1st Lt Robert L Sprout with S/Sgt Danny Minkon

B-17 Flying Fortress (JW-H, serial number 44-8436) nicknamed "Fort Worth Jail House" of the 326th Bomb Squadron, 92nd Bomb Group. On May 5th 1945, just three days before the end of World War II, seven young men climbed into a B-17 from 326th Squadron and took off from RAF Podington. 1st Lt Reginald Hammond, 1st Lt Robert Sprout, 2nd Lt William J Dutton, T/Sgt Jacob Buikema, S/Sgt Daniel Minkon, 2nd Lt John Duffy and the radio controller Lt Len Nitti. The synopsis of their story was that, lost in poor weather and limited visibility (just as today), the B-17 circled twice over the Castle and then headed south. They hit the trees on Sidown Hill, tumbling into flames and wreckage. All on the Estate rushed up the hill to help, but only one man survived -Lt Len Nitti. Both Patti and Mary Nitti have been in touch with us and I hope may join us in September. We would welcome any of the other airmen’s descendants too. Paul McTaggart from Highclere also found a photograph of the plane – it is in a diner in Fort Worth, Texas.

Fort Worth Jail House Nose Art provided to me by Roger Werksman as it’s his artwork from his uncle who was in FWJH at the start in Smiths Crew when it was named. This is the B17 #44-8436 which my Dad went down in on May 5th 1945. Delivered Lincoln 16/9/44; Grenier 1/10/44; Assigned 326BS/92BG [JW-H] Podington 8/11/44, crash landed Sidow Hill, Wilts, UK with Reg Hammond 5/5/45 (1 survived); Salvaged 6/5/45.

1st Lt Robert L Sprout in 43-38454 Poddington