42-31243
Sent through to the museum by the photographer Tony Ovenden.
Delivered Cheyenne 8/10/43; Gr Island 19/10/43; Wilmington 27/10/43;
Slated 94BG, Assigned 427BS/303BG Molesworth 18/11/43;
Missing in Action Leverkusen 1/12/43 with Allan Eckhart, Co-pilot: Elton Jenkins, Navigator: George Arvanites, Bombardier: Bob Meagher, Flight engineer/top turret gunner: Francis Nevner, Radio Operator: Fred Kuehl, Ball turret gunner: Angelo Tambe, Waist gunner: Mike Musashe, Waist gunner: Ed Madak, Tail gunner: Nyle Smith (10 Returned to Duty); no gas, ditched Sandwich Flats, Sandwich Bay, off Walmer, Kent, all rescued by Air Sea Rescue and taken to Manston, Kent. No MACR.
The crash site is on the Sandwich Flats, Sandwich Bay, Sandwich, Kent. It is the only B-17 inshore and local records do confirm this. On February 13th 2016 it was exposed on an extremely low tide. Both wings are present and the second engine nacelle is intact with a damaged propeller, a Tokyo tank is visible in a wing and is in excellent condition. There is also a field of debris around the wreck site. The fuselage is gone.
Connections
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Units served with
People
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 427th Bomb Squadron
- Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
- Role/Job: Bombardier
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 427th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 16144401
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Tail Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 427th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 37397071
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Flight Engineer
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 427th Bomb Squadron
- Highest Rank: Sergeant
- Role/Job: Tail Gunner
- Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
- Nationality: American
- Unit: 303rd Bomb Group 427th Bomb Squadron
- Service Numbers: 32144747
- Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
- Role/Job: Ball Turret Gunner
Places
Events
Event | Location | Date | Description |
---|---|---|---|
Crashed |
Sandwich Flats, Sandwich Bay, Sandwich, Kent |
Revisions
Added Production block number and Manufacturer per info on the internet for A/C #42-31243.
Added a space before the words "Tail gunner" in the A/C “Description” to aid clarity.
Changed crash site from Pegwell Bay to Sandwich Flats, Sandwich Bay after correspondence with Tony Ovenden who is investigating the area of the wreckage with support from RAF Manston History Museum.