billl Posted January 11, 2017 Share #1 Posted January 11, 2017 Looking for info. 13 February 1945 B-17#48163 of 772nd Bomb Sq/463rd Bomb Gp 15th was shot down over Austria. Four of the six who parachuted were executed, in part by Blauensteiner, Franz, who was later tried for war crimes in an Austrian court. One of the men was Lt. Robert Stricker, a distant relative of mine. I know a bit about the aircraft and downing, but am more interested in what happened afterwards. I have Strickers WWII file. Someone on this forum offered to get me info on the court case, but he disappeared from the forum. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Garandomatic Posted January 11, 2017 Share #2 Posted January 11, 2017 Do you have the plane's missing aircrew report? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Backtheattack Posted January 11, 2017 Share #3 Posted January 11, 2017 There is a book "Widerstand und Verfolgung im Burgenland" in which this is documented. In german language: „Um die Mittagszeit des 14. Februar 1945 wurde im Reichsarbeitsdienstlager (RAD- Lager) bekannt, dass ein amerikanischer Flieger am Waldrand des Tiergartens gesichtet worden sei. […] Im RAD- Lager angekommen, standen die vorgesetzten RAD- Führer, Oberstfeldmeister Seidel, Oberfeldmeister Krone, und andere Unterführer im Hof herum. Oberfeldmeister Krone versetzte dem ergriffenen Flieger einen Schlag ins Gesicht. Der Oberstfeldmeister Seidel beschimpfte den Haupttruppführer Hofbauer, weil er den amerikanischen Flieger ins Lager brachte, und sagte dem Sinne nach wie folgt: „Sie sind blöd, bringen da den Flieger her, damit wir noch mehr Arbeit haben, hättet ihr ihn gleich umgelegt.“ Oberstfeldmeister Seidel erteilte dem Haupttruppenführer Hofbauer den Befehl, den eingebrachten Flieger mit den RAD- Vormännern Reisinger und Blauensteiner aus dem Lager zu führen und außerhalb desselben zu erschießen. […] Der Erschossene wurde in den im Wald verlaufenden Panzergraben getragen. Dort haben nun der Haupttruppenführer Hofbauer und die beiden Vormänner Reisinger und Blauensteiner dem Toten einen Ring, die Armbanduhr und die Schuhe abgenommen und für sich behalten. Dieser amerikanische Flieger war ca. 25 Jahre alt, 170 cm groß, braune Haare, soll Navigationsoffizier und im Zivilberuf Ingenieur gewesen sein.“ (Aus: Widerstand und Verfolgung im Burgenland 1934 – 1945; S.415, 1983 Wien) Book title in englisch "Resistance and persecution in the Burgenland (this is an area in Austria)". Blauenstein was a member of the RAD. If you need I will translate the short description of the war crime. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
38Driver Posted January 12, 2017 Share #4 Posted January 12, 2017 Interesting. I researched a B-24 crew that went down on the 14th near Vienna, Austria. There is one guy unaccounted for who bailed out and he was a navigator. I always assumed he was killed on the ground. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
billl Posted January 20, 2017 Author Share #5 Posted January 20, 2017 Back the attack: yes, a translation would be much appreciated. I did a quick google translate, but obviously that's of limited utility. Yes, I have the missing aircrew report, and interviews with other air crews about what they saw, etc. That was included in my FOIA request on Stricker. Would especially appreciate info on the trial, if it's out there someplace. Thanks to all who responded. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Noman Posted December 21, 2017 Share #6 Posted December 21, 2017 His obituary notice https://old.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GSln=stricker&GSfn=robert&GSdy=1945&GRid=42292529& Circumstances of 1945 shot down https://forum.axishistory.com/viewtopic.php?f=6&t=65233&hilit=robert+stricker&start=15 Several years ago there was a website that included this planes lost and crew bios.however it doesn't appear to exist anymore! However there is a website including his old squadron..found his name sent in same info as above http://463bg.org/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lettow Posted December 21, 2017 Share #7 Posted December 21, 2017 According to a 1974 New York Times article Blaunsteiner was found not guilty because he was under 18 at the time. He was elected to the Vienna City Council in 1975. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Noman Posted December 21, 2017 Share #8 Posted December 21, 2017 The story of Strickers crew ...Just Found it http://teunispats.nl/macr-12109.htm Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
billl Posted December 21, 2017 Author Share #9 Posted December 21, 2017 Thank you so much. This looks to be a big help to my project. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
billl Posted June 14, 2021 Author Share #10 Posted June 14, 2021 On 1/11/2017 at 4:26 PM, 38Driver said: Interesting. I researched a B-24 crew that went down on the 14th near Vienna, Austria. There is one guy unaccounted for who bailed out and he was a navigator. I always assumed he was killed on the ground. Interesting. Can you share his name? Sure it's a different crew? Mine is: B-17#48163 of 772nd Bomb Sq/463rd Bomb Gp 15th Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
billl Posted November 24, 2022 Author Share #11 Posted November 24, 2022 Does anyone know how to get war crime trial records out of Austria? Blaunsteiner was convicted of a war crime, served a short time in prison, and was then pardoned. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JeffS Posted July 27, 2023 Share #12 Posted July 27, 2023 Hi Billl- I'm new to the forum. I'm interested in this topic because Lt. Stricker was the brother of my wife's Grandpa (Clarence). I've always heard stories about Uncle Bob- particularly from his brothers. In fact, he is still brought up in prayers every time the family gets together for holidays to this day. Thanks for shedding some light on what happened during that terrible time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
billl Posted August 13, 2023 Author Share #13 Posted August 13, 2023 PM to Jeff S Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
billl Posted August 13, 2023 Author Share #14 Posted August 13, 2023 On 1/11/2017 at 4:26 PM, 38Driver said: Interesting. I researched a B-24 crew that went down on the 14th near Vienna, Austria. There is one guy unaccounted for who bailed out and he was a navigator. I always assumed he was killed on the ground. Could well be the same plane. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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