Dutch WWII Airwar Researcher Jacobus "Co" de Swart investigated WWII air combat victory claims of German Luftwaffe Fighter Pilot Oberleutnant Erich Burkert. De Swart's research found confirmation of those claims, including two USAAF B-17s, one from the 95th Bombardment Group on 17 August 1943, and one from the 96th Bombardment Group on 20 October 1943. This photo Gallery presents the results of the research, as well as the modern day gatherings of the descendants of the combatants and witnesses to these events. Among the researchers de Swart collaborated with to fill some voids were the Belgian team at The Comet Network.
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The Geyer Crew was assigned to the 413th Bombardment Squadron (H) of the 96th Bombardment Group (H). They were lost in combat on 20 October 1943. They were flying a B-17F, Army Serial Number 42-3439, when it was shot down and crashed at De Bilt, The Netherlands.
Co de Swart
8th USAAF 96thBG Mission report Oct.20-1943
B-17 MZ V >Call sign
Geyer B17 crew
Geyer Crew: USAAF B-17 42-3439
UK, spring 1943: Geyer Crew in Trainingsflight
German WWII Fighter gridmap
German Luftwaffe Oblt. Erich M. Burkert JG 26
Cpilot's 1945 Telegram to his parents "Coming Home"
Erich Burkert, 2nd from L: Russia Spring 1943
013 Luftwaffe Career Oblt E Burkert 1909 1944
Lw Fighterpilot Burkert JG 26 photograped at Schiphol Airport Aug 17-1943 congratulated by his groundcrew after downing B-17 42-30274 over Mol, Belgium
Dutch Policereport on crash B-17 42-3439 in De Bilt, NL, Oct. 1943.
crashsite B-17 42-3439, De Bilt NL, Oct. 20-1943
German Fighterpilot looking at the remains of his victim, B-17-3439
018 crashDe Bilt4
crashsite B-17 42-3439, De Bilt NL, Oct. 20-1943
crashsite B-17 42-3439, De Bilt NL, Oct. 20-1943
Same German officer in rubbish after the crash
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ID Plate of one of the B-17's engines, found on the crashsite later
Margraten Cemetery, NL > graves of crewmbrs Becker and Randel
Crewmbr. Geyer Crew: Guillianelli KIA
A Hero's Rest
KIA Crewmbr. Lantron's data (-1-)
KIA Crewmbr. Lantron's data (-2-)
Edward L Lantron's Grave site in Borger, Tx.
052 TMP165 jpg B17 crew 001
053 Gravesite Parker Newark NJ
James ('Jim') Parker and his Mom 1943
055 Parker at Fort Dix 1942
056 NJ Daily Jim Parkers MIA
057 Litke Lantron and Parker
058 Left Mel Litke second left Jim Parker
059 2 Jim Parker medal
060 Richard van Nunen 1941
Zijtaart, Holland 2005/ Richard v. Nunen at frmr chute-landing site of Doherty and Killarney
ea 2005/ Frmr Farm of v.d. Ven family where Sur dez dez was hidden but also got arrested by German soldiers who had watched the chutelandings in the area
Page of the WWII-Otten safehouse scrapbook
Published in Afees Newsmagazine by Co de Swart: 2005
List of Allied airmen hidden in the Otten Safehouse, Erp, Holland 1942/1944
His chute worked well and saved him
Otten Safe house, Erp, Holland. 2014
Nov. 1943: Safehouse Doherty & Killarney in Maasniel/Roermond
Postwar letter from Resistance man Gerald Gorris , Roermond
Rewards for a Dutch WWII Hero
Goodbay-and thanks note from Doherty-and Killarney
PostwarLetter from Resistance Tilburg to Doherty's wartime address when he left Aunt Coba's safehouse Tilburg
J F v Eerdewijk, Tiburg
2004: Special Tilburg Magazine on Aunt Coba's Safehouse in WWII
075 Prison Chart Card for Killarney
96BG-Magazine 2005 page: on Aunt Coba and the two escapees.
