Posted By Willis S. Cole, Jr. Sam on February 04, 2008 at 16:03:16:
MIA Aircrew help - France
I need the expertise of B-17 Combat Pilots in researching the loss of a B-17 over France that suffered extensive battle damage. I believe, the damage was too extensive to have permitted the B-17 to reach the coast. Yet, it is still listed as 'unaccounted for' and four of its crew as MIA.
The Graves Registration search for this B-17's crash site and MIA crewmen appears to have stopped in 1947. One of the men, the Pilot, remains as a 'Unresolved' MIA and is not listed on the Walls Of Remembrance. The other three men are listed as MIA and listed on the Walls of Remembrance.
None of the B-17 manuals I have, give the stall speeds or glide angles with damaged equipment that I need to better compute the end of this flight. I have researded crashes, where I knew the damage, where it occurred and where the aircraft crashed. Which gives me a rough idea of flight time remaining and distance traveled, based on the damage and the altitude of a damaged B-17. I believe, with your help, I can do better.
At this time, all I can do,is to estimate a large cone of possible crash locations for this B-17. With the help of Pilots who flew the B-17 under damaged situations, I may be able to develop a closer search area in France for my network of military history friends in France, and myself, to search for this MIA B-17 and it's four MIA crewmen.
Full credit will be given to those who help. I will provide all the answers I can to any questions you require to provide your help. I always learn more than I can give away.
"Sam"
(425)823-4445
www.ww1.org