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42-30636 - Luftkriegsarchiv Köln

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42-30636

Crashes > of the USAAF

On its return flight from the bombing raid on Frankfurt, the B-17 flew into the range of anti-aircraft fire around Siegburg. It was hit by a direct hit and crashed in Sieglar near Siegburg in the area of Flachtenstraße and Grabenstraße. The aircraft exploded on impact and burned completely.

None of the crew survived. The bodies, burned beyond recognition, were later recovered and buried in the old cemetery in Sieglar.
In March 1946, all of the bodies were exhumed and laid to rest at the American military cemetery in Margraten, Netherlands.

Above:
The crash site in Sieglar

Left:
A post-war report on the crash and the recovery of the dead
Source: Troisdorf City Archives B-2946

Below:
The German Air Force's report on the crash in Sieglar.

Above:
The pilot, 2nd Lt Bernard Ralph Swart

Above:
The co-pilot, 1st Lt. Everett P. Brown
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