Lessons abound in WWII bombers Article Launched: 05/26/2008 07:46:29 AM PDT The last time William Kalan was on a B-24 Liberator, he had to ditch out of the perforated bomber as it smoked its way to the ground in Chambord, France. It was a harrowing ordeal - first, German flak had knocked out one of four engines, forcing the plane to slow down and drop out of formation with the 493rd Bomb Group. As the plane straggled, Luftwaffe pilots moved in for the kill. One by one, the engines were machine gunned out of commission. There was no way the plane would make it to Spain, much less England, so Kalan held the plane steady as his crew bailed out. When he followed them through the bomb bay doors, Kalan pulled the ripcord on his parachute and nothing happened. "The pilot chute didn't come out," Kalan said. "I started grabbing silk and yanking it out by hand." On the ground, 7-year-old Christian Couppe watched the American plane struggle. He saw Kalan pop out of the bomber seemingly at the last moment before it crashed on the grounds of the Chateau de Chambord, a massive, famous castle near his home. On Sunday, Kalan and Couppe both bore broad smiles as two of 10 passengers on the B-24 Liberator "Witchcraft" as it made its way from Moffett Field in Mountain View to the Livermore Municipal Airport for its annual visit. "It's a lot smaller in here than I remember," said Kalan, 89, who now lives in Rossmoor. "I don't remember it being so hard to get in the darn thing." It is small. Maneuvering around the plane requires ducking, climbing and squeezing over and under various obstacles. A sideways shuffle down a catwalk over the bomb bay doors leads to the waist gunner section, where enormous cutouts in the aluminum fuselage let all the air and noise in. Farther back is the cramped confines that is the rear gunner's territory. The ball turret, possibly the most claustrophobic position on the plane, is off limits, as is the forward gunner and bombardier perch in the nose. Aside from that, the ersatz crew was allowed to clamber around to their hearts' content as the bomber flew low over the East Bay hills. "It's uncomfortable, noisy, and a whole lot of fun," said Kevin Ryan, one of the organizers for the Livermore stop. The Witchcraft was accompanied to town by a B-17 Flying Fortress, a B-25 Mitchell bomber, and new this year, a P-51 Mustang. The planes are almost constantly on tour, courtesy of the Collings Foundation, an organization dedicated to preserving a piece of aviation history by bringing the old warbirds to airstrips all around the United States. They will be in Livermore until Tuesday, when they fly to Stockton, and then land at Buchanan Field in Concord on June 6. A crashing plane and an American airman falling from the sky leaves an impression on a 7-year-old boy, and decades after seeing Kalan's dramatic exit, Couppe tracked him down. "He was fascinated with the story," Kalan said. And it is quite a story. Kalan managed to avoid being caught by the Germans, and found refuge with a family that happened to be connected with the French Underground. He became involved with the movement, going to airdrop sites to pick up crates of Sten submachine guns and hand grenades "I didn't have to do it, but I felt it was something I needed to do," Kalan said. "If I'd been caught I wouldn't have been treated as a prisoner of war. They would have shot me as a spy." Kalan and Couppe became fast friends, and with Couppe in the area at the same time as the Collings Foundation, Kalan's family decided to surprise their French friend with a trip on the bomber. "This was great," said Deborah Kalan, William's granddaughter-in-law. "The timing was great, and this was just the perfect thing for William and Christian." Lessons abound in WWII bombers - ContraCostaTimes.com
One of my ancestors was Rev Gilg, who was the church leader at Chambord France in the 1940's. He helped save the town from German atrocities as they were retreating South in August 1944. Part of our family history makes note of a allied plane crashing by the Chateau in june of 1944. Our papers say that William was sheltered by the Roussay family. I am thinking of writing a short book on that period (Summer of 1944) - anyone have any material that might be helpful?
Witchcraft is the Collings Foundation B24 that I rode in (although in 1995 it had a different name). See my album for the pictures.
I am interested in learning about the role of the French Resistance in this area a France (Loire River / Chambord), and how they helped hide the pilot (W Kalan) and co-pilot (K Klemstine) during the months that followed the B-24 Liberator, "Big Dealer" crash. How long did the Germans occupy this region after Paris was liberated in late August, 1944? From reading what I have, it seems like the role of the French resistance fighters seems to be overlooked. Also, what French art was hidden in the basement of the Chambord Chateau? Thanks for any information you can offer!
Mona Lisa the Victory of Samothrace and many other Louvre treasures were hidden in Chambord and almost destroyed by the crash of Kalan's B-24. Where did you get he name "big Dealer" from ? I don't have that one in my files. Was this B-24 olive drap or metal color? The role of the Resistance in assisting this crew was essential. Not less than six members of this aircraft were saved by brave people , some of the helpers had to pay this with their life. Father Gilg was not involved with this story. In fact he was, but indirectly . When the Germans passed through Chambord during the Summer of 1944, they were shot at by a Maquis, they immediatly took hostages and heard there were people in the village who had helped allied airmen (but who were innocetn regarding the attacks) . As they could not get the men, they arrested the wifes. Then they said that after a while they would burn the entire village, chateau and population down . At this point Father Gilg ,who was an Alsacian, interefered and said the hostages were innocent and that burning down the chateau and killing villagers would not help the Reich to win the war. Several farms were burnt and five people were eventually murdered (including in surrounding villages) before the Germans evacuated the area. This is why father Gilg is considered the saviour of the place. However he was not involved in saving the airmen. Besides only two of these (the ones you mention) landed near Chambord.
