World War II pilot from Elgin, crew to be recognized with plaque

It's taken almost 65 years, but on May 30, a plaque will be dedicated in Austria recognizing the location where B-17 pilot Leo MacDonald of Elgin and several other crew members were shot down during World War II.

The idea to erect a marker was inspired by Austrian Christian Arzberger, who is investigating a number of crashes in the area with the thought of possibly writing a book.

"I started my research when I was a 12-year-old boy," said Arzberger.

After hearing the mayor of his community speak about exhuming the bodies of World War II fliers, the young Arzberger pedaled his bicycle to a crash site.

"The farmers did not take me seriously and hardly gave me any information," he said.

In 2005, Arzberger's interest was rekindled when he attended a large Austrian celebration commemorating 60 years of peace since the end of World War II. This prompted him to begin a number of investigations on the Internet. He also made contact with the Association of the 301st and was able to receive missing Air Crew Reports from the U.S. Military Archives in Alabama.

Concentrating on sites close to his home, Arzberger gathered all the information he could about the crashes. When he learned that plaques were placed in other Austrian cities honoring the fallen crew members, he thought that similar recognition would be appropriate for the locations near him.

Arzberger contacted the chairman of the local veterans association and worked with that group to plan a dedication ceremony on May 30 - the 90th anniversary of the veterans group.

The upcoming ceremony, which will also include the placement of a second plaque, is expected to draw people from various European communities.

Also attending will be surviving crew member William Brainard and his wife Rainey from Florida as well as a second cousin of the co-pilot Kenneth B. Kai-Kee coming from California. Arzberger said he will also be displaying various artifacts recovered from crash sites he has visited.

For further information, visit 301BG.com