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Erich Brown
7/20/2001 9:22:54 PM | Gentlemen :
I am looking for information covering the mission of 21 November 1944 over target, Merseberg.
There were 3 B-17's lost this day ? What was the cause, Fighter's or Flak ?
Thank you,
Erich
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Art Seder
7/20/2001 10:25:58 PM | Vic Maslen's account of that mission, which was led by Major (then Capt.) Alvah Chapman, states that it was necessary for the Group to let down to 20,000 feet at the IP to get below the clouds and the Group flew through heavy haze from the IP to the target. Two aircraft received major and 21 received minor flak damage. One of the three aircraft that were lost, piloted by Lt. Paul Sullivan, landed in Belgium and the crew was able to return to Deenthorpe. Capt. F. E. Rundell's plane was hit by flak and forced down, and Lt. Robert J. Keck's plane was knocked down by an enemy fighter after being forced to straggle because of flak damage. The ME 109 that forced Lt. Keck down (the only fighter seen in the vicinity of Merseberg) was then shot down by one of the 401st Group's B-17's, resulting in the claim of one fighter destroyed. In short, the losses were caused mainly by flak, although one Fortress was ultimately downed by a German fighter.
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Margie Keck Francese
9/23/2001 9:52:38 AM | Robert J. Keck is my uncle. The information I have is that he was shot down over Merseberg and parachuted to safty. He was injured, captured and spent his 21st birthday as a P.O.W.. I believe some of his crew was lost. Does anyone know his squadron, the POW camp he was held in , the name of his plane and other missions he flew? This site is exceptional.
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Jerrie Coates Sanders
6/6/2003 11:09:39 PM | My dad, Lt. Jerry A. Coates (Coats) lists the subject mission on his mission log. My dad died June 18, 2002 and we have many documents we are sorting through. I don't have any other information than this at the moment, but will be happy to share copies of any documents/photos I find.
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