Crash site
On 9 August 1944 B-17 (serial number 42-102645) was attacked by enemy aircraft and forced to land near Zegelsem in Belgium.
Of the crew flying the aircraft John Dubinskas and John Waldren were killed in the plane. Pilot Clayton Child was captured and survived the war. Jerry McEldowney and Grady Lucas were also made prisoner but they died in captivity, most probably during a forced march in the winter of 1945. Four men managed to evade capture : Henry Colt, Harold Kilmer, Andrew Kuhn and Kenneth French.
A memorial to the crew was established on 20 August 2017.
Military | Flight Officer | Pilot | 305th Bomb Group Can Do
Flight Officer Clayton Child was Pilot of B-17 #42-102645, shot down by fighters and force-landed at Zegelsem, Belgium on 9 August 1944. Prisoner of War (POW).
Military | Second Lieutenant | Navigator | 305th Bomb Group Can Do
Evaded (EVD). Shot down by fighters on 9 Aug 1944 and crashed at Zegelsem (Segelsen) in B-17 42-102645.
Military | Staff Sergeant | Radio Operator | 305th Bomb Group Can Do
Killed in Action (KIA) Shot down by fighters and crashed at Segelsen in B-17 #42102645
Military | Flight Officer | Co-Pilot | 305th Bomb Group Can Do
Evaded (EVD) Shot down by fighters and crashed at Segelsen o 8/9/44 in B-17 #42102645
Military | Flight Officer | Bombardier | 305th Bomb Group Can Do
Harold F. Kilmer was hidden from the Germans by the resistance for a month and was able to join a U.S. Army unit and then traveled to Paris before returning to England. Harry stayed in touch with his Belgium friends until they passed away and was able...
Military | Staff Sergeant | Top Turret Gunner | 305th Bomb Group Can Do
1 of 4 who parachuted out and Evaded (EVD) Shot down by fighters and crashed at Segelsen on 8/9/44 in B-17 #42102645. Because there were only 4 parachutes that hadn't been shot full of holes. Pilot Clayton Child and 2 others captured, only Clayton...
Military | Sergeant | Right Waist Gunner | 305th Bomb Group Can Do
Killed in Action (KIA). Shot down by fighters and crashed at Segelsen in B-17 42-102645
Military | Sergeant | Ball Turret Gunner | 305th Bomb Group Can Do
Killed in Action (KIA) Shot down by fighters and crashed at Segelsen in B-17 #42-102645
B-17 Flying Fortress
Delivered Cheyenne 22 March 1944; Kearney 14 April 1944; Grenier 29 April 1944; Assigned 365BS/305BG [XK- ] Chelveston 14 May 1944. Missing in Action Karlsruhe 9 August 1944. Pilot: Clayton E. Child; Co-pilot: Kenneth V. French; Navigator: Henry F....
14 August 1944
| Date | Contributor | Update |
|---|---|---|
| 24 August 2018 11:00:33 | Emily | Created entry with name, known as, latitude, longitude, history, person associations, aircraft associations and mission associations |
| Sources | ||
Information provided by Kris Van Daele Information from record for 42-102645 |
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