File 284. 1943-12-11/11 B-17F 42-31098 Kaufman, flew back to UK

Details
Date: 1943 Dec 11/11 A/C Type: B-17F  Fortress SN: 42-31098 Code: A/C Nickname: Penny's Thunderhead
 File: 284 Airforce: USAAF Sqn/Unit: 401 BG - 614 BS Mission/Raid: Emden
1 Pilot 1Lt. Richard H. Kaufman                    RTD 9 RWG S/Sgt. Henry L. Bargfrede  buried Ameland
2 Co-pilot 2Lt. Fred. B. Robinson Koehool, buried Pietersbierum 10 TG S/Sgt. Edward W. Masterman      MIA
3 Nav. 2Lt. John A. Barrett               POW, boat Harlingen 11    
4 B 2Lt. Robert G. Fitzgerald                   RTD 12    
5 E S/Sgt. Howard Shaw               buried Terschelling 13    
6 RO S/Sgt. Donald H. Carlson       POW, boat Harlingen 14    
7 BTG S/Sgt. Forrest R. Cope                        MIA 15    
8 LWG S/Sgt. Tage R. Nielsen                        MIA 16                    

Came damaged from Emden with a heavy windmilling propeller which shook the whole aircraft. Over the northern Netherlands and above the clouds, pilot Kaufman ordered the crew to jump. But they were over the SW-section of the Wadden Sea and six men drowned, 2 POW. 


Last to jump before the pilot, was bombardier 2Lt. Robert G. Fitzgerald. He stood in the doorway and was helped with his parachute by pilot Kaufman. Suddenly all vibration stopped and the aircraft seemed OK except for 2 engines. Together they flew the crippled B-17 back to England (awarded DFC both).


















































Read in Search Menu Cemeteries, under 'Lake Area Cemeteries' + 'All', our website articles on the initial cemeteries of the washed ashore crew of 42-31098. Ameland for Sgt. Bargfrede, Pietersbierum for 2Lt. Robinson and Terschelling for Sgt. Shaw. The missing (MIA) can also have washed ashore and buried in this region. When post war identified as American (based on uniform fragments), they were moved 1945-1947 to the US identification center in Neuville-en-Condroz, Belgium. When identification failed, they were buried there as airman 'Known but to God'. Today the ID center's  cemetery is named American Cemetery "Ardennes" in Neupré.







 Sources: 

- MACR
- http://www.remember-our-heroes.nl/8711.htm 
- http://www.omropfryslan.nl/nieuws/expositie-over-amerikaans-oorlogsslachtoffer-koehool 


- File on Churchyard Pietersbierum:  http://www.zzairwar.nl/dossiers/895.html






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