Marcq-en-Barœul

The single engine airplane departed Marcq-en-Barœl Aerodrome (Bondues, north of Lille) on a local skydiving mission. On board were few skydivers (exact number unknown) and one pilot. After all skydivers jumped out, the pilot was forced to leave the aerodrome zone because of the deterioration of the weather conditions. While cruising at an altitude of 1,700 metres, the engine lost power and the action of the pilot were without any effect. He reduced his altitude and attempted an emergency landing when the airplane crash landed in an open field located in Kooigem, Belgium, some 20 km east northeast of Marcq-en-Barœl Aerodrome. The pilot escaped unhurt and the airplane was damaged beyond repair.

The airplane departed RAF Thurleigh to attack a train factory located in Lille. In unknown circumstances, it collided with a second USAAF B-17 registered 41-24471 that was also carrying 10 crew members on the same operation. Following the collision, both airplanes dove into the ground and crashed in the city of Marcq-en-Baroel. Six crew members were killed and four others became PoW.
Crew:
1st Lt Jack A. Spaulding, pilot, †
Cpt Russell Gilbert Kahl, copilot,
T/Sgt Thomas H. Gilliland, mechanic, †
2nd Lt Wallace Braxton Kirkpatrick, navigator,
S/Sgt Edward A. Nork, radio operator,
2nd Lt Gordon R. Grant, bomb aimer, †
S/Sgt Dale A. Davis, air gunner, †
Sgt Louis R. Morgan, air gunner, †
T/Sgt Leon Williams, air gunner, †
Sgt Earl E. Santos, air gunner.

The airplane departed RAF Thurleigh to attack a train factory located in Lille. In unknown circumstances, it collided with a second USAAF B-17 registered 41-24498 that was also carrying 10 crew members on the same operation. Following the collision, both airplane dove into the ground and crashed in the city of Marcq-en-Baroel. Three crew members were killed and seven others became PoW.
Crew:
Cpt James A. Johnston, pilot, †
Cpt Doyle L. Dugger, copilot, †
S/Sgt Clyde M. Bennett, mechanic,
1st Lt Frank Josepoh Jacknik, navigator,
T/Sgt Robert Louis Stevenson, radio operator,
1st Lt Shedrick Evans Jones, bomb aimer,
S/Sgt Charles Raleigh Tipton, air gunner, †
Sgt Thomas Daniel McMahon, air gunner,
Sgt Frederick J. Zdobylak, air gunner,
S/Sgt John Patrick Morrison, air gunner.