With his brother Bob and close friends, Bernard and Joe Ater, Clarksburg, Ohio native, Ralph W. Anderson volunteered to serve in the Army Air Corps before the draft. Having tinkered with engines nearly all 18 years of his life, Anderson’s skills were put to use as a B-17 Flying Fortress mechanic.

After completion of flight training, the crew was assigned to the 325^th Bomb Squadron of the 92^nd Bomb Group, a.k.a. Fame’s Favored Few. Pictured above are the ten original members of Hale’s crew, (kneeling left to right), George C. Hale –Pilot (Sargent, NE), Alvin B. Skare- Co-Pilot (Hopkins, MN), James B. Kelly – Navigator (Eureka Springs, AR), Paul H. Hughes – Bombardier (Indianapolis, IN), (Standing left to right) Ralph W. Anderson – Engineer (Clarksburg, OH), Forrest C. Neigler - Waist Gunner (Racine, OH), William J. Egar - Radio Operator (New York, NY), Kenneth C. Davidson - Tail Gunner (El Paso, TX), Louis B. Madison - Ball Turret Gunner (Gaston, OR), Robert W. Douglas - Waist Gunner (Newark, Ohio).

Shortly after receiving their assignment, Bill Egar noted that the crew ferried a B-17 from the United States along the "northern route" to Europe. This common flight path traveled through Maine, up to Newfoundland and eventually to Preswick, Scotland where new crews would leave the aircraft and travel by land to their respective base assignments. Hale’s crew traveled by train from Preswick to the home of the 92^nd Bomb Group near Podington, England arriving in mid-October, 1943.

Dear Mr. and Mrs. Anderson,

I know you must think this is a little odd receiving a letter from someone who you most likely have never heard of. And yet, you might know me through my husband, Lt. George C. Hale, who is pilot of your son’s plane.

The reason I’m writing this letter is so that we might become acquainted. And through our acquaintance, feel free to write each other at any and all times we might be bothered when we don’t hear from the one we love as often as we might.

Somehow, the knowledge that we are not exactly standing alone, in our ignorance of their doings is somewhat of a help. And together, we could somehow make the time, that they are away, seem shorter through our correspondence.

My husband has promised faithfully to write daily. So if ever you would want to know of their doings, please feel free to write me, and I will in turn pass on any and all information I possibly can, to you.

Sincerely, Muriel F. Hale

I was certainly pleased to hear from you and realize you must certainly have your hands full in writing letters…The boys flew across to England, arriving there approximately the 14^th of last month October; and according to my husband, had a most pleasant and uneventful trip. Since then, they haven’t been doing any flying…just taking it easy.

Don’t feel too bad about Ralph not writing you of their doings, because you see, it’s not permissible and would only be censored if he did.

As for the crew staying together. I’m more than praying so because definitely they will not be separated by the government…only an act of War. In other words, they will be together until they return; which please "God" they do soon.

I’m certainly happy that Ralph is pleased with his pilot, because only if all members of the crew are happy with those they fly with, will they have a GOOD crew. I know that for George’s part; he believes they don’t come better or sweller then the group of fellows in his plane.

They haven’t been doing any flying, as I said before, but have had plenty of time to enjoy the scenery and see the sights of England, which according to my husband, they are doing well.

I receive daily letters from George, so any time you wish any info on your son, please write me.

Regards to your entire family, Muriel Hale

Unfortunately, overseas, the truth was grim. Due to heavy losses, the 92^nd Bomb Group was in desperate need of aircraft and pilots. Upon their arrival, Hale and his crew had little time to get acquainted with their new surroundings before being included in the regular mission rotation. In fact, the crew flew their first mission on November 26, 1943 to Bremen, Germany, providing them only a few short days of additional rest .

In a rush to catch up with the rest of the crew, Wilson briefly conversed with Davidson before leaving the barracks. Since Davidson’s parachute was already packed and ready, he handed it to Wilson to save him time. Wilson joined the crew at the B-17 and was briefly introduced to the other members before boarding the bomber and taxing to the runway.

On this day, Lt. Hale was piloting B-17F, Serial #42-30803. This specific aircraft was commissioned to the United States Army Air Force July 28, 1943 after its production in Seattle under the Boeing Serial number 5917. It was delivered to the 2^nd Strategic Air Depot on October 8, 1943 and assigned to the 8^th Air Force, 92^nd Bomb Group, two days later on October 10.

The December 1 primary bombing targets were Solingen and Leverkusen, Germany. Eighth Air Force records indicate that there was equipment failure in the lead aircraft, which caused some diversion in the mission. The B-17’s diverted to a secondary target to drop their bombs on Seigburg, Germany.

Additional internal explosions caused smoke and fire to quickly engulf the mid-section and back half of the aircraft. Wilson said that when he first turned around to look forward through the B-17 to see what had happened, he noticed that the mid-section of the plane was in very bad shape and that more than likely the initial explosion killed the radio operator instantly. He commented that the wooden doorway that divides the radio control room from the mid-section of the aircraft (where the waist gunners are located) was riddled with exiting flak holes. He also noticed both waist gunner escape hatches were blown and the gunners were no longer in the aircraft.

