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History book from Surbough France, where the B24 of Edward Appel's crew crashed. The crash was observed by then 8 year old Joseph Scharrenberger of Subourg. Joseph retold the story to Edward's children in Nov, 2014. Marie Fassel, 9 years at the time, was also an eyewitness at the crash. She talk about retrieving the parachutes and making dresses out of them. The meeting was arranged by Gerard Ober, historian of Hochfelden.
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Edward Appel crew from the crash of Sept 5, 1944 near Surbough France.
This plane was piloted by Lt Frazee and co-pilot Captain Edward Appel on its last mission on 5 September 1944. Its target was the Marshalling yards near Karlsruhe. It was flying deputy lead and on formation instruments nearly all the way. Just before reaching the IP they broke into the clear. They had just started the bomb run when the 88s hit. The plane took a big hit to the right wing and its two right engines were knocked out. The rudder cables were also cut, they had no turbos, and the fuel cells were ruptured. The windshield had come in and gas was flowing. They managed to turn around using the ailerons, but lost altitude fast. They salvoed the bombs and anything else loose, but could not make it to the American lines. The crew bailed out and the plane crashed near Surbourg, France. Two men died because of chute failure (Bombardier Charles W. Davis and Assistant Navigator Theodore E. Rachel); one man successfully evaded (Co-Pilot Edward W. Appel); two others managed to evade capture until they were arrested (Radio Operator/Gunner Maynard A. Latten and Tail Gunner Curtis E. Hodges, killed by the Germans on 25 November 1944); seven men were captured and were Prisoners of War (POWs) : Pilot Kenneth E. Frazee, 1st Navigator Charles R. Steinforth, Engineer/Top Turret Gunner Louis J. Trosclair, Observer Paul C. Andersen, Right Waist Gunner Raymond H. Keller, Left Waist Gunner George B. Steele and the other Assistant Navigator William C. Beasley. Missing Air Crew Report - MACR 8599.
Service
Units
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Group
The 389th Bomb Group, known in more familiar terms as "the Sky Scorpions", flew strategic bombing missions in B-24 Liberators from Hethel, England. They also sent detachments to join bases in North Africa at Benghazi No. 10, Libya, between 3 July 1943...
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Squadron
Constituted 566th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy) on 19 Dec. 1942. Activated on 24 Dec. 1942. Inactivated on 13 Sept. 1945. Campaigns: Air Offensive, Europe; Sicily; Naples-Foggia; Normandy; Northern France; Rhineland; Ardennes-Alsace; Central Europe; Air...
People
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Military | Captain | Observer | 389th Bomb Group
Prisoner of War (POW) Crashed near Surburg in B-24 #4250511
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Military | Lieutenant Colonel | Co-Pilot, Bomber Pilot, Fighter Pilot | 389th Bomb Group
Edward Appel was one of the few Pilots who completed tours both in a Bomber Group (30 missions) and as a fighter pilot (17 missions) in the European Theater of Operations (ETO). His bomber was the B-24 Liberator the Latrine Rumor, B-24 (Number 42...
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Military | Lieutenant | Navigator | 389th Bomb Group
Prisoner of War (POW) Crashed near Surburg in B-24 #4250511 on 9/5/44
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Military | Lieutenant | Bombardier | 389th Bomb Group
Crashed near Surburg in B-24 #42-50511, Killed in Action (KIA).
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Military | Lieutenant | Pilot | 389th Bomb Group
Prisoner of War (POW). Was Pilot of B-24 #42-50511 which crashed near Surbourg, Alsace, France on 5 September 1944. MACR 8599.
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Military | Staff Sergeant | Tail Gunner | 389th Bomb Group
Killed in Action (KIA) Crashed Near Surburg in B-24 #4250511
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Military | Technical Sergeant | Right Waist Gunner | 389th Bomb Group
Prisoner of War (POW) Crashed near Surburg on 9/5/44 in B-24 #4250511
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Military | Technical Sergeant | Radio Operator | 389th Bomb Group
Killed in Action (KIA) Crashed near Surburg in B-24 #4250511
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Military | Second Lieutenant | Bombardier | 389th Bomb Group
Crashed near Surburg in B-24 42-50511, Killed in Action (KIA).
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Military | Staff Sergeant | Left Waist Gunner | 389th Bomb Group
Prisoner of War (POW) Crashed near Surbug in B-24 #4250511
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Places
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Military site : airfield
Construction of Hethel airfield began in 1941, and was finished in late 1942. The number of hardstandings was increased from the planned 36 to 50 in 1942, in order to accommodate a full heavy bomb group. The 320th Bomb Group occupied the base for ten...
Events
Event |
Location |
Date |
Failed to Return (FTR) |
Surbourg, France |
5 September 1944 |
Crashed between Surbourg and Soultz-sous-Forêts, about 15km Northeast of Haguenau, Alsace, France
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