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Robert W Greif

Posted 5/25/2014 10:21 (#3886160)
Subject: World War II Aircraft Crash Site

Dallas Center IA 515-720-2463

Going to Boone Iowa has been a frequent happening in my life the last six years.

The OT after my hand injury was at the Boone hospital. And I discovered the Golden Correl.

After leaving the Golden Correl I often drive thru the Ledges State Park, then on home.

Many times on county road E57 I have noticed a Historical Site sign for one mile south.
Robert W is a stop and look guy at historical sites. But figuring this one was for a old country school, I never have drove over to look at it.

But Saturday I decided to go have a look.

Not a old school, but the site of a crash of a B-24 bomber during a World War II training mission.

July 31, 1943, on a flight from Topeka Kansas to Duluth Minnesota, during a severe thunderstorm the B-24 crashed killing all five aboard.

It seems strange but very nice that I would just happen to take a look at this historical site during the Memorial Day weekend.

The local groups do a good job at the marker. It had been mowed, also flags and flowers placed there.

At the top of the sign is a model B-24.

I would bet the families of the crew, Melvin Meeker, Samuel Levitt, Mathew Radosevich, James Parker and Thomas Leyshon are happy that there is something at the site.

Also it seems like I have seen another World War II crash site marker. This one in western Iowa, thinking east of Council Bluffs.
This one was also a B-24.
If someone knows where that site is, I would like to know the location.

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fairviewfarmer

Posted 5/25/2014 10:34 (#3886181 - in reply to #3886160)
Subject: RE: World War II Aircraft Crash Site

Robert, I believe there is a crash site recognized in Eastern Pottawattamie Co. at the intersection of County Rd. M-47 and County road G-30 . (about 7 miles east of Hancock, IA.) I think it was a B-25 that crashed near there, but not for sure. Its been a while since I've been by that location. Someone can correct me if needed. Thanks!

Robert W Greif

Posted 5/25/2014 11:13 (#3886220 - in reply to #3886181)
Subject: RE: World War II Aircraft Crash Site

Dallas Center IA 515-720-2463

With your lead I found the Western Iowa crash site. And thank you.

Your location was right on. Intersection of G-30 and M-47, east of Hancock.
But it was a B-24 at this crash.

With your location info, I decide to take a look on GoogleEarth. Turned on the photos deal.

First I checked the Boone area location. No picture, but I can see the area around the marker is mowed.

Out to western Iowa there was a photo icon at the road location you said.
As soon as I saw it I knew it was the one because it was at the base of a hill to the west.

The western Iowa marker has a bigger model airplane.

The site is within the red ovals in the two Google Earth images.

Will do in a bit, the same Google Earth deals for the Boone site.

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Robert W Greif

Posted 5/25/2014 20:54 (#3886906 - in reply to #3886220)
Subject: Western Iowa World War II B-24 Crash Site

Dallas Center IA 515-720-2463

So I gets in the Jeep and head to Western Iowa, the site of a World War II B-24 aircraft crash.
Even got on the Kings Highway.

Coming over the top of the hill from the north I could see the memorial from maybe a half mile away, quarter for sure.

This one is much bigger than the wooden B-24 near Boone. Mounted on what was once the top portion of a windmill.
The B-24 is a weathervane. Also the four propellers turn with the wind.

March 8, 1944. I will let you read the deal.

There was not any flowers or Memorial Day flags. However a flag pole with Old Glory flying. I will check the next time I am out that way to see if the flag is flown all the time, or just on special days.

The memorial was done by the Boy Scouts of Walnut Iowa. 1994

If you want to get right up to the memorial, it means walking thru a low area that is the home of a lot of cat tails. Not wet today however.

For location see my above posts.

And I returned home on The White Pole Road. Jessie James, Bonnie and Clyde [twice] Harry S Truman plowing match site, etc; Good trip.

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E718

Posted 5/26/2014 07:43 (#3887418 - in reply to #3886906)
Subject: RE: Western Iowa World War II B-24 Crash Site

Sac & Story county IA

20 to 26 years old is the part that stuns me. If those were farm boys, the power on the farm was probably horses. Then, put them in something with 10,000 horsepower and 60 hours later, qualified pilots. WOW.

Now, onboard radar in the car dash. And on a smartphone.

Robert W Greif

Posted 5/29/2014 19:00 (#3892504 - in reply to #3886906)
Subject: RE: Western Iowa World War II B-24 Crash Site

Dallas Center IA 515-720-2463

Test

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Robert W Greif

Posted 5/25/2014 11:34 (#3886247 - in reply to #3886160)
Subject: Boone B-24 Crash Site

Dallas Center IA 515-720-2463

The top Google Earth image: General area southwest of Boone.
West of the Des Moines River bridge on E-57.

