The Crystal Radio from Stalag 17

B-17F-25-VE, Serial Nr: 42-5838, Marking: SO-P, Nik Name: MAD MONEY II. from the 8th Airforce, 384th Bomb Group, 457th Squadron. The B-17 took off from Grafton Underwood (UK) on 4 January 1944 with the mission Kiel (D) over the target it was hit by flak and had to make an emergency landing on the peninsula Asnaes, Denmark, southwest of Kalundborg. All 10 crew members were arrested by the Wehrmacht and became prisoners of war in Stalag 17. They spent one and a half years as prisoners of war in German prison camps. There, the Mad Money II's right gunner, S/Sgt. Harry Gilrane, managed to build a crystal radio that became world famous through the 1955 Hollywood movie Stalag 17. The radio is on display at the Vestsjalelland Museum in Denmark.

To the Stalag 17 Film

Crew:

Pilot : 1st Lt. Bill Kaczaraba 

Copilot : 2nd Lt. Myron Clinton Morgan

Navigator : 2nd Lt Marvin Lewis Horsky

Bombardier: 2nd Lt Theo Matthew Wirth

Engineer: T/Sgt. John S. Honeycutt

Radio: T/Sgt. Wilbur A. Peifer

Ball Turret: S/Sgt. Solomon Craden

Left Waist:  S/Sgt. Pete Franklin Parker

Right Waist:S/Sgt. Harry Gilrane

Tail Gunner: S/Sgt. George Gibson Polley 

Of this bomber group, the following bombers made emergency landings or crashed in Switzerland.

B-17G emergency landing 18.3.1944 Dübendorf

B-17 G-30-BO, Serial No: 42-31871, Marking: SO-T, from the 8th Air Force, 384th Bomb Group, 547th Squadron. Launched from Grafton Underwood (GB) with the mission to bomb Oberpfaffenhofen (D).

B-17G emergency landing Altenrhein 18.3.1944

B-17 G-10-DL, Serial Nr: 42-37793, Marking: SO-X, Nik Name: Spirit of Winsome Winn II from the 8th Air Force, 384th Bomb Group, 547th Squadron. Launched at Grafton Underwood (GB) with the mission to bomb Oberpfaffenhofen (D). Launched at Grafton Underwood (GB) with the mission to bomb Oberpfaffenhofen (D).

B-17G 24 April 1944 Greifensee

B-17G "Little Chub" from 8th Airforce 384th Bomb Group, 545th Squadron with Serial No. 42-102446, Code JD-M, 24 April 1944, 8th Airforce 384th Bomb Group, 545th Squadron, Serial No. 42-102446 was shot down by the Swiss Air Force on 24 April 1944.