42-97479 Belle of Liberty
This crashed at RAF East Kirkby, whilst in the circuit diverting in bad weather struck low hill north of the airfield. Source book "The Route As Briefed"
Object Number - FRE 5762 - The wreck of a B-17 Flying Fortress (UX-L, serial number 42-97479) nicknamed "Belle of Liberty" that has crash landed at Podington, 30 December 1944...
Delivered Cheyenne 28/11/43; Kearney 12/12/43; Cleveland 26/12/43; Presque Is 30/12/43; Assigned 327BS/92BG [UX-L] Podington 27/1/44; Damaged on the 6 March 1944 mission to bomb the ball-bearing plant at Erkner, in the outskirts of Berlin. Walsh crew. Battle damaged on mission to Kaiserlautern. 30/12/44 with Joe Van Stratton, Ed Porter, John Cowan, Chas Chambers, Tom Standish, Art Estrada, Harry Barner, Wilf Bedard, Bill White ; Koblenz Bullay Rail bridge, aborted due to engine failure. Decided to land at an RAF base at East Kirkby, Lincolnshire. One engine out and poor visibility, overshot the runway and started another circuit in the traffic pattern. A second engines prop wind milling, the plane was pulled up to clear a hill and stalled. The aircraft crashed 2 miles north of Kirkby and burned. (9 Killed in Action). Salvaged. BELLE OF LIBERTY.
Connections
See how this entry relates to other items in the archive by exploring the connections below.
Units served with
- Unit Hierarchy: Squadron
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
- Unit Hierarchy: Group
- Air Force: Eighth Air Force
- Type Category: Bombardment
People
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 92nd Bomb Group 327th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 39725742
- Highest Rank: Sergeant
- Role/Job: Ball Turret Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 92nd Bomb Group 327th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 31398960
- Highest Rank: Sergeant
- Role/Job: Waist Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 92nd Bomb Group 327th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 38008506
- Highest Rank: Sergeant
- Role/Job: Bombardier
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 92nd Bomb Group 327th Bomb Squadron
- Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Navigator
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 92nd Bomb Group 327th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 39847857
- Highest Rank: Sergeant
- Role/Job: Radio Operator
Places
- Site type: Aircraft crash site
![A bomber crew of the 92nd Bomb Group return to Podington following a mission flying B-17 Flying Fortresses to Wittenberg. A B-17 Flying Fortress (NV-K, serial number 42-29994) is visible in the background. Image stamped on reverse: 'Passed for Publication 23 Feb 1945' [stamp]. ' News Chronicle Copyright Picture' [stamp]. Printed caption on reverse: 'Crew back from Wittenberg.'](https://assets.americanairmuseum.com/s3fs-public/styles/teaser_thumb_x2/public/freeman/media-379172.jpg.webp?itok=G7D0FciD)
- Site type: Airfield
- Site type: Airfield
- Known as: PIAAF / Presque Is
Missions
Events
| Event | Location | Date | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Delivered |
Cheyenne Regional Airport, 200 E 8th Ave, Cheyenne, WY 82001, USA | 28 November 1943 | Delivered to Cheyenne 28-Nov-43. |
|
Assigned |
Podington, Wellingborough NN29, UK | 27 January 1944 | Assigned to 327BS, 92BG, 8AF USAAF. |
|
Crashed |
East Kirkby, Spilsby PE23, UK | 30 December 1944 | Aborted due to engine failure. Decided to land at an RAF base at East Kirkby, Lincolnshire. One engine out and poor visibility, overshot the runway and started another circuit in the traffic pattern. A second engines prop wind milling, the plane was pulled up to clear a hill and stalled. The aircraft crashed 2 miles north of Kirkby and burned. (9 KIA). |
|
Manufactured |
Las Vegas, NV, USA |
