Boeing B-17G 44-6504

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Aircraft Type Photo

BELOW: A Boeing B-17G Flying Fortress preparing for a bomb run

b-17g flying fortress on bomb run

Photo: US Federal Government photo released to the public domain

Aircraft Type and Background

USAAF Boeing B-17G Flying Fortress / 44-6504

(Click hyperlink above for USAF fact sheet for this type)

Aircraft Type Nickname: "Flying Fortress"; "Fort", and others.

The Boeing B-17 was a four-engine heavy bomber, equipped initially with four 750hp Pratt and 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

Together with others, the nine-man crew of B-17G 44-6504 had been given a mission to bomb a railway marshalling yard in Ulm, Germany. However, due to deteriorating weather conditions, the mission was aborted and the flight recalled. To prevent mid-air collisions, the formation of bombers was ordered to break rank and head for separate bases in the UK.

On several occasions, the pilot of this B-17—Lt Kyle—requested bearings back to England, but was misled by false signals from German transmitters. This resulted in the aircraft flying too far north of the English bases.

Eventually, while flying close to the Scottish / English border, Lt. Kyle descended through the clouds in an attempt to establish visual bearings. Unfortunately, however, the pilot descended too low to clear the snow-covered Cheviots. The aircraft crashed-landed on West Hill, close to The Cheviot. It then slid across a peat bog, coming to a halt on the hill shoulder. Two crew members died in the crash. The remaining crew members escaped; some with minor, and others with severe injuries.

Three of the survivors—Lt. Kyle, F/O Hardy, and Sgt Schieferstein—staggered down the slopes to a shepherd's cottage, where they raised the alarm.

Still on the hilltop, Sgt Smith and several other crew members had taken refuge in a ditch. Several hours later, as they lay sheltering in the ditch, Sgt Smith felt a dog licking his face. The dog, Sheila* belonged to a local shepherd, John Dagg. Together with another shepherd—Frank Moscrop—Mr. Dagg had been out on the hills searching for survivors. The dog found the airmen first, and its excited barking alerted the shepherds, bringing them quickly to the scene.

When the B-17 crashed, its bomb load was still intact. (They had not been jetisoned at sea). Fortunately, these munitions had not exploded on impact with the ground. However, just as the crew reached the safety of the shepherd's cottage on lower ground, the entire bomb load exploded.

* Sheila was the first civilian dog to be awarded the Dickin Medal for animal heroism.

Aircraft Crew Casualties

The two people who died in this accident were:

F/O Fred Holcombe (Navigator)
Sgt Frank R. Turner (Togglier *)

Both airmen were buried at the Cambridge American Cemetery, Cambridge, England.

Those who survived were:

2nd Lt George Anderson Kyle, Jr. (Pilot)
(since promoted to 1st Lt)

F/O James H. Hardy (Co-Pilot)

Sgt Ernest G. Schieferstein (Engineer)

Sgt Howard F. Delaney (Tail Gunner)

Sgt William R. Kaufmann (Waist Gunner)

Sgt George P. Smith (Ball Turret Gunner)

Sgt Joel A. Berly, Jr. (Radio Operator)

* Togglier (In USAAF): Operator of bomb release toggle switch, usually acting under instructions of Bombardier.

Crash Site Photos

Onsite Remembrance Area

The Pilot of this aircraft, 1st Lt George Anderson Kyle, passed away on 20th September 2005. His family returned to the crash site to fulfil George's last wish to have his ashes spread at the site. When visiting this site, please treat it with respect.

These photos from Graham White were added on 1 July 2011

BELOW: B-17 Turbine compressor / generator.

b-17 compressor

Photo © 2011 Graham White,
Borders Gliding Club

BELOW: B-17 compressor supercharger—reverse side.

b-17 compressor supercharger - rear

Photo © 2011 Graham White,
Borders Gliding Club

BELOW: Fuselage structure.

fuselage structure

Photo © 2011 Graham White,
Borders Gliding Club

BELOW: B-17 heavy structure.

b-17 heavy structure

Photo © 2011 Graham White,
Borders Gliding Club

BELOW: Engine nacelle bulkhead—front.

nacelle bulkhead

Photo © 2011 Graham White,
Borders Gliding Club

BELOW: Engine nacelle or bulkhead—internal.

nacelle - internal

Photo © 2011 Graham White,
Borders Gliding Club

BELOW: B-17 Possibly, gun turret ring. (Circular structure with roller bearings.)

