Eyewitness account - B-17's

Jim Hennessey got this from one of his friends and shared it with me.

Eyewitness account

 

My parents lived in the small village of Midwoud during World War II.

On the 20th of January 1945, during a snowstorm, they heard the sound of a

Plane coming over. Now, for people in occupied Holland this was nothing new,

As American and English planes were flying over from England to bomb targets

In Germany every day and night, but during the five years of German

Occupation they got to know the sound of those planes and also if they were in

Trouble or not just by the sound of the engines.

 

On that day a plane broke through the clouds and it sounded like it was in

Trouble. It barely missed the farm where my parents were living at the time. My

Mom, who was seven months pregnant with my eldest brother, rushed out to

See what was going on and saw a plane crash into a field opposite of the farm.

My dad, making sure my mom went back into the house as he didn’t want her to

Be upset in her condition, rushed to the crash site along with some of the

Neighbors. For as long as I can remember, our parents have always told us

About the American B17 that crashed just opposite their home and about the

Brave airmen that lost their lives. They also told us that one of them was blown

 

Out of the plane and was attendant to by our local doctor and was helped by

The underground in order to get him to safety. On the 4th may - in Holland the

Day when we remember al those who lost their lives during WWII - we always

Went to the memorial - a propeller of the B17 - and placed a bouquet of field

Flowers to honor the young men that fought to free us from the Germans and

Gave their lives so that we may live in freedom now.

 

Lately I’ve searched the Internet to find more information about that B17 that

Crashed in Midwoud, it’s crew, where it’s base was in England, which

Bombergroup it belonged to in the USAAF etc. It does me the world of good to

Read that Mr. Belton made it back States side safely, married his wife Virginia

And had a family. I don’t know if he is alive today, but if he is would you

please

 

Send him my warmest regards and tell him my story on behalf of my parents?

 

Will you please tell the veterans that somewhere in the north of Holland during

WWII there once was a young girl that looked up at the sky and saw all those

Vapor trails and prayed: please God, let them come home safely… Will you

Please tell them that we are still thankful and that we still commemorate all

Those that fought and died.

 

From me to the veterans: thank you all so very, very much for the help you

Gave to my country! Thanks to you I had the opportunity to grow up in freedom!

And know that many people looked up at the sky and saw you guys go on a

Mission into Germany and prayed for you! Every vapor trail, every bit of info on

 

Their wireless was a world of hope to them…

 

Sincerely yours,

 

Sylvia Steketee.

 

Cecil K Belton is still living in Springfield ILL

Henk

44-6601 LUCKY LAdy

MACR: 1179

Mission #192 target: Rheine Marshaling

Yards

January 20, 1945

2LT

Cecil K. Belton

Pilot

EVD

3 missions

2LT

Andrew B. Shanks

Co-Pilot

KIA

2 missions

2LT

Carl F. Chillberg

Navigator

KIA

2 missions

F/O

Claude H. Bogert

Bombardier

KIA

2 missions

TSGT

Thomas A. Rogan

Radioman

KIA

2 missions

SGT

Warren F. Nielsen

BT Gunner

KIA

2 missions

SGT

Sylvester Solomons

Engineer

KIA

2 missions

SGT

Melvin D. Williams

Tail Gunner

KIA

2 missions

SGT

William L. Monroe

Waist Gunner

KIA

2 missions

Lucky Lady was shot down by AAA Jan 20, 1945 over Sterkrade and

crashed near Midwoud, Holland. Flak over the target damaged the #2 engine and

fragments from the flak cut the hydraulic lines. Fluid was leaking and the B-17

fell out of the formation, losing altitude. LT Belton headed for home, but a

fire broke out in the Cockpit and he ordered the crew to bail out. Before they

could do so, there was a large explosion which probably blew off part of the

cockpit. The plane plummeted out of control and crashed in the meadows north of

the village of Midwoud, about 45km north of Amsterdam.

2 chutes were reported seen from observers on the ground; one chute got tangled

on the tail section. LT Belton survived most likely because he was blown clear

of the plane. He could not recall pulling his ripcord. Members of the Dutch

resistance took care of him and told him the fate of his crew. LT Belton could

not believe they had perished. During the night of January 20-21, Dutchmen

guided him through the frozen fields to the church at Midwoud where the dead

crewmen were lying in state. An emotional Belton paid his respects. In March,

the Resistance transferred him via Amsterdam to the Biesbosch, a marshy area

with hundreds of waterways south of Rotterdam and rowed him in a boat to Allied

territory. The crew members were buried in the cemetery at Midwoud. They were

reinterred January 21, 1946 in the Netherlands American Cemetery.

==============

A sad but interesting story from Sylvia. It is the personal accounts like this that are so important in recording the history of WWII and it is good to know that this information will live on for ever on this website.

Colin.