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Registration
or Serial:
42-97286
('Skipper 'n the
Kids')
Operator:
USAAF 8th Air Force; 560th Bombardment Squadron; 388th Bombardment Group (Heavy);
AAF Station 136; 560th Bombardment Squadron 136.
Operating Base:
RAF Knettishall Airfield.
Base
Location:
Suffolk, England.
Current
Airport Status: Closed. Minor sections of runway/taxiway remain in active
use by small aircraft. However, most of the remaining area has been
returned to agricultural use.
(Principal airport data courtesy of
John Woodside,
A
Catalogue of UK Airfields)
Aircraft Nickname:
Flying Fortress; Fort, and others.
Aircraft Type & Background
The Boeing B-17 was a four-engine heavy
bomber, equipped initially with four 750hp Pratt & Whitney Hornet
engines. However, later builds were fitted with 1200hp Wright Cyclone
R1280-97 radial piston engines. Later production models were
modified substantially by extending the fuselage further to the rear
to incorporate a tail gun position.
The aircraft had a maximum speed of
just over 483km/h (300mph) and a cruising speed of 257km/h (160mph).
Its maximum range (ferry) was 5,472km (3,400 miles).
The B-17G entered service with the US
Bombardment Groups in 1943. Unlike earlier models, the B-17G was
equipped with Bendix chin turrets housing two 12.7mm (0.5in) machine
guns for defence against head-on attacks. The B-17 was used both by
USAAF Bombardment Groups and by RAF Coastal Command.
Aircraft Accident Details
This particular B-17G was attached to the 388th
Bombardment Group (H), 560th Bombardment Sqn 136 of the USAAF (United States Army Air Forces).
At the time of the accident, the aircraft was on a
non-operational NAVEX and familiarisation flight for a new crew. The
B-17 was en-route from its base at Knettishall Airfield in Surrey to
RAF Ayr / Heathfield (Prestwick) on the west coast of
Scotland.
According to the official Report,
weather conditions at the time of the accident were, "Light rain and
snow. Visibility 4-6 miles. Ceiling variable, nine-tenths at 2,000ft
to ten-tenths at 1,500ft. Some low cloud present. Wind east 13-18
miles per hour."
As the aircraft turned to begin its final approach
to Prestwick, it came in too low over the
high peaks of Arran. Subsequently,
and while in full flight, the B-17 struck a rocky cliff at the east face of Beinn Nuis, not far from
Goatfell on the Isle of Arran.
Despite intensive searching, however,
the crash site was not discovered until 3 March 1945—almost 4 months
after the accident had occurred.
The cause of the accident was recorded
as "Unknown."
(A more detailed extract from the
official Report of Accident can be found on
page 2)
Eleven people died in this accident. These
were:
-
Captain John N. Littlejohn
jr., (Captain / Pilot Instructor)
-
2nd Lt Robert N. Stoaks,
(Co-Pilot)
-
2nd Lt William J. Frey,
(Navigator)
-
2nd Lt. Leonard W. Bond,
(Bombardier)
-
2nd Lt Jack D. Merkley
(passenger)
-
1st Lt Richard William (Billy)
Rosebasky, (Navigator Instructor)
-
Cpl Joseph A. Payne,
(Engineer)
-
Cpl Albert E. Thomas
(passenger)
-
Major James R. Bell, (MO
/ passenger)
-
M/Sgt Charles S. Brown, (groundcrew
/ passenger)
-
S/Sgt Wade D. Kriner
(passenger)
The
following were laid to rest in the
Cambridge
American Cemetery
-
Bell,
Major James R.
-
Frey,
2nd Lt William J.
-
Kriner,
S/Sgt Wade D.
-
Payne,
Cpl Joseph A.
-
Stoaks,
2nd Lt Robert N.
Cambridge American Cemetery and Memorial Video
(Windows Media Player)
At
present, the final resting place of the remaining crew members is
unknown.
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Accident Date
10 December 1944
Accident
Site
Beinn Nuis
(792m / 2,598ft)
(E. side)
Region: North Ayrshire (Isle of
Arran)
Nearest
town or village: Brodick
OS Grid Ref:
N/A
Present Condition
Scattered and fragmented wreckage to be found at impact site
and also at several locations on hillside below crash site.
Some wreckage parts have been buried onsite.
Related Links
American Battle Monuments
Commission
USAAF & Related Links
Other Links
Below:
A Boeing B-17G Flying Fortress preparing for a bombing run.
Photo : [no date] US Federal
Government photo released to the public domain.
Below:
Boeing B-17G Formation from the 532nd Bomb
Squadron, 381st Bomb Group.
Photo:
National Museum
of the USAF |
