43-38133

Two 306th Bomb Group B-17 Flying Fortresses collided in mid-air in heavy fog over Thurleigh airbase after returning from a mission; both were destroyed with all hands lost. Handwritten caption on reverse: '55819.' Printed caption on reverse: '55819 AC - Returning from a daylight bombing assault on important synthetic oil plants and key communications centers just behind von Rundstedt's lines, two B-17 Flying Fortresses collide in mid-air and disintegrate. None of the crews of either plane escaped. The fat media-407862.jpg FRE 4436 Two 305th Bomb Group B-17 Flying Fortresses collided in mid-air in heavy fog over Thurleigh airbase after returning from a mission; both were destroyed with all hands lost. Handwritten caption on reverse: '55819.' Printed caption on reverse: '55819 AC - Returning from a daylight bombing assault on important synthetic oil plants and key communications centers just behind von Rundstedt's lines, two B-17 Flying Fortresses collide in mid-air and disintegrate. None of the crews of either plane escaped. The fateful accident occurred only a few hundred feet off the ground as the formation roared through thick blanket of clouds that covered the base and reduced visibility to almost zero. The density of the overcast is indicated by the fact that only a few Fortresses of the formation, which numbered more than a score, are visible in this picture. This photograph is evidence of the weather hazards that U.S. Army 8th Air Force bomber crews are forced to brave almost daily during the winter months to continue without pause their sledge-hammer blows on industrial Germany and to provide tactical bombing cooperation for our ground forces. England. U.S. Air Force Photo.' Roger Freeman Collection

Changed group to which aircraft belonged in caption from 306th to 305th Bomb Group.
Clifford Deets, 306thBG Historical Association historian: 'This is a picture taken at the 306th and Thurleigh of two 305th Bomb Group planes colliding over Thurleigh on 22 October 1944 killing seventeen men.'

Object Number - FRE 4436 - Two 305th Bomb Group B-17 Flying Fortresses collided in mid-air in heavy fog over Thurleigh airbase after returning from a mission; both were...

Delivered Cheyenne 29/6/44; Kearney 13/7/44; Grenier 23/7/44; Assigned 364BS/305BG [WF-N] Chelveston 25/8/44; Missing in Action Hanover 22/10/44 with 2Lt John Mitchell, 2Lt William C Shoemaker, 2Lt Frank Watkins, Sgt Phillip R Mifsud, Sgt Ashton W Hewitt, Sgt Billy Krug, Sgt Eldon Peacock, Sgt Lennard B Lindsey, Sgt Burton G Jenkins 9 x KIA; mid air coll with 43-38030, crashed Thurleigh base (19 KIA in total). Missing Air Crew Report 10833.

Connections

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Units served with

Unofficial emblem, 305th Bomb Group.
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

People

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 305th Bomb Group 364th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 33740179
  • Highest Rank: Sergeant (RAF)
  • Role/Job: Radio Operator
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 305th Bomb Group 364th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 36864750
  • Highest Rank: Sergeant (RAF)
  • Role/Job: Waist Gunner
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 305th Bomb Group 364th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 37523751
  • Highest Rank: Sergeant (RAF)
  • Role/Job: Engineer
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 305th Bomb Group 364th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 37724434
  • Highest Rank: Sergeant (RAF)
  • Role/Job: Tail Gunner
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 305th Bomb Group 364th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 13088303
  • Highest Rank: Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Bombardier

Places

Missions

  • Date: 22 October 1944

Aircraft

Two 306th Bomb Group B-17 Flying Fortresses collided in mid-air in heavy fog over Thurleigh airbase after returning from a mission; both were destroyed with all hands lost. Handwritten caption on reverse: '55819.' Printed caption on reverse: '55819 AC - Returning from a daylight bombing assault on important synthetic oil plants and key communications centers just behind von Rundstedt's lines, two B-17 Flying Fortresses collide in mid-air and disintegrate. None of the crews of either plane escaped. The fat
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Nicknames: My Achin B
  • Unit: 305th Bomb Group 422nd Bomb Squadron

Events

Event Location Date Description

Delivered

Cheyenne AAF, WY 29 June 1944 Delivered Cheyenne AAF 29-Jun-44.

Assigned

Chelveston UK 25 August 1944 Assigned 364BS, 305BG, 8AF USAAF.

Crashed

Thurleigh, UK 22 October 1944 Missing in Action Hanover 22-Oct-44; mid air collision with 43-38030 in poor weather, crashed base. MACR 10833

Manufactured

Failed to Return (FTR)

Long Beach, CA

Revisions

Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

Dave Osborne, B-17 Fortress Master Log / MACR 10833 / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database

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