B-17 42-30654 UX-W, Lt. Brown

[Roger Bowers]

This is my first post, so please don't be too tough on me. My uncle, T/Sgt Vaughn E. Bowers was KIA 14 Oct 1943. He was the Right Waist Gunner (RWG) aboard the subject aircraft. I have been able to confirm the final resting places of the  crew members, except James Giebel. of Pennsboro, WV. If anyone can help, please advise. Also, I have been able to discover that 654 was shot down by Leutnant Hans Reuter of 9/III./JG11, flying a Bf-109G-6 ( with a WGr21 unguided rocket. This was Ltn. Reuter's only recorded victory. Reuter was forced to bail out at least twice during the War, first from a Bf109G-6 (Serial No. 15613, ST+QP), in combat with a P-51 over Ornbeck at 1045 7/28/1943, after taking off from Oldenburg to intercept B-17's. He staid with his plane until he was over a more sparsely populated area before bailing.  Nevertheless his plane crashed directly into a family residence and catapulted over the house into an adjacent farm field. The inhabitants of the house had gone to the basement for shelter from the American air raid, except for the grandmother, who was on the first floor. Miraculously, she was unhurt. Hans Reuter came down nearby in his pararchute, only slightly injured. Reuter had to bail out again on 10/22/1944. This time from a Focke-Wulf FW-190A-8 (Serial No. 960213), "Blue 9", due to an engine failure. He was seriously injured and rushed to a field hospital (Reserve-Lazarett) in Salzwedel. The incident occurred at 0935 in Nierensen, 4KM east of Markt-Friedland. I have been unable to learn whether Ltn. Hans Reuter survived the War. The last surviving member of the 654 crew was Raphael Conrad Simeroth, the tail gunner I made contact with him just before his death in 2008. The best story I came across during my research, came from Viktor Jagodics, an SSMA member in Germany. Viktor is a wonderful resource and tireless historical researcher. The story is of the local farm lady who lived near Bischbrunn, where 654 was shot down. As the SS were rounding up the survivors of the two B-17's shot down in the immediate area, the woman, who was working in the field, witnessed the abuse and inhumane treatment of the men, some of whom were injured and/or in shock. She lit into the SS men with her hay rake, berating them and telling them that her son was a POW in America and was being treated well. Sorta gives you some hope for this troubled world in which we live. Wouldn't it be great to be able to find the descendants of that lady and say,"Thank you".  Thanks for that story Viktor. It was worth all the work.

[Roger Bowers]

Sue, Don & Viktor,

Thanks for your quick responses and the info. Re: Giebell: He's not one of the 3 interred at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery, of whom my uncle is one. I was able to locate 8 of 10 in online data bases for US Military Cemeteries in Europe and National Cemeteries in the US. To find Lt. Brown, I found the website for his hometown of Virgilina, VA, a VERY small town, and while I was in Iraq, I contacted the mayor, a young lady in her 20's. She knew the family well. Within a few hours, she had gone to the cemetery, taken a photo of the grave and e-mailed it to me with the GPS coordinates. I haven't done enough homework for T/Sgt Giebell. It remains for me to contact local officials in his hometown of Pennsboro, WV. 

[Donald Paul Mounts]

Good Morning Roger,

Sue just forwarded me your question. I have forwarded it to my colleague in Germany. FYI this could take some time as I have to wait until the next time she is in Berlin on business which will be in early 2012. I have some other contacts that I will forward this to and see if they can get the answer quicker.

Reuter, Hans Lt 1 9/JG-11 Bf 109G, Fw 190A EK 1 & 2, Fighter Operational Clasp One known victory, his 1st, a B-17 at Bischbrunn, SE of Aschaffenburg on 14 October, 1943.

From a quick check of some of the German databases that I have access to here in America I found 10 possible matches of German soldiers that died between 10/22/1944 and the end of the war. To confirm I will need the correct Hans Reuter’s date of birth. Otherwise, I will have my colleague submit a request to the Deutsche Dienststelle (WASt) in Berlin. She will follow the next time she is in Berlin if we don't get anything back in the meantime.

Don

 

[Sue Moyer]

Great info Roger.  When I started reading this I thought to myself that you needed to get in contact with Viktor - so glad that you already have done that.  He is our go to man in the Schhweinfurt area on crash sites. I've heard this story before - the lady with the pitchfork, but I can't remember the circumstances.  I remember Simeroth's name also.  Do you have a copy of the photo of the crash site that appears in "Bits and Pieces"?  It's dark and not great resolution, but if you don't have that I can post it.  Any photos that you have, please feel free to post.

Seems you have 2 questions: final resting place of Giebell and info about Lt Reuter.  Bits and Pieces indicates that 3 crew members were unable to be identified and buried together in ST Louis.  Giebell is not one of those? We have a member, Don Mounts here on the site that may be able to help you with both questions. He has a German researcher that he works with who may be able to track down the info for Lt Reuter.  I will ask him to read your post.  Great to have you here.  Are you aware that the 2nd Schweinfurt raid will be featured in the new Boeing Pavilion of the National WWII Museum in New Orleans?  It's scheduled to open next fall.