“Fatal Crash of B-17 In World War II”
(Note: any text in italics has been taken from the official SDSHS records.)
Marker Text
A fatal airplane crash occurred one mile southwest of this marker in a wheat field on January 17th, 1944 at 11 P.M.
The B-17F bomber and its crew was attached to the Second Air Force Command, 398th Bombardment Group (Heavy), 603rd Bombardment Squadron, at Ellsworth AFB, Rapid City, S.D.
On a night-time routine bombing training mission, an emergency landing was attempted on a predesignated emergency grassed landing area. It would have been successful if the plane had not overshot the grass area and ended up in a wheat field.
Four officers and three enlisted men were killed in the crash and fire which followed. These were:
1st Lt. James P. Kiernan, Indianapolis, IN - - Pilot 1st Lt. Earl C. James, Jr., Elkin, NC - - Bombardier 2nd Lt. Peter L. Paget, Portland, OR - - Navigator
2nd Lt. Augustine S. Franzone, Lancaster, PA - - Co-Pilot Staff Sgt. Casimer P. Klawinski, Chicago, IL - - Engineer
Staff Sgt. Elven R. Pritchard, Los Angeles, CA - - Radio Operator Staff Sgt. Edward J. Mizerski, Chicago, IL - - Aerial Gunner
The names and addresses show this crew to have been a cross section of America. They truly gave their lives to their country just as did those men shot down in the theatre of operations.”
Location
Bennett County, US 18 - 1 mile west of Martin