Photo added by Vindicator I
CPT John Thomas “Mac” McErlane
- Birth
-
Saint Paul, Ramsey County, Minnesota, USA
- Death
- 21 Jan 1945 (aged 23)
Schutterwald, Ortenaukreis, Baden-Württemberg, Germany
- Burial
-
Saint Paul, Ramsey County, Minnesota, USA Add to Map
- Plot
- Section 49, Block 13, Lot 55, Grave #4, interred here 8 August 1949
- Memorial ID
- 173567748 · View Source
- Created by: Vindicator I
- Added: Dec 6, 2016
- Find a Grave Memorial ID:
- Sponsored by Vindicator I
-
Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/173567748/john_thomas-mcerlane: accessed ), memorial page for CPT John Thomas “Mac” McErlane (22 Aug 1921–21 Jan 1945), Find a Grave Memorial ID 173567748, citing Calvary Cemetery, Saint Paul, Ramsey County, Minnesota, USA; Maintained by Vindicator I (contributor 49013635).
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Pilot Capt. John T "Mac" McErlane, ASN O-447141 forfeited his life to allow others to survive.
Added by: Vindicator I on 02 Dec 2019
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With grateful thanks this marker photo provided by Linda K Radtke, Office Manager, Calvary and St. Mary's Cemeteries, who was so kind and helpful finding Capt McErlane's final resting place
Added by: Vindicator I on 06 Dec 2016
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In the woods west of Schutterwald, Germany a memorial was erected in June 2017 to the memory of Capt John Thomas McErlane, and his crew of B-17G, serial number 43-37857.
Capt McErlane stayed with his fortress long enough for his crew to escape by bailing out. It is believed that by this point the ship was so damaged Capt McErlane’s only option was a crash landing. Coming down through the low clouds that day he realized he would likely crash into the northern portion of Schutterwald known as Langhurst, and likely saw children playing in the snow.
With quick reaction he throttled the engines avoiding Langhurst but stalled the aircraft where it crashed in the woods west of the village killing Capt McErlane on impact. The aircraft wreckage covered a rather large area. The Capt John Thomas McErlane and Crew Memorial is located within this debris field at 48°27'49.0"N 7°51'20.0"E or 48.463611, 7.855556
Capt McErlane stayed with his fortress long enough for his crew to escape by bailing out. It is believed that by this point the ship was so damaged Capt McErlane’s only option was a crash landing. Coming down through the low clouds that day he realized he would likely crash into the northern portion of Schutterwald known as Langhurst, and likely saw children playing in the snow.
With quick reaction he throttled the engines avoiding Langhurst but stalled the aircraft where it crashed in the woods west of the village killing Capt McErlane on impact. The aircraft wreckage covered a rather large area. The Capt John Thomas McErlane and Crew Memorial is located within this debris field at 48°27'49.0"N 7°51'20.0"E or 48.463611, 7.855556
Added by: Vindicator I on 16 Jun 2017
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McErlane Crew: 21 January 1945; the men John saved at the expense of his life.
Standing (L-R): Capt. John T. McErlane, Pilot; 2nd Lt. Earl H. Hansen Co-Pilot; 1st Lt. Paul J. Manouvrier, Bombardier; 2nd Lt. James S. Pillsbury, Navigator.
Kneeling (L-R): S/Sgt. J. Lorin Pence, Engineer TTG; S/Sgt. Robert E. Dennard, TG; T/Sgt. William E Rambo, Jr. Radio Op.; S/Sgt. Michael A. Roppolo, Jr. BTG; S/Sgt. Hunter H. Dunn. WG.
Standing (L-R): Capt. John T. McErlane, Pilot; 2nd Lt. Earl H. Hansen Co-Pilot; 1st Lt. Paul J. Manouvrier, Bombardier; 2nd Lt. James S. Pillsbury, Navigator.