In-and Out chart Doherty Nov. 1943 from the Dutch Prison 'Oranjehotel in The Hague/Scheveningen
Red Cross info to Doherty's parents: 'Your son is a POW in Germany'
German POW/ID card for Nav. Doherty
Doherty Couple Home: Happily married after' (>the war)
Palm Springs USA 2003: Rober Paul Surdez ('Bud') Co-pilot B17 42-3439 visited by Co de Swart
Airshow Palm Springs USA 2003: Co & Bud
Surdez Sr. and son Steve Surdez Jr.
Palm Springs, Cal/ Mar 2003 > Two friends for life
2003 De Bilt, Holland> Invitation to attend the Memorial day for the Crew/5 KIA-and the three Dutch Victims
Two friends for life (2)
Jose Cladder, Pres. of Hist. Soc. De Bilt / Co de Swart
Oct. 20-2003: Mayor of De Bilt welcoming attendees in the Townhall
Co de Swart detailing photo exposition of searchresults for US Ambassador and wife
Shots of Photo exposition in Townhall De Bilt (-1- )
Photoshow detail: German Berlin Paper Oct. 14-2003 publishing search results
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Transport of attendees in old US Schoolbusses etc
Attendees on the crash-site welcomed by Big Band De Bilt with Glenn Miller tunes
Memorial still covered by Dutch flag
Monument unveiled by Steve & Cathy Surdez and Horst an Gisela Burkert,
Memorial info on turnable Cube of Monument
Oct. 20, 2003/14.45 sharp: WWII warbirds over the Monument
Monument squaire
Names of Dutch victims in the crash of the B-17-plane
Memorial Info on one of the cube-squaires
Background Info on Memorial
Americans meeting eachother in De Bilt, NL on Memorial Day
Steve Surdez addressing attandees Memorial Day De Bilt 2003
Gisela Burkert, daughter of the Luftwaffe pilot messaged the audiance
C: Gisela Burkert and R: Louise de Swart
Mayor Tschernof of De Bilt with Jose Cladder and Co de swart
Closing words Co de Swart/ end of official part of the Memorial
Dinner with closest attendees ending 'THE' Memorial Day
Tschernof with Louise de Swart
'De Jong' Family, sons of DE/Sara Lee Director/Manager
etc, etc.
etc, etc.
etc, etc.
Mrs Tschernof with German Defence Attache
De Jong family mbrs
2004: Dover, Ma. USA / Invitation to USAAF Vets to meet 'Friends from Holland'
backsite of the invitation
2004: Dover, Ma. USA>Co with happy Doherty-daughters Pat-and Joan
Bob Doherty, 8thUSAF Hist with Co de Swart at Meeting in Dover, Ma. USA
2004, Dover: 8thAAF Vets leaving the Doherty Residence after a wonderful meeting
Dover, Ma,USA March 2004 Doherty 'hostesses' with 8th USAAF Vets
Grateful Pat & Joan Doherty for succesfull Reception, with 'Love to Holland'
2004 Trip to the USA
Palm Desert, 2004: Burt & Ruth Becker Hosts with Co de Swart
Info for the Americans: 96thBG News Magazine publishing about the Memorial Day in De Bilt
San Francisko Chronicle 2004/ Article on visit Co & Louise de Swart to 'Bud' and Mocha Surdezz
San Francisco Chronicle/article (2) on Co de Swart's visit to Bob 'Bud' Surdez
131 img001p
Summer 2004, wife Lily, Bud Surdez, Steve Surdez Jr.
133 Summer 2004 Bud Dave and Mocha 010 1
Article for SF Chronicle on Bud Surdez passing Aug. 2004
Kansas City 2004 /8th USAF Hist.Soc Annual
2004, Goodland, Kansas
Goodland Newspaper reporting Co de Swart visiting widow and stepfather of Crewmbr Lantron's son 'Curt'Lantron
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Goodland, Ka. Paper article on Co de Swart's visit.
Kansas Trip 2004
Goodland, Ka. Paper article on Co de Swart's visit.
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Washington Va, 2005 / Co de Swart/Mel Litke
Washington Va, 2005 / Litke with hostess 8thAF HS
145 2005 Washington Va Mel Litke L and Co de Swart