Studiegroep Luchtoorlog 1939-1945

						T/Sgt. Raymond Anthony Miller was the top turret gunner of B-17 Flying Fortress 42-97869 'Maid to Order‘. The B-17 was hit by flak over the target, Gelsenkirchen in Germany, which caused a fire in the right wing. Miller was the first to bail out. A few minutes later the bomber desintegrated and crashed near Hardenberg - Rheezerveen. Eventually six crew members survived, four others were killed in the crash. Of the survivors, Miller was the only one to evade capture. He landed near Drogteropslagen. According to Miller there was ‘a gathering of people at once’. The American airman was first hidden in nearby woods until darkness, before he was taken to a farm where he spent the night. Although it’s possible that he hid first with headmaster Gerrit Veurink and Theodoor Lambertus Lankkamp, Miller stated himself that he arrived already the next day (17 February) at the farm of Hendrik Bos, C197 Zuiderdiep at Kerkenveld, south of Hoogeveen. He was brought there by Arend Bos, an auxiliary policeman. Miller would remain with  family Bos - man, wife and five children - from 17 February until 8 April 1945. On this date he contacted Canadian troops of the 18th Armoured Division near Dedemsvaart.