Kneeling (L-R): S/Sgt. J. Lorin Pence, Engineer TTG; S/Sgt. Robert E. Dennard, TG; T/Sgt. William E Rambo, Jr. Radio Op.; S/Sgt. Michael A. Roppolo, Jr. BTG; S/Sgt. Hunter H. Dunn. WG.
Added by: Vindicator I on 06 Dec 2016
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CPT John Thomas McErlane (back row) and the crew of Honey "Chile"
Added by: David Dennard on 10 Dec 2016
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"HONEY CHILE" McErlane's aircraft B-17G-70-BO-43-37857 lost this day in the forest just west of Schutterwald, Germany.
According to Dave Osborne's B-17 Fortress Log: 43-37857 Delivered Cheyenne 29/5/44; Hunter 9/6/44; Dow Fd 28/6/44; Ass 548BS/385BG [GX- ] Great Ashfield 1/7/44; MIA Mannheim 21/1/45 w/Capt John McErlane (KIA); Earl Hansen, Jim Pillsbury, Paul Manouvrier, J.L. Pence, Bill Rambo, Mike Roppolo, Hunter Dunn, Bob Dennard (8POW); flak, cashed Schutterwald, Ger. MACR 11765. HONEY CHILE. Editing corrections made for actual confirmed crash location.
the 34 page MACR 11765 is available starting here on fold3 https://www.fold3.com/image/46705596
According to Dave Osborne's B-17 Fortress Log: 43-37857 Delivered Cheyenne 29/5/44; Hunter 9/6/44; Dow Fd 28/6/44; Ass 548BS/385BG [GX- ] Great Ashfield 1/7/44; MIA Mannheim 21/1/45 w/Capt John McErlane (KIA); Earl Hansen, Jim Pillsbury, Paul Manouvrier, J.L. Pence, Bill Rambo, Mike Roppolo, Hunter Dunn, Bob Dennard (8POW); flak, cashed Schutterwald, Ger. MACR 11765. HONEY CHILE. Editing corrections made for actual confirmed crash location.
the 34 page MACR 11765 is available starting here on fold3 https://www.fold3.com/image/46705596
Added by: Vindicator I on 06 Dec 2016
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Added by: Vindicator I on 07 Dec 2016
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eugen hansmann and my father edgar kranz.
both are eyewitnesses of b 17 honeychile falling down.
eugen hansmann`s father burried john mcerlane at the cemetry of schutterwald.
both are eyewitnesses of b 17 honeychile falling down.
eugen hansmann`s father burried john mcerlane at the cemetry of schutterwald.
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the place where john t. mcerlane died.
the picture show the forest near schutterwald / germany.
my father was a little boy in 1945
when b 17 honeychile crashed there.
the picture show the forest near schutterwald / germany.
my father was a little boy in 1945
when b 17 honeychile crashed there.
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schutterwald 2016
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Schutterwald, Germany; the village McErlane may have saved.
Sleepy Schutterwald now, more so during the war. Schutterwald southwesterly view with Strasbourg, France, and Catholic Cathedral in Strasbourg (tall black spire top/left of image) about 17 km / 10.5 miles away.
Sleepy Schutterwald now, more so during the war. Schutterwald southwesterly view with Strasbourg, France, and Catholic Cathedral in Strasbourg (tall black spire top/left of image) about 17 km / 10.5 miles away.
Added by: Vindicator I on 06 Dec 2016
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Schutterwald looking northeast to Offenburg. Between Schutterwald and Offenburg is where most of the crew parachuted to the ground.
Added by: Vindicator I on 06 Dec 2016
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Calvary Cemetery,753 Front Ave.
St. Paul, MN; Section 49 detail
St. Paul, MN; Section 49 detail
Added by: Vindicator I on 06 Dec 2016
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John T McErlane at St. Thomas Academy 1939
Added by: Vindicator I on 02 Dec 2019
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John T McErlane at St. Thomas Academy 1939
Added by: Vindicator I on 02 Dec 2019
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John T McErlane at St. Thomas Academy 1939
Added by: Vindicator I on 02 Dec 2019
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