Shooting down of the bomber B-17G 44-83447 on 25 April 1945

The shooting down of the bomber B-17G 44-83447 on 25 April 1945 is an event that occurred during the mission of an American bomber of the 427th Bombardment Squadron of the 303rd Bombardment Group, called "", of the 8th Air Force of the United States Army Air Forces during the raid on Plzeň in the Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia. The aircraft, damaged by flak fire, exploded and its wreckage fell mainly into an allotment garden colony near Skvrňany. Of the eight-member crew, three airmen were killed in the fall, another four were taken prisoner by the Germans, and the commander managed to escape after a parachute jump and cross over to the American units.

Damage to the aircraft and its crash

The aircraft of first lieutenant belonged to the 427th Bombardment Squadron, which was a component of the 303rd Bombardment Group. The bomber managed to drop its bombs over Plzeň when, according to testimony, it was hit by heavy flak fire in the middle of the fuselage and in the engine on the right wing. According to testimony, engine engine no. 3 was hit; intense flames immediately appeared, enveloping the entire engine nacelle. The aircraft, only partially controllable, banked to the right and dived towards the ground. The commander ordered the crew to evacuate, steered the aircraft as best he could and went to the gun turret in the nose, where together, and they left the aircraft. While still in flight the flying fortress exploded, which tore the aircraft into several parts and caused a large scattering of wreckage over the area between Křimice, Skvrňany and Radčice. The main parts of the aircraft fell into the allotment garden colony near the railway line to Cheb on the edge of Skvrňany, and one of the wings further north into the fields towards Radčice.