Geyer Crew, 8th USAAF 96th BG | Aircrew Remembered

Dutch WWII Airwar Researcher Jacobus "Co" de Swart investigated WWII air combat victory claims of German Luftwaffe Fighter Pilot Oberleutnant Erich Burkert. De Swart's research found confirmation of those claims, including two USAAF B-17s, one from the 95th Bombardment Group on 17 August 1943, and one from the 96th Bombardment Group on 20 October 1943. This photo Gallery presents the results of the research, as well as the modern day gatherings of the descendants of the combatants and witnesses to these events. Among the researchers de Swart collaborated with to fill some voids were the Belgian team at The Comet Network.

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	Albums Baker Crew, 8th USAAF, 95th BG 208 Geyer Crew, 8th USAAF 96th BG 210 418 photos


	Related keywords Burkert Crashsite B-17 43-3439


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	Photo sizes Photo sizes ✔ Square ✔ Thumbnail ✔ XXS - tiny ✔ XS - extra small ✔ S - small ✔ M - medium ✔ L - large ✔ Optimal slideshow Home / Geyer Crew, 8th USAAF 96th BG 210 The Geyer Crew was assigned to the 413th Bombardment Squadron (H) of the 96th Bombardment Group (H). They were lost in combat on 20 October 1943. They were flying a B-17F, Army Serial Number 42-3439, when it was shot down and crashed at De Bilt, The Netherlands. Co de Swart 8th USAAF 96thBG Mission report Oct.20-1943 B-17 MZ V >Call sign Geyer B17 crew Geyer Crew: USAAF B-17 42-3439 UK, spring 1943: Geyer Crew in Trainingsflight German WWII Fighter gridmap German Luftwaffe Oblt. Erich M. Burkert JG 26 Cpilot's 1945 Telegram to his parents "Coming Home" Erich Burkert, 2nd from L: Russia Spring 1943 013 Luftwaffe Career Oblt E Burkert 1909 1944 Lw Fighterpilot Burkert JG 26 photograped at Schiphol Airport Aug 17-1943 congratulated by his groundcrew after downing B-17 42-30274 over Mol, Belgium Dutch Policereport on crash B-17 42-3439 in De Bilt, NL, Oct. 1943. crashsite B-17 42-3439, De Bilt NL, Oct. 20-1943 German Fighterpilot looking at the remains of his victim, B-17-3439 018 crashDe Bilt4 crashsite B-17 42-3439, De Bilt NL, Oct. 20-1943 crashsite B-17 42-3439, De Bilt NL, Oct. 20-1943 Same German officer in rubbish after the crash -2- ID Plate of one of the B-17's engines, found on the crashsite later Pilot Charles Geyer Prison ID MIA/ Missing Telegram Dec 18 1943 2 Farmhouse Raaymakers Jekschotstraat 5b 1, Zijtaart, NL Zijtaart, Holland 2004, author with witness Richard van Nunen ( blue jacket) Oberursel, Germany: German ID for Co-pilot Surdez US-Cal. paper reporting the Missing of USAAF airman Surdez ( 1) Surdez in training 1942 Burlingham Paper: Airman Surdez missing in ETO Early 1944:Letter Sq. Cdr to Surdez parents regretting his MIA Surdez (L) in Stalg Luft 1 Still humour in POW Camp Telegram to Parents Surdez 1945: I'm on my way home Don Mills with dear wife early 1943 037 Don Mills 001 Fall 1943:For Bomb. Don Mills> first safehouse after foot-trip from chutelanding site in Holland 040 Pierre Elhorga French Resistance (Cometline) 041 Jeanne Marthe Mendiara Villenave/safehouse Gunner Melvin Litke, when with 15thAF in Italy, photographed shortly before returning hom after his completed 'tour' Mel Litke, photographed on 'his position' on Michigan Airshow, mid 1990-ies Remembering Aäron Becker KIA, gunner/Radio Geyer Crew 'Bob' Randell, KIA gunner Geyer Crew Margraten Cemetery, NL > graves of crewmbrs Becker and Randel Crewmbr. Geyer Crew: Guillianelli KIA A Hero's Rest KIA Crewmbr. Lantron's data (-1-) KIA Crewmbr. Lantron's data (-2-) Edward L Lantron's Grave site in Borger, Tx. 052 TMP165 jpg B17 crew 001 053 Gravesite Parker Newark NJ James ('Jim') Parker and his Mom 1943 055 Parker at Fort Dix 1942 056 NJ Daily Jim Parkers MIA 057 Litke Lantron and Parker 058 Left Mel Litke second left Jim Parker 059 2 Jim Parker medal 060 Richard van Nunen 1941 Zijtaart, Holland 2005/ Richard v. Nunen at frmr chute-landing site of Doherty and Killarney ea 2005/ Frmr Farm of v.d. Ven family where Sur dez dez was hidden but also got arrested by German soldiers who had watched the chutelandings in the area Page of the WWII-Otten safehouse scrapbook Published in Afees Newsmagazine by Co de Swart: 2005 List of Allied airmen hidden in the Otten Safehouse, Erp, Holland 1942/1944 His chute worked well and saved him Otten Safe house, Erp, Holland. 