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"Maiden USA" (serial number 44-6508), a 614th Squadron Fortress, shown here
cruising above the ceiling.On 3 February 1945, B-17s of
the 8th Air Force attacked Berlin/Tempelhof while B-24s struck the synthetic oil plant at
Magdeburg. For the crew of "Maiden USA", that date marked their last mission. |
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Photo courtesy of L.A. Mitchell. |
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The flak was heavy over Berlin that fateful day and after "bombs away" the
"Maiden" lost engines 2 and 4 to flak. Because of strong headwinds,
returning to Deenethorpe was not an option and the decision was made to head east toward
the Russian front. Looking for a place to land, the B-17 circled the beleaguered
city of Warsaw. Suddenly they found themselves in the gun sights of a Soviet
fighter. The Russian aircraft made three passes and on the third pass the B-17 fired
a flare and lowered its landing gear. The Russian La-5FN escorted the aircraft to
safety and the "Maiden" landed at Kuflevo.However
that was not to be the end of the story. "Maiden USA" and her crew were
about to become pawns of the Russian Bear and they found themselves at the center of
international diplomacy and politics resulting in their being held incommunicado for seven
weeks. Meanwhile, to all at home they were MIA.
- Story by George Menzel
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