Aircraft

42-107137

The bomber of the 8th Air Force, 100th Bomb Group with the registration XR-O landed in Payerne after a mission over Munich and was flown back to Burtonwood on October 11, 1945. The second aircraft of the 100th Bomb Group was flown by 1Lt Charles S. Harding. Navigator 2Lt Thomas P. Hunt and gunner SGT Robert J. Buchanan were guests in this crew. The ball turret gunner, SGT Norman D. Fuller, remembers this mission: Due to the problems we had with our engines, we were no longer able to follow the formation. We could not maintain either altitude or speed. We released our bombs before we reached Munich and turned 180 degrees towards England. Shortly afterwards we were hit by heavy anti-aircraft fire. We lost all the fuel from tank number three. As a result, we could no longer reach England and had to turn off to Switzerland. Two Swiss fighters were immediately on the spot and told us to follow them. They showed us the way to Payerne. Flight mechanic SGT Norbert A. Fike adds: I quickly cranked out the landing gear because the hydraulics had failed. After landing, we were greeted by soldiers who pointed guns at us. We were questioned and interned. Harding's B-17 was the last plane to leave Switzerland for Burtonwood in October 1945. Warbirds.ch

2107137

Lt Lunsford Crew. 2107137 first mission . Courtesy of Dave Gansz . June 4, 1944

2107137

XR-O was interned in Switzerland after Charles Harding crew were forced to land there on July 13,1944