Boyhood memory inspires World War II research

In November the Vernon County Historical Society received the following letter from one John Meurs, of a place called Rueti, Switzerland: "When I was a 9-year-old schoolboy living in Nazi-occupied Holland a B-17 bomber of the 8th U.S. Air Force crashed behind our house in the village called Apeldoorn. That was Nov. 26, 1944.

"One of the crew members was killed and another one wounded by German soldiers when they were descending under their white parachutes. The pilot died in the crash. Two months later the wounded tailgunner escaped from a German hospital with the help of the Dutch Underground and was hidden by a family living in the same street as we did.

"I am presently researching the fate of all 35 heavy bombers the 8th Air Force lost on that particular day. Main target was the synthetic fuel plant in Misburg near Hannover: the only remaining plant of that kind in Germany.

"The 91st Bomb Group lost three aircraft on that Sunday in November, 1944. One of these, a B-17 bomber, was attacked just before approaching the target and crashed near Grossenging in Germany. Four of the crew members could save themselves by parachute, the five others died in the crash. Among those who survived the crash was the Navigator Robert J. Miller. His father, Earl M. Miller, then lived at 821 North Ash Street in Nevada, Mo. As my information goes, Robert Miller has meanwhile passed away.

"I would very much like to get in contact with family members of Robert J. Miller who may still live in the Nevada area and I would highly appreciate if you could help me in my search. I attach a summary of the Missing Air Crew Report pertaining to Robert Miller."

Society researchers soon found an obituary for Robert J. Miller, who died at age 64 in Flint, Michigan, in 1988. He was described as "a former Metz resident" and a Nevada High School graduate, as well as a navigator on a B-17 who was a prisoner of war in Germany from 1944 till war's end. His nearest survivors were his two children, Earl Robert of California and Kara Marie of New York.

Gary Marquardt, Historical Society president, is a personal acquaintance of James Miller, 715 Park Hill Drive, Nevada, who, he soon confirmed, is a nephew of Robert J. Miller. Every effort is being made to put Mr. Meurs and James Miller in touch with one another.

Meantime, Mr. Meurs wrote again, describing his interest in more detail: "My aim is to write a book about the thirtyfive bomber crews of the 8th USAAF who did not return to their bases in England after their mission of November 26, 1944. After more than four years of constant research, that brought me in contact with a lot of interesting people on both sides of the Big Pond, I have now reached the point that I can start writing my book.

"It will cover 324 airmen, out of whom 136 were killed in action, 180 were taken prisoner and eight were hidden by the Dutch Underground until their liberation by Canadian troops in April/May 1945. Those eight airmen came from the six aircraft that came down in Holland on their way back to England.

"It will not be a book about the war but about the men who fought the war.

"Since I started this research I have been mostly occupied with providing veterans of this mission and/or their family of these men with detailed information. For me it has proved to be very rewarding, especially when I make contact with family of those killed in action.

"The 8th Air Force sent 1,000-plus bombers into the air on that Thanksgiving Sunday 1944. Main target was the synthetic oil plant (mentioned above). The target for Robert's 91 st Bomb Group was the railroad viaduct near Altenbeken in Germany, a vital link in the railroad connection between the industrial Ruhr valley and the eastern part of the country." That part of the mission was called 'a great success.'

"After the first attack of Nov. 26, 1944, the Altenbekener viaduct could no longer be used."

However, Allied losses were so high, Mr. Meurs said, the date was afterwards referred to as "Bloody Sunday."

Mr. Meurs also sent a stirring account of the mission prepared by two survivors, co-pilot David Bishop and waist gunner Paul Lynch.

They wrote: "In the (plane's) nose, Robert Miller was wounded by shrapnel in the leg, and (bombardier Daniel) Hiner was helping him to get out. Robert got out but Hiner did not. We suspect that both Hiner and (ball turret gunner Bartolomeo) Zanotto were caught when the plane exploded just before they jumped."

Mr. Meurs also obtained written accounts from other surviving crew members. Robert Miller's B-17, he said, was known to its crew as "Wild Hare."

It operated out of a field at Bassingbourn, Cambridgeshire, England.

The official "Casualty Report" says, "The formation was attacked by 75-plus fighters when five minutes before the IP. The B-17 was hit in No. 3 engine which was set on fire, dropped back and lost altitude. Then nosed downward, exploded, and broke in two pieces.

"It crashed at Grossenging, about 14 km. west of Cloppenburg, Germany. Those who could leave the aircraft landed near Hernmelte and Cloppenburg. The Germans identified four casualties and buried them together with one Unknown Airman. The burial place has not been recorded."

The five killed were listed, followed by four POW's, including Robert J. Miller, formerly of Metz and Nevada.