Or southeast of Ogden. East of US 169 on E-57

Site is in the Red Oval.

The middle Google Earth:
Location of the historical marker direction sign on E-57 inside the Red Oval.

Crash site is less than a mile south on gravel road K ave. Inside the Black Oval.

Bottom Google Earth:
On the east side of the road. A old farmstead, lots of brush.
I can see the mowed area around the marker. Also the shadow of the marker post.

At the right of the Red Line. It was supposed to be a arrow.

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Hay Hud Ohio

Posted 5/25/2014 12:54 (#3886330 - in reply to #3886160)
Subject: RE: World War II Aircraft Crash Site

SW Ohio

Just stopped to refill the planter, more later
We had a B-52 crash here and the old timers say it had a nuke on board that they never found or at least no one to this day talks about it, Site was closed for weeks and lots of digging took place, I will search for more info later..........

German Shepherd

Posted 5/25/2014 15:39 (#3886529 - in reply to #3886330)
Subject: RE: World War II Aircraft Crash Site

Hay Hud Ohio - 5/25/2014 12:54 Just stopped to refill the planter, more later We had a B-52 crash here and the old timers say it had a nuke on board that they never found or at least no one to this day talks about it, Site was closed for weeks and lots of digging took place, I will search for more info later..........

I'm sure the conspiracy theories were out and about. No way can a plane crash into the ground and not find everything. Back in the mid 60's a nuke fell into the Atlantic ocean off of Spain or Portugal and they searched for weeks to they found it.

If they can find it in the water, they can certainly find one on land.

GLW

Posted 5/25/2014 18:45 (#3886711 - in reply to #3886529)
Subject: Never found the nuke near Tybee Island

Northeast Illinois

B-47 crashed near Savannah GA. in the late 50's , hard to believe but it looks like the Hydrogen bomb it was carrying got dumped and was never found.

midwest

Posted 9/3/2015 20:31 (#4769021 - in reply to #3886711)
Subject: RE: Never found the nuke near Tybee Island

Mark

cyclones30

Posted 5/25/2014 20:08 (#3886822 - in reply to #3886160)
Subject: RE: World War II Aircraft Crash Site

Midwest

Thanks for sharing, I always think I should stop at historical markers but rarely do. I've been down that way a few times in the last couple years but don't recall the signs. I'll have to check, and Ledges is a pretty nice park.

Clay SEIA

Posted 5/25/2014 20:12 (#3886829 - in reply to #3886160)
Subject: RE: World War II Aircraft Crash Site

I did a little searching by the AAF serial number and couldn't find any pictures of the actual aircraft or crew, but did find a few more details here. Thanks for giving me something to do while autosteer plants beans! http://www.b24.net/missions/MM073143.htm

Five Lock Boll

Posted 5/25/2014 20:39 (#3886869 - in reply to #3886160)
Subject: RE: World War II Aircraft Crash Site

Northeast Louisiana

A KC97 tanker crashed near here back in the 50's. I'll have to see if I can find any details on it.

Land Rover

Posted 5/26/2014 00:27 (#3887239 - in reply to #3886160)
Subject: RE: World War II Aircraft Crash Site

nc Ia.

Thanks for the interesting post, sometimes I stop and read historical markers, if I'm in a hurry I take a picture and read them later.

gene_champ

Posted 9/22/2014 14:26 (#4087768 - in reply to #3886160)
Subject: RE: World War II Aircraft Crash Site

NC Iowa

i was at the ledges sunday with the motorcycle, and drove out to look at the crash site marker. what was the building site like? looks like it was leveled within the last few days. only a few roots remain. the lone pine tree just south of the marker was the only thing left. the model plane is showing it's age too.

Oldmanwheeler

Posted 9/3/2015 12:11 (#4768164 - in reply to #3886160)
Subject: RE: World War II Aircraft Crash Site

Council Bluffs, Pocahontas, Ft Dodge & Ames

I just got confirmation on some rather disturbing news. The crash site of the B-24 south of Boone Iowa has been distroyed by the new land owner. I'm ok with the fact that he tore down the buildings to make room for more crops, but the new land owner went a step further and tilled up the impact creators that were left by the original land owner to pay respect for the servicemen who died in the crash. A friend of mine went out to the site to verify this news and he said the memorial has also been taken down.