Seconds later, he witnessed Sgt. Louis Madison arise from the ball turret position into the fuselage of the B-17. Wilson mentioned that Madison was definitely preparing to bail out of the aircraft because he unhooked his oxygen supply so he could move freely through the aircraft to get his parachute. Instead of grabbing an auxiliary bottle of oxygen and hooking it to his mask, Madison went without oxygen and a few seconds later, he collapsed on the floor. Wilson assumed he collapsed of oxygen deprivation, however Madison may have received severe wounds from the initial flak explosion while lowered in the ball turret position, out of Wilson’s direct line of sight. Eyewitness accounts from other aircraft in the formation claim the flak explosion did considerable amounts of damage to the ball turret.

An eyewitness account from a nearby Tail Gunner describes the severity of the damage caused by the explosion.

In the Missing Air Crew report, 92^nd Bomb Group gunner, Dorwin Radney wrote:

In a matter of seconds, Wilson witnessed that both waist gunners were gone and Sgt. Madison had made an unsuccessful attempt to escape the aircraft. The situation was serious. He made sure his parachute was secured so he could bail out if necessary. Grabbing the parachute given to him at Podington by original tail gunner Ken Davidson, he noticed that he had rings on his harness and rings on his parachute, instead of rings on one and clips on the other. Out of options and praying that it would work, he snapped the incompatible chute onto his harness the best he could without attaching the top two connections.

The next few moments were unclear for Wilson. One moment he was preparing his gear, and the next moment he woke up from an unconscious state while free falling through the clouds. He was either blown or sucked out of the aircraft by an additional internal explosion, as mentioned in Radney’s after action report.

Wilson lay in the field unconscious for what he thinks was two to three hours due to the fact that the bombing run was scheduled for Noon, and the sun was beginning to set. When he regained consciousness he realized he had to be careful and soon saw three German soldiers with a search dog walking in his direction. In an attempt to avoid detection, Wilson jumped chest deep into what he thought was a canal, but was actually a small creek that had been drudged out and carefully maintained by local farmers for years (pictured above left). Unfortunately for Wilson, the water was ice cold, so he jumped out of the water quickly. He sought shelter underneath a nearby bridge {or overpass} and eventually was captured at gunpoint by German soldiers. Wilson was interrogated for 21 days in Bonn, Germany and then sent to Stalag 17B near Krems, Austria where he was held captive for 18 months.

(MAP: The following map identifies the locations of 1. the 100-150 meter area of the farm field where Dr. Eschweiler discovered the bodies, 2. where a few aircraft artifacts were discovered, 3. where the wreckage landed, and 4. the cemetery in Euskirchen where Anderson was buried).

After discovering the six bodies in the farm field, Eschweiler and his friends rushed over to the remainder of the crash site. By this time, the German Army had secured the site from on-lookers, and the children were told not to go near the wreckage because two more men were inside the crumpled fuselage. They were told that the men were in serious condition and unconscious, but that they were still alive. One of the men was Ralph Anderson. Eventually, the Germans drove an ambulance into the field to remove Anderson from the wreckage. They rushed him to a nearby hospital in Euskirchen, where he died shortly thereafter, either during the drive, or in the hospital

Sadly, oblivious to the crash and the death of nine of the crewmembers, a jovial Muriel Hale sat down at her typewriter to provide Mrs. Anderson some comfort after receiving letters from Lt. Hale and Sgt. Egar’s mother: {December 6, 1943}

Dear Mrs. Anderson,

I’ve just heard today from Mrs. Ellis

Bill Egar’s mother, and after a three week lapse in correspondence with her son, she received seven letters on December 2^nd.

Bill, as well as Lt. Hale, both write that all the fellows are fine, and are having fun in England. In fact, Bill wrote me that he recently spent 48 hours in London with the rest of the boys (your son included), on a pass.

…Of course, even though Lt. Hale writes me daily, he still can’t write me what they’ve been doing. Although reading between the lines, I gather they have been doing some flying, although not very much. In fact, they have just been taking it easy, and seeing the sights.

That is all I know at the present time, but sincerely hope it is enough to reassure you that your son is well…

Regards to your family, Muriel Hale

Before Christmas, the Anderson’s were notified that Ralph was missing in action. Mrs. Anderson shared her news with Muriel Hale, by mail, who quickly responded with the following letter: {January 9, 1944}

Dear Mrs. Anderson,

I certainly wish you wouldn’t feel as though all hope is gone, now that your son and my husband are missing in action, {because} it definitely isn’t. In fact, {it’s} far from it.

…I have received two letters, one from Bill Egar and the other from Al Skare, who write that chutes were seen leaving the plane over Germany, they do not know whose or how many, but, definitely feel that the boys are all OK. Naturally {they are} in prison camps. But don’t forget that before the Red Cross finds out… where the boys are located {in Germany, its representatives notify} the U.S. Government, who in turn will notify us. It will take months… of plain waiting and faith to see us through.

…Lt. Skare and Bill Egar have promised to keep on writing me and letting me know anything/everything they can find out regarding George and the rest.

