Crew members American bomber "To Hell of Glory" that crashed 75 years ago, commemorated at the request of the last survivorClaudia Van den Houte 23 juni 2019

Claudia Van den Houte: Henry Schultz, the only surviving crew member, Rick Mangan, cousin of the crashed pilot and Curtis Steinback, grandson of crew member Ray Smith, during the commemoration of the 75th anniversary of the tragic WWII plane crash 'To Hell or Glory'

The crewmembers of the American bomber B-17 "To Hell or Glory" received a tribute on Sunday during the 75-year memorial ceremony of the tragic crash in Outer in which two crew members died. It was a special moment for the present Henry Schultz (94), the only crew member still alive, the cousin of the accidental pilot Danny Mangan and the grandson of crew member Ray Smith.

The plane crashed on June 23, 1944 on the return flight to England after a fire broke out in the cockpit. Pilot Danny Mangan instructed his crew to use the parachutes. Eight of the ten crew members survived the crash. The pilot himself and crew member Albert Huff shared a parachute after one caught fire, but they both crashed. Rick Mangan, the cousin of the crashed pilot, was present at the ceremony at the memorial to the crew in Lebekestraat in Outer and brought a

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song to honor his uncle. "I wish my father could have experienced this," says Rick. “His brother Danny was his best friend. He was at an army boot camp when he heard of it.”

Last survivorThe 75th memorial ceremony was requested by Henry Schultz (94), the last remaining crew member. He was one of three crew members who were taken prisoner of war immediately after the crash. One crew member, Ray Smith, was later captured and the four others were able to go into hiding with the help of the resistance. “At first we knew nothing. Only when the plane started to spin around we did realize that something was going wrong ”, Henry recalls the crash. “When I landed with my parachute, a German soldier immediately approached me.

At first we knew nothing. Only when the plane started spinning we did realize that something was wrong.Henry Schultz (94)

Henri was brought by motorcycle to the police station in Ninove. "They questioned me there, but I did not release anything," I didn’t say a word. "Then he was put on the train to a German prison camp in Poland, where he was locked up for almost ten months. Henri is of Jewish descent, but has always been able to hide this during the war. Possibly it was his last visit to Belgium. "But if I am still alive next year, I would like to come back," says Henry.

‘Red’Curtis Steinback, born in Vietnam during the Vietnam war, the grandson of crew member Ray Smith, was also present at the commemoration. "It is very special for me to attend this commemoration together with Henry Schultz," says Curtis. "Because my grandfather's hair was bright red, everyone called him "Red." In the B-17, his place was barely one meter from Henry's. After the war he did not speak much with his family about his experiences. ”During the commemoration, Curtis expressed his gratitude to, among others, initiator Dirk Vijverman of the WWII resistance museum De Patrijs '44 in Haaltert:“ Thanks for keeping my grandfather alive ."

Willy Van Damme, who lived in Aspelare, saw the crashed plane in Lebekestraat in Outer as a twelve-year-old boy: "I went to see with my father. The plane crashed

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with the left wing into the barn of a farm. The woman who lived there was injured and lost her leg afterwards. I saw the two bodies of the crewmembers lying under a canvas. The Flemish Black Brigade was already on guard. We were not allowed to come any closer. It left a big impression on me, still today", said Willy.

Commemoration of the 75th anniversary of the tragic WWII plane crash 'To Hell or Glory' at the monument in Outer

Commemoration of the 75th anniversary of the tragic WWII plane crash 'To Hell or Glory' at the monument in Outer

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Henry Schultz, lays flowers at the monument in Outer.

Rick Mangan lays flowers at the monument in Outer.

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Claudia Van den Houte: Rick Mangan, during the commemoration of the 75th anniversary of the tragic WWII plane crash 'To Hell or Glory' at the monument in Outer.

Rick Mangan, plays a song in honor of his uncle during the commemoration of the 75th anniversary of the tragic WWII plane crash 'To Hell or Glory' at the monument in Outer.

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Claudia Van den Houte: Henry Schultz, at the monument in Outer

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Henry Schultz, Rick Mangan, cousin of the crashed pilot, Curtis Steinback, grandson of crew member Ray Smith, and Dirk Vijverman of the WWII resistance museum De Patrijs '44 in Haaltert at the monument in Outer

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Claudia Van den Houte: Re-enactor Tom Liottier lays flowers in the name of AFEES at the monument in Outer.

Claudia Van den Houte: At the age of twelve, Willy Van Damme saw the wreck of the crashed plane.

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The woman who got injured on her leg when the plane crashed in Outer.

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