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Pilot of 44-6133 2nd Lt Armand J. Ramacitti. Photo courtesy of Jeanne Cronis-Campbell, via Mitch Peeke.
Photo was taken by 2nd Lt Theodore "Teddy" Chronopolis during a training flight prior to leaving for England.
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Memorial to the crew of B 17 44-6133 of the 525th Squadron, 379th BG. The memorial was raised by Mitch Peeke for the 75th Anniversary of the crash, in June of 2019. It was unveiled jointly by Jeanne Cronis-Campbell, daughter of 2nd Lt. Teddy Chronopolis, and Noel Tognazzini, nephew of S/Sgt. Cecil Tognazzini, during a special commemorative day. The memorial is located on the Seafront, overlooking the crash site, which is about 520 yards offshore, at Allhallows in Kent. The memorial is situated adjacent to the Yacht Club within the grounds of the Haven Allhallows Holiday Park.
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The crew of B 17 #42-97942 (Heavenly Body II). The Guy in the back row marked as "Unknown. (Not on Mission)" is Richard Billings. Shortly before the collision, the decision was taken to reduce all B 17 crews from ten men down to nine. This it was hoped,would help offset losses.
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Local Newspaper cutting telling Richard Ritter's story.
Image Alan Jasper/Geoff Burke, Via Mitch Peeke.
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Taken by the Co Pilot 2nd Lt Theodore "Teddy" Chronopolis during a training flight before they left for England.
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2nd Lt Theodore "Teddy" Chronopolis at his station as Bombardier aboard B17 44-6133. The photo was taken during a training flight about a month before they left for England. Teddy had given his pre-set camera to another crewmate to take this photo.
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Corporal Paul K Haynes, Waist Gunner aboard B17 44-6133. Photo taken by 2nd Lt Theodore "Teddy" Chronopolis, 44-6133's Bombardier, during a training flight about a month before they left for England.
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Staff Sgt Cecil A Tognazzini, Flight Engineer/Top Turret Gunner on B17 44-6133. The photo was taken by the plane's Bombardier, 2nd Lt Theodore "Teddy" Chronopolis, during a training flight about a month before they left for England. Following the mid-air collision over Allhallows on June 19th 1944, Cecil's body is the only one from 44-6133's crew that was never recovered.
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Taken from the Co Pilot's window of B17 44-6133 by the plane's Bombardier, 2nd Lt Theodore Chronopolis. The photo was taken on a training flight about a month before they left for England.
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Upgraded Memorial to the crew of B 17G #44-6133 at Allhallows Holiday Park, Allhallows, Kent. March 2020.
A border of Oyster Shells has been added, along with some driftwood, all collected from the beach in front of the memorial. This was done to symbolize the aircraft's final resting place, which is on the tidal mudflats some 500 yards or so in front of the memorial plaque.
The memorial was originally raised by Mitch Peeke in June of 2019 and unveiled jointly by two relatives of two of the crew: Jeanne Cronis-Campbell, daughter of the Bombardier; and Noel Tognazzini, nephew of the Flight Engineer/Top Turret Gunner.
Delivered Tulsa 10/5/44; Hunter 19/5/44; Dow Fd 29/5/44; Assigned 525BS/379BG [FR-Y] Kimbolton 8/6/44; on return from mission 19/6/44 with Armand Ramcitti, Co-pilot: Bill Hager, Navigator: Don Watson, Flight engineer/top turret gunner: Cecil Tognazzini, Radio Operator: Dick Ritter, Ball turret gunner: John Burke, Waist gunner: Paul Haynes,Tail gunner: Warren Oaks (8 Killed in Action); Bombardier: Theo Chronopolos (Returned to Duty); mid air collision with 42-97942, HEAVENLY BODY II, which crashed off Canvey Point mudbank, Essex, UK; Salvaged. 44-6133 crashed at Allhallows-On-Sea, Kent where there is now a memorial to her crew.
The full story of the collision can be found here:
https://aviationtrails.wordpress.com/2019/01/06/the-story-of-two-b-17s-c...
Service
Aircraft
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B-17 Flying Fortress
Delivered Denver 11/4/44; Kearney 4/5/44; Dow Fd 23/5/44; Assigned 525BS/379BG [FR-K] Kimbolton 24/5/44; on return from mission to Enguine/Catts 19/6/44 with Lloyd Burns, Bombardier: Jack Gray, Flight engineer/top turret gunner: Leon Gibbs, Radio...
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Units
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Eighth Air Force Bomber Command became the Eighth Air Force on February 1944, it oversaw bombardment of strategic targets in Europe until 1945.