…Regards to you all, Muriel Hale

Letter exchanges continued between Muriel Hale and the rest of the mothers. By mid-January, many of the families were informed of their son’s status changing from Missing in Action, to Killed in Action, based upon German Army information shared to the Red Cross. Mrs. Hale and Mrs. Anderson continued to share letters.

Dear Mr. And Mrs. Anderson,

This might seem odd coming from a perfect stranger to you, and yet not to your son… that words fail me when I try to tell you how I feel in regards to Ralph.

Maybe if I explain a little, you will know how I feel.

George’s crew, weren’t just a group of nameless boys under a lieutenant… but a close body of fellows. {Aside from their ranks, they were officers} and personnel alike. In other words, there was never any distinction ever. It was always "US."

Long before I ever met any of the boys, I knew their likes, dislikes, etc. from George. {When} I met them, it was not like meeting strangers, but friends I had known for a long time.

I was really proud that they seemed to like me, as I more than liked them.

Maybe this will let you know, when I say I’m so deeply deeply sorry that it’s not just a group of words on a sheet, but instead, something that comes from the bottom of my heart.

I am still just waiting, waiting, waiting and have "Thank God" received no word since the letter written by the government on the 27^th of January. But then, I know DEEP in my heart that George must be alive… he just HAS to be.

I only knew of four boys with George, as the rest were substitutes. …Of the four, Louis Madison’s mother was notified of his death, January 3, 1944. On February 15, Mrs. Hughes was notified that her son (Paul Hughes) was killed the 1^st of December. From Mrs. Kelly (Lt. James Kelly – Navigator), I have heard nothing and pray that it’s a promise of GOOD news. She has {not responded} since she wrote that Jimmy was missing.

I still hear quite regularly from Bill Egar in England, and he is still flying steadily, in fact to quote one his letters:

Please let me hear from you, when you feel up to it, as somehow I believe that a mistake could have been made and someday they will ALL be back with us.

Sincerely, Muriel Hale

Muriel Hale’s personal letters to Gail Anderson confirm 92^nd Bomb Group reports, which identify that Lt. Hale’s four original surviving crewmembers continued to fight diligently. Gunners Forrest Neigler and Kenneth Davidson were assigned to different crews and flew multiple missions. However, both Neigler and Davidson finished their fighting careers with crash landings in neutral countries. On a mission to Berlin on March 9, 1944, Davidson’s B-17, piloted by Lt. Dick W. Floyd, received substantial flak damage to its number three engine causing the plane to quickly lose altitude. After a brief escort by two P-51 fighters, the B-17 broke through the clouds and crash landed on a frozen lake in Sweden where they interned for seven months.

Nine days later over Munich, Germany, Lt. Gordon L Capps’ B-17 #42-97515 (including Waist Gunner Neigler) received multiple hits of Flak and was forced down into Switzerland. According to Navigator Lt. Ted Siirila, their B-17 was escorted by four P-38’s until they located a Swiss airstrip where they could attempt an emergency landing. The strip was not long enough and the B-17 slid through a neighboring field, ramped off raised railroad tracks, regained flight for a few seconds, and eventually crashed down to Earth in a frozen field, miraculously leaving the crew unharmed. All ten crewmembers interned in Switzerland for eleven months. A picture of the wreckage appears on page 15 of Strangers in a Strange Land, Escape to Neutrality, Vol II.

Sgt. Bill Egar was assigned to other crews and went on to complete 37 missions with the 325^th. He was credited with shooting down one ME-109 from his radio operator gun position.

Finally, original Co-Pilot, Lt. Alvin "Buster" Skare was eventually promoted to Captain and flew his last mission (presumably his 35^th mission) on April 16, 1945. Numerous records indicate that Skare commanded the 325^th through a few missions. In a letter written by his daughter, Sally Harman, she wrote that on December 1, 1943 Buster "was grounded as a result of illness… a severe respiratory infection and cough…. He never ‘got over’ the fact that he survived because of this and his crew perished – it was a lifetime sorrow for him."

end

Egar, William J. Telephone Interview. August 1997.

Egar, William J. Personal Interview. September 28, 1997. Las Vegas, Nevada.

Eschweiler, Christian Dr. Personal interview. May 20, 2000. Euskirchen, Germany.

Eschweiler, Christian Dr. Written interview. February 3, 1997. Euskirchen, Germany.

Hemmer, Otto. German Researcher. Personal Interview. May 20, 2000. Euskirchen, Germany.

Klein, Manfred. German researcher. Personal Interview. May 20, 2000. Euskirchen, Germany.

Meier, Wolfgang. German researcher. Personal Interview. May 20, 2000. Euskirchen, Germany.

Paul, Axel. German Researcher. Personal Interview. May 20, 2000. Euskirchen, Germany.

United States Army Air Corps. Missing Air Crew Report. December 1, 1943.

Wilson, Donald L. Personal Interview. September 8, 1997. Las Vegas, Nevada.

Wilson, Donald L. Personal Interview. September 28, 1997. Las Vegas, Nevada.