose dive. 3 crew members were able to bail out, and survive, but the other 7 crew members were Killed In Action in the initial collision, or when the plane crashed into the ground. The 3 surviving crew members were immediately captured by the Enemy, and held as Prisoners Of War (POWS).