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Group
The 379th Bomb Group (H) (heavy), based at Kimbolton, flew more sorties than any other Bomb Group in the Eighth Air Force and dropped a greater bomb tonnage than any other Group. The B-17 Flying Fortress Group was awarded two Distinguished Unit...
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People
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Military | Staff Sergeant | Ball Turret Gunner | 379th Bomb Group
Assigned to 525BS, 379BG, 8AF USAAF. 2nd mission. Failed to Return (FTR) Zudausques mission in B-17 44-6133; Due to extensive Flak damage, A/C collided with 42-97942 and crashed at Allhallows-On-Sea, Kent. Killed in Action (KIA) MACR 6984
Awards: PH.
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Military | Captain | Bombardier; Nose Gunner | 379th Bomb Group
Assigned to 525BS, 379BG, 8AF USAAF. Returning from Zudausques mission in B-17 44-6133; Due to extensive Flak damage, A/C collided with 42-97942 and crashed at Allhallows-On-Sea, Kent. Sole survivor from A/C. WIA / RTD. MACR 6984
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Military | Second Lieutenant | Co-Pilot | 379th Bomb Group
Assigned to 525BS, 379BG, 8AF USAAF. 2nd mission. Failed to Return (FTR) Zudausques mission in B-17 44-6133; Due to extensive Flak damage, A/C collided with 42-97942 and crashed at Allhallows-On-Sea, Kent. Killed in Action (KIA) MACR 6984
Awards: PH.
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Military | Corporal | Waist Gunner | 379th Bomb Group
Assigned to 525BS, 379BG, 8AF USAAF. 2nd mission. Failed to Return (FTR) Zudausques mission in B-17 44-6133; Due to extensive Flak damage, A/C collided with 42-97942 and crashed at Allhallows-On-Sea, Kent. Killed in Action (KIA) MACR 6984
Awards: PH.
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Military | Sergeant | Tail Gunner | 379th Bomb Group
Assigned to 525BS, 379BG, 8AF USAAF. 2nd mission. Failed to Return (FTR) Zudausques mission in B-17 44-6133; Due to extensive Flak damage, A/C collided with 42-97942 and crashed at Allhallows-On-Sea, Kent. Killed in Action (KIA) - MACR 6984.
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Military | Second Lieutenant | Pilot | 379th Bomb Group
Assigned to 525BS, 379BG, 8AF USAAF. Failed to Return (FTR) Zudausques mission in B-17 44-6133; Due to extensive Flak damage, A/C collided with 42-97942 and crashed at Allhallows-On-Sea, Kent. Killed in Action (KIA) MACR 6984
Awards: PH.
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Military | Staff Sergeant | Radio Operator | 379th Bomb Group
Assigned to 525BS, 379BG, 8AF USAAF. 2nd mission. Failed to Return (FTR) Zudausques mission in B-17 44-6133; Due to extensive Flak damage, A/C collided with 42-97942 and crashed at Allhallows-On-Sea, Kent. Killed in Action (KIA) MACR 6984
Awards: PH.
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Military | Staff Sergeant | Flight Engineer/Top Turret Gunner | 379th Bomb Group
Assigned to 525BS, 379BG, 8AF USAAF. Failed to Return (FTR) Zudausques mission in B-17 44-6133; Due to extensive Flak damage, A/C collided with 42-97942 and crashed at Allhallows-On-Sea, Kent. Killed in Action (KIA) MACR 6984. Cecil's body was never...
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Military | Second Lieutenant | Navigator | 379th Bomb Group
Assigned to 525BS, 379BG, 8AF USAAF. Failed to Return (FTR) Zudausques mission in B-17 44-6133; Due to extensive Flak damage, A/C collided with 42-97942 and crashed at Allhallows-On-Sea, Kent. Killed in Action (KIA) MACR 6984
Awards: PH.
Missions
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19 June 1944
Bombed an airfield. Nine hour mission. Shortly after retiring we were called again but mission was called off at briefing room.
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Places
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Military site : airfield
Planned for RAF use, Kimbolton airfield was built by W and C French Ltd. in 1941. The airfield was increased in size to accommodate a full US heavy Bomb Group, and the first such unit to us it was the 91st Bomb Group, who arrived in September 1942....
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Events
Event |
Location |
Date |
Assigned |
Kimbolton, UK |
8 June 1944 |
Assigned to 525BS, 379BG, 8AF USAAF.
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Crashed |
Off Canvey Island, UK |
19 June 1944 |
Failed to Return (FTR) mission 19-Jun-44; mid air collision with 42-97942, crashed Allhallows-On-Sea, Kent. 1 x RTD, 8 x KIA. MACR 6984
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