B-17 'Shack Rabbit III' (42-30372) Crash Marker
Details:
On the southeast corner of the intersection of Rue de Stambruges and Chausseé Brunehaut near the Belgian town of Stambruges.
On October 20, 1943, the B-17 was on its way from Snetterton Heath North of London, the target was
a Bomb manufacturing plant near Aachen, Germany. On the way they were attacked
by enemy fighter aircraft over Belgium and had to break away from the B-17
formation and became separated from the rest of the bombers. Two of the crew,
Radio Operator Frederick William
McManus and Tail Gunner George Carl Janser were killed during the attacks
by the fighter aircraft. Fortunately the pilot was able to fight to keep the
bomber aloft long enough for the remainder of the crew to bail out but an
explosion separated the tail of the doomed bomber and it crashed on October 20, 1943 from
an enemy Luftwaffe airfield just 35 miles southwest of Brussels, Belgium.
Monument Text:
US Air Force
10.20.1943
Commemorates:
People:
Units:
339th Bomber Squadron, 96th Bomber Group
8th Air Force
Wars:
WWII
Other images :
