42-31192

media-22179.jpeg UPL 22179 Information (in Swedish) at crash site memorial B-17, 42-31192 (YB-R), Farabol, Sweden. Oct 7th 1944. Picture shows some of the crew members: "Top row, from left: Candelaria; 2nd Jensen; 3rd Crawford. Front row, 2nd from left: Wilson; 3rd Christiansen and Rooney". Ivar Kandell

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Object Number - UPL 22179 - Information (in Swedish) at crash site memorial B-17, 42-31192 (YB-R), Farabol, Sweden. Oct 7th 1944. Picture shows some of the crew members: "Top...

Delivered Cheyenne 30/9/43; Scott Fd 24/10/43; Presque Is 1/11/43; with Roy Parsons force landed Meeeks Fd, Iceland 12/11/43; Assigned 612BS/401BG Deenethorpe 13/11/43; transferred 509BS/351BG [RQ-R] Polebrook 3/12/43; 508th BS [YB-R]; Missing in Action 42m Politz 7/10/44 with crew of 509th BS: Einer Peterson (P), Duane Wilson (CP), Louis Candelaria (TT), J.K. Blake (BT), Robert Crawford (WG), Benjamin Christensen (N), William Rooney (B), Lawrence "Larry" Jensen (RO), Lloyd Best (TG); 7 KIA, 2 survived INT. On it’s way to target Politz, N Germany (Poland today) lost one supercharger engine 2. Lost speed, altitude and group. Continued for target alone. Hit by flak, lost engine 3 and 4, and most of the fuel.

Decided to try to land in Sweden and turned north out over Baltic Sea with only one engine and 110 gallons fuel left.

Dropped ammunition over Baltic to loose weight. Cloudy weather, couldn’t see land.

When out of fuel, went through clouds, too low altitude to bail out. Decision to belly land in a potato field, but pilot spotted workers in field and tried to turn and gain altitude and stalled instead.

Crashed in woods nearby at Farabol, southern Sweden.

Jensen, Best, Christensen and Rooney survived, but Christensen and Rooney died in hospital in city of Karlshamn within a few days. Larry Jensen and Lloyd Best were interned in Sweden and later transfered back to England.

Jensen has been interviewed about his experiences, by the veteran project ”The Voices of World War II”.

Missing Air Crew Report 9566.

Connections

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

Units served with

The insignia of the 351st Bomb Group.
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

People

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 351st Bomb Group 509th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 17053821
  • Highest Rank: Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Tail Gunner
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 351st Bomb Group 509th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 39720274
  • Highest Rank: Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Ball Turret Gunner
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 351st Bomb Group 509th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 39692501
  • Highest Rank: Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Top Turret Gunner
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 351st Bomb Group 509th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: O-719888
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Navigator
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 351st Bomb Group 509th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 19162232
  • Highest Rank: Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Waist Gunner

Places

  • Site type: Other
  • Known as: Police

Missions

  • Date: 7 October 1944

Events

Event Location Date Description

Crashed

Failed to Return (FTR)

Farabol, Sweden 7 October 1944 - 7 October 1944 Crashed in woods of Farabol, Sweden, trying for emergency landing, after being hit by flak over Politz, N Germany.

Revisions

Date
ContributorIvar Kandell
Changes
Sources

Added places

Date
ContributorIvar Kandell
Changes
Sources

Edited MACR from 9366 to 9566.

Date
ContributorIvar Kandell
Changes
Sources

Interview with surviving radio operator Lawrence E Jensen at "The Voices of World War II", link: http://www.wwiihistoryclass.com/education/transcripts/Jensen_L_051.pdf

Swedish eye witness, at Farabol, Sweden. He saw plane coming down and was at crash site immediately after, and witnessed the following events.

Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

Dave Osborne, B-17 Fortress Master Log / MACR 9366 / MACR 9566 / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database

42-31192: Gallery (3 items)