B-17G-45-BO (sn 42-97385) Shady Lady
57 Moselle City : Réchicourt-le-Château Coordinates :
48.66360 ,
6.86389
48°39'49"N 6°51'50"E
48°39.816 N 6°51.833 E
The site contains a memorial commemorating US aviators.
D90 , Réchicourt-le-Château , 57-Moselle , Lorraine , France
On the Northeast side of the intersection of the D89 and D90.
In memory of the three US airmen that were shot dead near here on September 8th 1944 while trying to escape after crash landing their wounded B-17
2nd Lt Warren J. Wade
Pilot and commanding officer
Sgt Wilbert Y. Burns
Belly gunner
Sgt Eugene Gamba
Tail gunner
erected by the UNC of Rechicourt le Chateau
2008
On September 8th 1944, B-17G-45-BO 42-97385 "Shady Lady" of the 601st BS 398th BG participated in mission 611 over Ludwigshafen. The plane took off from Base 131 at Nuthampstead (north of London). On their way back, the pilot had to land in a field near Ley (Moselle) at Le Prunier a few kilometers from Réchicourt-le-Château in enemy territory. He pulled it off with only one engine, no. 2 and 3 being shot and no.1 broken.
Seven crew members were taken prisoners at Réchicourt. They were locked up in an old castle tower in the village for interrogation. While being transferred by the SS, they seized the opportunity to jump from the truck and head into Réchicourt forest. They were trying to link up with US forces in Lorraine. Four were shot and three more killed during the botched escape.
External link :
Notified by : Jean-Jacques Lignier CDRH BA 133.
Jean-Loup Frommer.
Record added 21/06/2009.
Photos : Jean-Jacques Lignier CDRH BA 133 (04/06/2009), Jean-Loup Frommer (09/11/2016).
The photos are under copyright. They may not be reproduced, modified, distributed in any support without prior permission.
Aérostèles
48°39'49"N 6°51'50"E 