2014 Nov. 1943: Safehouse Doherty & Killarney in Maasniel/Roermond Postwar letter from Resistance man Gerald Gorris , Roermond Rewards for a Dutch WWII Hero Goodbay-and thanks note from Doherty-and Killarney PostwarLetter from Resistance Tilburg to Doherty's wartime address when he left Aunt Coba's safehouse Tilburg J F v Eerdewijk, Tiburg 2004: Special Tilburg Magazine on Aunt Coba's Safehouse in WWII 075 Prison Chart Card for Killarney 96BG-Magazine 2005 page: on Aunt Coba and the two escapees. In-and Out chart Doherty Nov. 1943 from the Dutch Prison 'Oranjehotel in The Hague/Scheveningen Red Cross info to Doherty's parents: 'Your son is a POW in Germany' German POW/ID card for Nav. Doherty Doherty Couple Home: Happily married after' (>the war) Palm Springs USA 2003: Rober Paul Surdez ('Bud') Co-pilot B17 42-3439 visited by Co de Swart Airshow Palm Springs USA 2003: Co & Bud Surdez Sr. and son Steve Surdez Jr. Palm Springs, Cal/ Mar 2003 > Two friends for life 2003 De Bilt, Holland> Invitation to attend the Memorial day for the Crew/5 KIA-and the three Dutch Victims Two friends for life (2) Jose Cladder, Pres. of Hist. Soc. De Bilt / Co de Swart Oct. 20-2003: Mayor of De Bilt welcoming attendees in the Townhall Co de Swart detailing photo exposition of searchresults for US Ambassador and wife Shots of Photo exposition in Townhall De Bilt (-1- ) Photoshow detail: German Berlin Paper Oct. 14-2003 publishing search results -2- -3- -4- Transport of attendees in old US Schoolbusses etc Attendees on the crash-site welcomed by Big Band De Bilt with Glenn Miller tunes Memorial still covered by Dutch flag Monument unveiled by Steve & Cathy Surdez and Horst an Gisela Burkert, Memorial info on turnable Cube of Monument Oct. 20, 2003/14.45 sharp: WWII warbirds over the Monument Monument squaire Names of Dutch victims in the crash of the B-17-plane Memorial Info on one of the cube-squaires Background Info on Memorial Americans meeting eachother in De Bilt, NL on Memorial Day Steve Surdez addressing attandees Memorial Day De Bilt 2003 Gisela Burkert, daughter of the Luftwaffe pilot messaged the audiance C: Gisela Burkert and R: Louise de Swart Mayor Tschernof of De Bilt with Jose Cladder and Co de swart Closing words Co de Swart/ end of official part of the Memorial Dinner with closest attendees ending 'THE' Memorial Day Tschernof with Louise de Swart 'De Jong' Family, sons of DE/Sara Lee Director/Manager etc, etc. etc, etc. etc, etc. Mrs Tschernof with German Defence Attache De Jong family mbrs 2004: Dover, Ma. USA / Invitation to USAAF Vets to meet 'Friends from Holland' backsite of the invitation 2004: Dover, Ma. USA>Co with happy Doherty-daughters Pat-and Joan Bob Doherty, 8thUSAF Hist with Co de Swart at Meeting in Dover, Ma. USA 2004, Dover: 8thAAF Vets leaving the Doherty Residence after a wonderful meeting Dover, Ma,USA March 2004 Doherty 'hostesses' with 8th USAAF Vets Grateful Pat & Joan Doherty for succesfull Reception, with 'Love to Holland' 2004 Trip to the USA Palm Desert, 2004: Burt & Ruth Becker Hosts with Co de Swart Info for the Americans: 96thBG News Magazine publishing about the Memorial Day in De Bilt San Francisko Chronicle 2004/ Article on visit Co & Louise de Swart to 'Bud' and Mocha Surdezz San Francisco Chronicle/article (2) on Co de Swart's visit to Bob 'Bud' Surdez 131 img001p Summer 2004, wife Lily, Bud Surdez, Steve Surdez Jr. 133 Summer 2004 Bud Dave and Mocha 010 1 Article for SF Chronicle on Bud Surdez passing Aug. 2004 Kansas City 2004 /8th USAF Hist.Soc Annual 2004, Goodland, Kansas Goodland Newspaper