It was truly an unlucky and tragic day — September 13, 1944. Many aircraft flying toward targets in southern Poland did not return to their bases; many women later mourned their husbands, sons, fiancés, boyfriends…
On that very day — September 13 — a silver “Flying Fortress” swept over Orawa with its engines roaring. The crew of Boeing B-17G serial number 44-6412 from the 483rd Bomb Group, 2nd Bomb Wing, was fighting its last battle. The damaged bomber fought simultaneously against two Messerschmitt Bf 109s. The outcome of the fight — a forced landing in the area between Czarny Dunajec and Jabłonka, in the tiny village of Koniówka. Several days later, a group of shadows crept through the bushes near the serpentine road at Obidowa — these were five men from the “Fortress” crew and partisans from the 1st Podhalańska Infantry Regiment of the Home Army escorting them. German trucks drove along the road above. Ahead lay the Turbacz massif, and beyond it the Gorce Mountains — partisan country, where “…Germans are not welcome.”
The remaining six airmen never made it there. Two reportedly perished in the wreckage of the aircraft; two more, captured as a result of betrayal (some time later, Home Army soldiers carried out a sentence on the traitor), were killed — presumably at the “Palace” — the notorious Gestapo torture house in Zakopane. One surrendered to the Germans and survived as a prisoner of war. These details, however, require further research and verification.
B-17G 44-6412, 2nd Bomb Wing, 483rd Bomb Group, September 13, 1944:
1st Pilot 2nd Lt. Everett J. Robson — survived, Stalag Luft I
2nd Pilot 2nd Lt. Harold R. Stock — survived, Stalag Luft I
Lt. August J. Kroschewsky — rescued by 1st PSP AK
Richard L. Hansler — rescued by 1st PSP AK
Sgt. Harold E. Beam — rescued by 1st PSP AK
Sgt. Gordon W. Sternbeck — rescued by 1st PSP AK
Sgt. Aloys C. Suhling — rescued by 1st PSP AK
Albert W. van Oostrom ?
Philip M. Nance ?
William N. Barry ?
