Menu
  • Abous us
  • Search database
  • Resources
  • Donate
  • Faq

 

B-17 (42-32097) 'Slipstream' Crash Memorial -99th Bomber Group

<< Back to Bystrovany - Bystrice River (East)

Details:

On the wooded trail about 150 meters from the road.

Monument

A wooden cross with two inscribed plaques and an information sign.

The memorial remembers the crew of the B-17 (42-32097) 'Slipstream' of the 347th Bomber Squadron, 99th Bomber Group, 15th Air Force that was shot down and crashed near this location (See site Bystrovany - Bystrice River (West) for the crash marker). On December 18, 1944, the 15th Air Force targeted the Odental Refineries for the second day in a row. Planes of the 99th Bomber Group flew from the Tortella Air Base in Italy to the target.  After the mission, B-17 (42-32097) 'Slipstream', piloted by 2LT Sherwood Porter, was shot down; three of the crew were taken as POWs; 7 were killed in action. The crew included:

Pilot: 2LT Sherwood Porter Ruster POW 
Co-Pilot:  2LT Robert A. Brown KIA 
Navigator: 2LT Ward S. Randolph POW 
Bombadier: SGT Vincent C. Manzella KIA 
Engineer/Top Turret: SGT Wilbur T. Massey POW 
Radio Operator: S/SGT Walter G. Person KIA 
Bottom Turret: SGT Byron C. Anton KIA 
Waist Gunner: SGT Roland D. Bergman KIA 
Waist Gunner: SGT Edward E. Davis KIA 
Tail Gunner: SGT Robert E. Lary KIA 

Several planes from the December 17 mission were shot down, and memorials are located to them at other locations:

Site Olomouc-Neredin, Memorial: B-24 (42-52025) 'Arsenic and Lace Crash Memorial -461st Bomber Group

Site Palacov Memorial: B-24 (42-50953) "The Flying Finger" Crash Memorial -461st Bomber Group.

Site Troubky Hbitov (Cemetery) Memorial: B-24 (44-41046) Crash Memorial -461st Bomber Group

In Slovakia: 
Site Trencianske-Teplice  Memorial: B-24 Tenmenbak (42-51324) Crash Memorial -461st Bomber Group
 
Sources:
www.Mapy.com
www. Vets.cz
www.leteckabadatelna.cz
 

Monument Text:

The text on the memorial is written in Czech.  The text reads:

Upper:

LOVE CHRA TENTO KÍ
I PAMÁTKU PADLÝCH LETC.
NESMÍME ZAPOMENOUT!

Lower:

DNE 18.12.1944 POBLÍ TOHOTO KÍE ZAHYNULO SEDM AMERICKÝCH LETC PI PÁDU BOMBARDÉRU BOEING B-17G FLYING FORTRESS NAPADENÉHO NMECKÝMI STÍHAI. SVAZ BOMBARDÉR SMOVAL ZE ZÁKLADNY V ITÁLII DO OBLASTI HORNÍHO SLEZSKA S CÍLEM ZNIIT TOVÁRNY NA VÝROBU SYNTETICKÉHO BENZINU.
SESTELENÝ LETOUN BYL SOUÁSTÍ 99 BOMBING GROUP 347 SQUADRONS A JEHO KAPITÁNEM BYL 2/LT SHERWOOD P. RUSTER. PI VZDUNÉM SOUBOJI SESTELILI PALUBNÍ STELCI A STÍHAI TI NMECKÉ STÍHAKY FOCKE-WULF 190 A8. LO O JEDNU Z VELKÝCH LETECKÝCH BITEV NAD OLOMOUCÍ.
TITO LETCI BOJOVALI A PADLI TAKÉ ZA NAI SVOBODU.
EST JEJICH PAMÁTCE.

Translation:

PEOPLE, PROTECT THIS CROSS
AND THE MEMORIAL OF THE FALLEN AIRMEN.
WE MUST NOT FORGET!

ON 18.12.1944, SEVEN AMERICAN AIRMEN DIED NEAR THIS CROSS WHEN A BOEING B-17G FLYING FORTRESS BOMBER CAME DOWN BY GERMAN FIGHTERS. THE BOMBER GROUP WAS HEADING FROM A BASE IN ITALY TO THE UPPER SILESIA AREA WITH THE AIM OF DESTROYING SYNTHETIC GASOLINE FACTORIES.
THE SHOT-DOWN PLANE WAS PART OF 99 BOMBER GROUP 347 SQUADRON AND ITS CAPTAIN WAS 2/LT SHERWOOD P. RUSTER. DURING AN AIR COMBAT, THE DECK GUNNERS AND FIGHTERS SHOT THREE GERMAN FOCKE-WULF 190 A8 FIGHTERS. IT WAS ONE OF THE GREAT AIR BATTLES OVER OLOMOUC.
THESE AIRCRAFT FIGHTED AND FELL FOR OUR FREEDOM.
HONOR TO THEIR MEMORY.

Commemorates:

People:

Byron C. Anton

Roland Duane Bergman

Robert A. Brown

Edward Earl Davis

Robert Eugene Lary

Vincent Charles Manzella

Wilbur Thomas Massey

Walter Gilbert Person

Ward Stanley Randolph

Sherwood Porter Ruster

Units:

15th Air Force

347th Bomber Squadron, 99th Bomber Group, Heavy

99th Bomber Group

United States Air Force

United States Army

Wars:

WWII

Other images :