The winter night of December 18, 1944, is forever etched into the history of the Gorce Mountains as a witness to the crash of the American B-24 Liberator bomber, known as the California Rocket. It is a powerful story of heroism, sacrifice, and survival, where the bravery of local residents helped save the lives of Allied airmen.
The aircraft, part of the 15th U.S. Air Force, was designed for long-range bombing missions and supply drops. On that fateful day, it took off from its base in Cerignola, Italy, with a crucial mission: to bomb the German synthetic fuel refinery in Oświęcim, a key component of Nazi Germany’s wartime industry. This mission was part of a larger strategic operation targeting German chemical plants in Silesia, carefully coordinated between Polish resistance intelligence (Armia Krajowa) and American air forces.
The flight proceeded according to plan until the bomber entered Hungarian airspace, where it came under heavy fire from German anti-aircraft artillery. Powerful explosions rocked the Liberator’s fuselage, damaging three out of its four engines.
Despite desperate efforts to maintain altitude, the situation became increasingly critical. Returning to the Italian basewith such extensive damage was impossible, forcing the captain to make a split-second decision—to head toward Soviet-controlled territory for an emergency landing.
In an attempt to lighten the aircraft and improve its chances of survival, the crew jettisoned 20 unarmed bombs near Pszczyna before continuing their struggle to keep the aircraft airborne.
Captain William J. Beimbrink decided to avoid Kraków and its anti-aircraft defenses by flying around the city from the south. Just as it seemed they might successfully slip through unnoticed, three German Messerschmitt fightersappeared in the sky.
Miraculously, the fighters did not engage—perhaps the German pilots assumed the crippled bomber would never reach its destination, or they had simply run out of ammunition.
However, as the Liberator flew over the Gorce Mountains, its fate was sealed—the last remaining functional engine failed. With no power left, Captain Beimbrink knew the crash was inevitable. He ordered the crew to evacuate, giving the command for them to bail out using parachutes.
All ten crew members jumped from the doomed aircraft. Tragically, Captain Beimbrink, who was the last to jump, did not survive—his parachute failed to fully deploy due to the low altitude, becoming fatally entangled.
The crippled aircraft crashed on the southern slope of the Kiczora-Przysłop-Gorc ridge, shattering upon impact near Pańska Przechybka Pass.
The surviving crew members, scattered across the mountains, were rescued by local highlanders and partisans from the 4th Battalion of the 1st Podhale Rifle Regiment of the Home Army (AK). The airmen were hidden in mountain homes, then transported to the AK headquarters in Bukówka.
Their journey back to the United States was long and difficult—they endured a harrowing escape through Istanbul, Egypt, and Italy before finally making it home.
The body of Captain William J. Beimbrink was found and buried by the residents of Łopuszna. However, to this day, his final resting place remains unknown.
A Memorial in the Heart of the Gorce Mountains
Fifty years later, at the site of the Liberator’s crash, a memorial site was created with the evocative name:
“Uroczysko pod przełęczą Pańska Przechybka” (The Enchanted Place Beneath Pańska Przechybka Pass).
At the commemoration ceremony, surviving crew members—Thaddeus Dejewski, Spencer Felt, and Edward Sich—attended, alongside partisans and local villagers who had risked their own lives to save the airmen.
A unique monument, crafted from recovered fragments of the wreckage, was erected. This memorial stands as a lasting symbol of courage and sacrifice, honoring those who never hesitated to help in times of great peril.
How to Visit the Memorial Site Today
The “Enchanted Place Beneath Pańska Przechybka Pass” can be reached via a scenic trail through the Gorce Mountains.
The area is remote, wild, and rarely visited, offering a peaceful and solemn experience far from the crowds.
A National Park educational trail runs through the clearing, named in honor of Lieutenant Pilot William J. Beimbrink.
The trail forms a 9 kilometre loop, beginning and ending in Ochotnica Górna, in the hamlet of Jaszcze Duże at the entrance to the valley.
The hike takes approximately 4 hours, according to official signage.
However, expect to spend extra time here—the breathtaking panoramic views from Gorce’s clearings will leave you in awe!
