Bring the soldiers back HOME -Investigation at the crashsite of a B-17
- On Februar 9th 1945 two american B-17 bombers collided over the small village of Eisenberg/Thuringia. One aircraft crashed in a wooden area called "Mühltal" near Weißenborn/Thuringia. There was only one survivor of the crash, George Emerson.
- In 1991 there was the first search and recovery mission at the crashsite, managed by Mr. Jörg Petermann of Eisenberg, Uwe Benkel, chief of "Arbeitsgruppe Vermisstenforschung" and Mr. Jürgen Heuer. A lot of fragments of the aircraft were found but also human remains of the crewmembers. They were turned over to the US-Military. Litttle later there was a memorial placed at the site to remember that crash and also all victims of World War II. The ceremony was also attended by officials of the 303rd Bomb Group Assc and US-Military. George Emerson, the only survivor atended as well as Mrs. Uschi Weick, who was a little girl at the time of the crash.
- The two rings found of the crashsite, were also returned to the families.
- Years went on and the three researchers never heard anything about the whereabout of the remains - until the end of 2025. Uwe Benkel was reading about the identification of remains who belonged th Shirl P. Best, one of the crewmembers. He contacted the family and the funeral was held at the end of 2025.
- Meanwhile Jörg Petermann of Weißenborn, a historian for the local museum had the plan to write and publish a documentation about the crash, the memorial and what happened after until the end of 2025. At the crashsite trees were cut down and some more human remains of the crew were found. The local police was informed about it.
- On July 8th 2026 there are plans for five familymembers of Shirl P. Best to visit Germany, Eisenberg, the memorial and the crashsite. By then the book, wirtten by Jörg Petermann, shold be finish. Ti is also planned to start another Search- and Recovery-Mission at the site in hope to find some more remains or maybe personal items of the crewmembers which then also will be returned to the family.
- To finance this Search- and Recovery-Mission and also to use towards publishing the book we will ask for support. Any donation will be welcome to these great causes. For any more questions Uwe Benkel, director of "Arbeitsgruppe Vermisstenforschung" can be contacted. He can be found at facebook or Google
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