reporting Co de Swart visiting widow and stepfather of Crewmbr Lantron's son 'Curt'Lantron -2- Goodland, Ka. Paper article on Co de Swart's visit. Kansas Trip 2004 Goodland, Ka. Paper article on Co de Swart's visit. -2- Washington Va, 2005 / Co de Swart/Mel Litke Washington Va, 2005 / Litke with hostess 8thAF HS 145 2005 Washington Va Mel Litke L and Co de Swart 146 Mel Litke at WWII Memorial Va 147 Michigan 2006 Mel Litke attending VFW Annual Parade 2006> Zeist, Holland> Lois Randel / Co de swart Co de Swart handing Lois Randel a miniature of the memorial for her brother Bob KIA 2005> De Bilt, Holland> at Memorial Bemidji, Mi, USA Paper article on the Randel-sisters' visit to De Bilt, Holland De Bilt/Memorial- Restance man Richard van Nunen Jan.6-2006 Veghel, Holland /Awards for Resistance hero (2) (-3-) Dutch Bert Monster, frmr Resistance C-Holland (-4-) US Afees Reward for Richard van Nunen Jan 6-2006: Co de Swart handing Richard van Nunen Surprise Holland 2006 Escapelinehelper van Nunen Holland honoured and intervieuwed IMG 0381 Richard van Nunen Dear Stacy Parker Ferrati coming over to Holland to honour her Uncle Jim Parker May 2008 Stacy Parker Ferratti at the Memorial Margraten Holland 2008 Ann Becker Russell at gravesite uncle Aäron Becker The two at the Memorial in De Bilt 166 Burkert Jr R studying family archive with Co de Swart German Luftwaffe /JG 26 Oblt. Erich M. Burkert/ 1943 21 Jan. 1944 :Fighterpilot Erich Burkert KIA over Laon, N-France German Mil. cemetery Bourdon, N- France Grave site German Luftwaffe pilot JG 26 in Bourdon, N-France Margraten Mil. cemetery, Holland: regular visitors couple Co & Louise de Swart Researcher Co de Swart with 'his' Memorial/Monument 2010: US Afees Annual Col. Springs USA: Geoff Warren/Don Mills Jr./Co de Swart 2010: US Afees Annual Col. Springs USA: Don Mills Jr./Co de Swart/Afees'Secr.Jane Binnebose 175 IMG 0190 176 Each year flowers at the Monument De Bilt,NL: 2014. Pat Doherty/husband Tom Leary Well, you know who...... Safe House 'Pyama House' of Otten Family, Erp, NL Safe House 'Pyama House' of Otten Family, Erp, NL Pat Doherty, still impressed and emotional, why? 2014: Pat (Doherty) & Tom Leary in the garden of Pollaert Jr. 2014>Pat & Tom> Meeting Gorris-and Pollaert fam.mbrs with Co & Louise de Swart 2014> visiting a WWII Safe house of her father Roermond: Relaxing and 'good bay' in the Pollaert Garden after emotional vists Tilburg NL: 2014. Pat Doherty/husband Tom Leary 187 Remembrance Stone for Aunt Coba De Bilt, NL>May 4- 2014: Pat Doherty-Tom Leary attanding May 4 Remembrance 2015, Bachy, Belgium. Special day for Cometline helper Helper Comet Escapeline Henriette Hanotte, 1942-1944 2015, Bachy, Belgium. Special day for Cometline helper 2015, Bachy, B :Honoring Ceremonies for Henriette Hanotte May 9-2015 Bachy, B. helper WWII Cometline with Don Mills Jr. Moving Moments between Mills Jr. and Henriette Hanotte. Margraten, Holland: 2015 > Mills Jr. at the Gravesite of one of his Father's buddies KIA.ies 196 DSCN1000 2019 Don Mills Jr. and Co de Swart at the Memorial in De Bilt, NL Thanks and note 2018-09-29 Chute landing site of Bomb. Don Mills Sr 2018, Eerde, Holland: Two local wittnesses ( 93/97 !) of the Chuting down of Mills Sr. in 1943 2018: Co de Swart/Cor Vervoort( Author of a book on thee war in he Eerde area) Special visit of 'Don' Mills Jr. and his sister 'Muffet' Bomb .Mills' kinship visiting Memorial for Five of the Crew KIA De Bilt Eerde, Holland. Sep-2019 Bomb. Mills' kids/Emotional Moments Albert Francois Sols, Belgian Army/Resistance 1941-1944 Albert F Schols Belgisch Verzet De Kempen WWII Photo s Resistance people Overpelt/ Eksel, Belgium Resistance Bert Spooren family Belgium Postwar shot of Charles Willekens, who lead Mills to Antwerp Liliane Sols German OKL Confirmation: Burkert credited for this 'kill' Bomb. Don Mills in civil, please enlarge for story Story 96th BG Losses Oct.20-1943

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