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The “accident” that should never have happened, Jimmy Stewart’s original bomb group decimated!

29 U.S. B-24 bombers and
29 German fighters
crash in a 3-minute battle!
54 planes go down within a 15-mile radius of each other!

History’s most concentrated air battle!

For the 445th Bomb Group, September 27 1944 was deadly. In just over three minutes, 25 B-24’s—with crews of at least 9 men each—went down in a forest in central Germany, resulting in the biggest loss in history for a bomb group in a single battle. Only 4 of 35 B-24’s made it back to the base at Tibenham, England. The few survivors who did return were told to "get lost" for a few days, while the 445th pulled itself back together.

Now we say to those same men, “Tell us your stories.” To the POW’s who baled out and survived, “Tell us what happened.” And to their German counterparts, "What was it like for you?"

In a remarkable joint effort, the survivors of both sides united in 1990 to create a memorial at the site where the American leader’s plane crashed in Germany. A testament to new friendship between former enemies, huge bronze plaques mounted on three giant stones tell the tale and name those lost on both sides. Here, in this beautiful place that once knew horrific conflagration, Americans and Germans alike honor the dead, finding healing, closure and peace in the process.

A tribute to honor amongst soldiers, peace between former enemies, friendship instead of bloodshed, this website is dedicated to those who fought in what has become known as the “Kassel Mission”.

To the men of the 445th BG
“Always Up and Flying”
Let No Man Be Forgotten

Kassel Mission Memorial Bench
Mighty Eighth Air Force Museum
Pooler Georgia
USA