It's is always sad when historical sites are lost for what ever reason, but to till under the impact craters is hard for me to swallow. It was an area the size of a three stall garage and I doubt that additional ground is going to make or break his operations. And then to remove the memorial marker along the fence line makes no sence to me at all. I feel espcially sad for the realtives of those killed in the crash. Future generations well no longer be able to see a physical memorial, as in the craters, but without knowledge of the exact location will now have a difficult time finding the spot.

Hopefully other land owners will help preserve historical sites. I feel for the individual who made the decession to distroy one of the most unique private memorials in the country. It's not very often you can visit a memorial but also see physical evidence of what took place at the site. Sorry for the rant but I beleive that many Americans no longer respect our history and when that is the case how can we respect our future.

Bob Fleege
Council Bluffs, IA

gene_champ

Posted 9/3/2015 12:42 (#4768217 - in reply to #4768164)
Subject: RE: World War II Aircraft Crash Site

NC Iowa

i too am sad to hear that news. my opinion is that it reflects a disrespect to our veterans and their efforts to keep us a free country. kind of a 'what have you done for me lately' line of thinking.

anyone have a boone county platt book? maybe post the landowner's name and maybe he can explain his thinking here on agtalk. might be a good reason, but i can't see it. there is a good chance he or his neighbor is on here.

edit: i think i have some pictures. will post if i find them. i just messaged the boone county historical society to see if they will comment.

Edited by gene_champ 9/3/2015 19:56

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Hay Hud Ohio

Posted 9/3/2015 19:22 (#4768857 - in reply to #4768217)
Subject: RE: World War II Aircraft Crash Site

SW Ohio

Sure sounds like a bad deal to me too, those of you closer should maybe make a new post to draw attention.

Oldmanwheeler

Posted 9/10/2015 20:34 (#4782191 - in reply to #4768217)
Subject: RE: World War II Aircraft Crash Site

Council Bluffs, Pocahontas, Ft Dodge & Ames

I have tried to verify the new landowners name but have been unable to do so. We have to be careful to not list the previous landowner since he did maintain the site for all to see. Perhaps a better approach would be to start a campaign and get as many people in the area as possible to continuously place flowers and other memorabilia at the site along with a "respectfully" written note asking that he please re-install the original memorial. What do you guys think? I'll be back in the area in October and well try to get out there and put something at the site.

The GPS Coordinates for anyone who wants to do this is: 41.95172882080078, -93.96981048583984
B-24 Liberator Crash Site, 1792 K Ave, Ogden, IA 50212, United States

gene_champ

Posted 9/11/2015 13:03 (#4783426 - in reply to #4782191)
Subject: RE: World War II Aircraft Crash Site

NC Iowa

Oldmanwheeler - 9/10/2015 20:34

I have tried to verify the new landowners name but have been unable to do so. We have to be careful to not list the previous landowner since he did maintain the site for all to see. Perhaps a better approach would be to start a campaign and get as many people in the area as possible to continuously place flowers and other memorabilia at the site along with a "respectfully" written note asking that he please re-install the original memorial. What do you guys think? I'll be back in the area in October and well try to get out there and put something at the site.

The GPS Coordinates for anyone who wants to do this is: 41.95172882080078, -93.96981048583984
B-24 Liberator Crash Site, 1792 K Ave, Ogden, IA 50212, United States

i called the boone county historical society last week and asked about the b-24 crash site memorial. i talked to a nice lady who said she was compiling a list of all historical sites in the county. as far as she knew, that memorial was still in place. unless it's removal was very recent, i assume it is still there.

please post back any new information.

Oldmanwheeler

Posted 9/20/2015 22:13 (#4800182 - in reply to #4783426)
Subject: RE: World War II Aircraft Crash Site

Council Bluffs, Pocahontas, Ft Dodge & Ames

The friend of mine who drove out to the site sent me an email concerning the site. He told me he made an error in saying the memorial had been taken down. The only thing is that the craters had been plowed up and are no longer visible and most of the trees in the fence line have been removed. He apologized for being in a hurry and not re-reading his email before sending it to me.

I am glad the memorial is still there but I am still upset about the craters being plowed up. I hope this clears up any confusion my original post caused. I am going over there in two weeks and well stop by the site to pay my respects.

Five Lock Boll

Posted 9/3/2015 19:37 (#4768888 - in reply to #4768164)
Subject: RE: World War II Aircraft Crash Site

Northeast Louisiana

That's just deplorable!

gene_champ

Posted 9/3/2015 20:06 (#4768948 - in reply to #4768888)
Subject: RE: World War II Aircraft Crash Site

NC Iowa