I found the info on these pages while searching for info on the co-pilot, Kenneth Klemstine. Kalan William 2/Lt USAAF 493 BG 862 BS (B-24) Big Dealer Klemstine Kenneth P 2/Lt USAAF 493 BG 862 BS (B-24) Big Dealer MIS-X nos 1000-1999 ELMS Escaper List I believe they mistakenly have the pilot, William Kalan listed as "William Kaplin". I have some letters that are written in french by occupants of Chambord, letters to and from the church leaders, as well as an original tapestry from the Chateau that Father Gilg was given in appreciation for helping settle the dispute. In reading through the papers, he knew he could not aid the crew, as doing that would endanger the entire town.
I notified the web site, and they have corrected the spelling on W. Kalan's name on their site. it was misspelled on the original MACR from 1944. Page 10 - Footnote.com
I had the administrator double check the name of the plane - he could NOT verify that it was called "Big Dealer", so he has removed that information from the web site until he can confirm the information. I found the MACR (#5937) on footnote.com that says the plane serial # was 42-52759. found a site that said the plane was not named while in the 493rd BG, but was previously called "Lucille" while flying in the 34th BG
Great picture isn't it? There still is a mystery about the identification though. I know eye witnesses who saw this aircraft fall and they say it was not olive drap but natural (metal) . However both the American and German reports I consulted about the matter have Lucille's serial number.... I know what happened to the crew members (I have over 200 pages research on this aircraft and I have a friend who has even more but there are certain things I will only send you in private). Both Kaplan and Kalan are corect. Mr kaplan changed it into Kalan after the war.
By the way , neither Kalan nor Klemstime were at Freteval Forest . I'm positive about this and have first hand confirmation including from Freteval survivors and people who helped these airmen. Even the information on the monument about this is not correct.
Here is a message I received from another pilot on that same mission 6/22/44... I flew on that mission and the Kaplan crew were friend of my crew especially Horrigan and Craig we palled around a lot. Their plane took a flack hit in the wing and it caught fire. It could have exploded after they got out, I don't recall. The plane was still named "Lucille".The 493rd Pictorial History Book states 3 men evaded and 6 were POW so Shockey could have been one of the three that evaded although his name wasn't amoung the evadees in the history book. Another note, Horrigan was from New Orleans,La. and shortly after ww2 I was in New Orleans for the Mardi Gras activities. I was in a cab on Canal street which was very crowded when I spotted Horrigan crossing the street,by the time I got the cab stopped and got out he had disappeared in the crowd. That is the last time I saw him so I know he returned from the war. Bill Toombs (493rd BG Flight engineer on "Baby Doll")
Is there ant information that tells us what French Underground network Kalan ended up assisting for the 2 months he was in hiding in Huisseau-Sur-Cosson? Any one know if the co-pilot Klemstine also worked with the French Underground while he was hiding in Montlivault? Do any of the records state when they actually ventured North across the Loire river and joined back up with the allied forces? Any information would be greatly appreciated!
Hello, As I've found a grouping from Roy J HORRIGAN, the radio operator of Lt KALAN's crew, I'm searching informations about his crew and his history. This grouping includes Silk map evasion, pictures (but unfortunaltely none from Roy J Horrigan or the crew) and others documents. Gradually, I've found some informations like the MACR and the escaped report of LT KAP(L)AN, LTN KLEMSTINE and S/SGT SHOCKEY, informations about LT KA(P)LAN, and others informations about the story of Roy J HORRIGAN after his bail out. I will be very happy to share these informations. Skipper, I'm very interesting in your informations.
Basically Roy Horrigan landed near Montlivault , not far from Kalan's landing site and only minutes away from Chambord, the crash site. They were hidden by Resistants and eventually joined. Kalan even went with them to ambush Germans until they familly met the first Americans (If I remember correctly it was August 13th ) . Mr Kalan is still alive and used to return to Blois until recently. I tried to trace R. Horrigan's relatives in Louisiana. I'd be most interested if you accepted to share pictures from Roy Horrigan .
Nothing like bringing up an old thread. Skipper, if you're still looking for Roy Horrigan's relatives there are a few. Roy Joseph Horrigan (Unknown-2000) - Find A Grave... Does anybody have anything on the bombardier of this crew, O-698929 2nd Lt James H. Smith? I have him appearing on a Missing list from the LA Times in 1944. Next of kin given as wife, Mrs Winnie F. Smith, of Montebello, Ca. I am trying to determine when and where he passed if anybody can help. It has to be before 1997 as his name was read into the Senate record as deceased. Many thanks, Dave
