The Hillsboro (Ill.) Journal-News has the remarkable story of two Air Force bombers that crash-landed in a field near Route 66 near Litchfield, Ill., on Feb. 15, 1945. The story was related by Terry Birkenkamp and Marge (Birkenkamp) Allen, who saw it all as children at the time.
The bombers were supposed to be delivered from Battle Creek, Mich., to Scott Field in Belleville, Ill. But the pilots encountered heavy snow en route, and other airport landing options were closed because of the weather.
So the planes landed in a field near the Frank Birkenkamp farm. This is in the area of Ninth Street and Kruse Road, near the Kruse Auto Salvage business on old Route 66 now.
One of the bombers was damaged during the landing. Scott Field personnel sent a crew over to dismantle the planes and haul them off so repairs could be made later.
Terry recalls the dismantling crew offering his dad oil from the plane engines. His dad obtained around 20 gallons which he stored in eight gallon milk cans and used in his tractor for the next 15 to 20 years.
Terry also reported that two guards stayed at his family home over night while the planes were being dismantled and noted that each was wearing a 45 caliber gun.