B-17 gun turret ring

Photo © 2011 Graham White,
Borders Gliding Club

BELOW: B-17 undercarriage leg.

b-17 undercarriage leg

Photo © 2011 Graham White,
Borders Gliding Club

BELOW: Part of a wing structure from the B-17G.

wing structure from b-17

Photo © 2011 Graham White,
Borders Gliding Club

BELOW: B-17 engine nacelle—side view.

B-17 engine nacelle

Photo © 2011 Graham White,
Borders Gliding Club

Enlargements of the above photos can be seen in the Photo Gallery. To view these photos, please select

BOEING-B-17G-WEST-HILL

from the drop down Album Menu in the Photo Gallery.

MORE PHOTOS BELOW

Earlier Photos

BELOW: Bobbie 'the wreck-hunter' stands guard over part of the Boeing B-17g's remaining wreckage on West Hill, The Cheviot.

Bobbie the wreckhunter at Boeing B-17G on West Hill

BELOW: More of the wreckage from the B-17.

Some of the wreckage from the bomber

BELOW: Another view of the wreckage. Little of what remains onsite can be identified easily.

Another view of the remaining wreckage

BELOW: Main body of remaining wreckage.

Main body of remaining wreckage

BELOW: A small section of one of the four engines.

Small part from one of the engines

(More of Steven's photos in the Photo Gallery)

NOTE: The photos taken below show the state of the wreckage at 1995. Some of the parts shown in these pictures have since been removed from the crash site.

BELOW: Fuselage and wing panels strewn down a gulley.

b-17 fuselage and wing panels strewn down gulley

BELOW: The remains of one of the four Wright Cyclone radial engines from the B-17G.

wright cyclone engine from b-17

BELOW:

USAAF Memorial

The propeller blade behind Kim, the German Shepherd, was cemented into Braydon Crag, about 300 yards north of the crash site, as a memorial. However, it was subsequently removed from this location by souvenir hunters.

This propeller blade was a memorial erected by The Reivers in 1969 to all of the American Airmen lost in the Second World War. It also originally had a brass plaque attached to it. It was unveiled by a satellite link (quite a novelty in those days) from America where the surviving airmen had been joined together in a reunion. The memorial was draped in the American flag and one of the airmen threw a switch (which had been recovered from the crash site ) and the memorial was unveiled on Cheviot as there was a fly past by the USAAF. A short service was held on Cheviot at the unveiling finished by a lone bugler playing the last post.

The Reivers were choirboys from St Michaels Church in Alnwick led by Billy Dunn who first discovered the crash site. The group decided not to proceed any further with the excavation to respect the dead servicemen at the site. However it is sad that others chose to ignore this and subsequently looted the site destroying this special monument and the archaeological potential for research and future generations. (Additional details here (PDF document))

[This information was kindly provided by David Hopper (former Reiver).]

propeller blade marking memorial at Braydon Crag, 300 yards north of crash site

(More of Gary's photos in the Photo Gallery)

Photo Gallery

For additional, larger, photos, please select

BOEING-B-17G-WEST-HILL

from the drop down Album Menu in the Photo Gallery.

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Crash Date / Site

Country: England

Accident Date: 16 Dec 1944

Accident Site:

West Hill

(The Cheviot / 717m / 2,353ft)

Region: Northumberland (Cheviots)

Nearest towns or villages:

Wooler [map]

Westnewton or

Kirknewton (on B6351)

Nearest large town:

Wooler (E)

OS Grid Ref. N/A

GPS Ref: N/A

Present Condition:

Over the years, substantial amounts of wreckage have been removed from the crash site. Very little wreckage now remains. However, some fragments may still be found at the site. (The wreckage photos below were taken some years ago.)