Dottie G: The First B-17G to Reach Switzerland

Dottie G: The First B-17G to Reach Switzerland
By Craig Tinder | Aces In Action Historical Blog

25 February 1944 - the crew of Dottie G, a B-17G-10-DL Flying Fortress from the 92nd Bomb Group, 325th Squadron, faced a critical choice: push forward with a crippled aircraft across enemy territory—or divert toward uncertain internment in neutral Switzerland. Their decision would make history.

Ground crew of the 92nd Bomb Group prepare a B-17 with 500 lb. bombs.

That day, American bombers were deep over southern Germany, flying a mission to strike targets near Stuttgart. After successfully passing the target and releasing their bombs—a tactic used to avoid heavy flak concentrations—Dottie G came under attack from German Bf 110s. One of the twin-engine fighters hit them hard. Engine No. 1 caught fire, Engine No. 2 failed, and the bomber's electrical and hydraulic systems went offline. With only two functioning engines—both on the same side of the aircraft—pilot 2LT Clifford P. Beach made a bold decision to dive 5,000 feet in an attempt to extinguish the fire and stabilize the aircraft.

Messerschmitt Bf 110 G2 Zerstörer fighters of 6./ZG 76

Though the flames were subdued, the damage was extensive. The Fortress shuddered violently. Fuel was leaking. Hydraulics were gone. With the Alps looming ahead and their home base in Podington, England, still more than six hours away, the crew realized they wouldn't make it back. Instead, the navigator plotted a heading for Switzerland.

After nearly an hour of limping flight, Dottie G crash-landed near Lake Constance, close to the Swiss-German border—not on a runway, but in a snowy field. With no brakes, no steering, and the ball turret frozen in the down position, the landing crushed parts of the fuselage like an accordion—but miraculously, no one was injured. Unbeknownst to the crew, Dottie G became the first B-17G to land in Switzerland. The Swiss Air Force’s technical division quickly took interest in the aircraft, and it was later scrapped.

One of the few photos of B-17G Dottie G upon her belly-landing in Switzerland.

Though her 11th mission would be her last, Dottie G’s flight into Switzerland stands as a rare and remarkable survival story—a testament to the skill of her crew and the toughness of the B-17. For many Allied airmen, Switzerland became an unexpected refuge. For Dottie G, it became her final resting place.

Dottie G's Escape To Switzerland by Artist Craig Tinder

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