44-8198

media-15905.jpeg UPL 15905 Piece of the wreckage of the wing from 44-8198 from Ridgewell museum

Object on display as part of the unveiling of the memorial to the men who died in the crash at Bocking.

Object Number - UPL 15905 - Piece of the wreckage of the wing from 44-8198 from Ridgewell museum

44-8198 was on a sightseeing trip to Germany two days after VE Day when it collided with 44-8813 over Braintree, Essex on 10 May 1945.



Delivered Dallas 7/7/44; Langley 5/8/44; Hunter 2/9/44.



Assigned to the 526th Bomb Squadron of the 379th Bomb Group at Kimbolton 5 October 1944.



Salvaged n/battle damaged 11/5/45.



A memorial to the 11 men who died in the crash was unveiled at Rivermead, Bocking, Braintree on 10 May 2015. Some of the wreckage from the crash is now owned by the museum at Ridgewell.

Connections

See how this entry relates to other items in the archive by exploring the connections below.

Units served with

The insignia of the 379th Bomb Group.
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

People

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 379th Bomb Group
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
Staff-Sergeant Robert J Brockman of the 379th Bomb Group paints a mission marking onto the nose of B-17 Flying Fortress 42-39783, nicknamed "Blues in the Knight". Image stamped on reverse: 'International News Photos.' [stamp], 'Passed for Publciation 6 Apr 1944.' [stamp] and '314922.' [Censor no.] Printed caption on reverse: '' HB 35. S/Sgt. Robert Brackman chalks up 38th Bomb on "Blues in the night" ( See above for details).'
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 379th Bomb Group 526th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 35310857
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Crew Chief
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 379th Bomb Group
  • Highest Rank: Master Sergeant
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 379th Bomb Group 526th Bomb Squadron
  • Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 379th Bomb Group 526th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 39183009
  • Highest Rank: Sergeant

Places

Aircraft

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress

Events

Event Location Date Description

Assigned

Kimbolton, Cambridgeshire, UK 5 October 1944 Assigned to the 526th Bomb Squadron of the 379th Bomb Group

Crashed

River Mead, Braintree, Essex CM7 9AX, UK 10 May 1945 44-8198 was on a sightseeing tour of Germany, just two days after VE Day, when it was hit by 44-8813, severing its tail. All 11 men on board died.

Revisions

Date
ContributorJenny
Changes
Sources

Information from the memorial panel at Bocking and the memorial service.

Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

Dave Osborne, B-17 Fortress Master Log

44-8198: Gallery (1 items)