42-29685
B-17 Flying Fortress
Delivered Cheyenne 2/2/43; Salina 17/2/43; Rapid City 20/2/43; Kearney 12/3/43; Presque Is 8/4/43; Assigned 334BS/95BG Alconbury 30/3/43, transferred 412BS [QW-R]; 3m.
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42-29833
B-17 Flying Fortress
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'This Boeing B-17 "Flying Fortress*" was damaged beyond repair when 500 pound general purpose bombs exploded while being loaded into a plane**. 28 May 1943, England'. NARA Ref 342-FH-3A15342-A61564AC. *42-29833, **42-29685.
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'Aerial view of airbase** in England showing destruction caused by the explosion of 500 pound general purpose bombs while being loaded into a Boeing B-17 "Flying Fortress*". 28 May 1943, England'. Taken after the explosion of 42-29685* 334th BS, 95th BG [19 killed, 21 wounded], which damaged beyond repair 42-29706 "Passion Flower", 42-29833 and 42-29808. ** Alconbury.
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'This Boeing B-17 "Flying Fortress*" was damaged beyond repair when 500 pound general purpose bombs exploded while being loaded into a plane**. 28 May 1943, Alconbury, England'. NARA Ref 342-FH-3A15337-61462AC. * 42-29833, ** 42-29685
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'Plane 2*, shown burning, likewise is a total loss. It was closest to No. 1**. Some witnesses said a heat or shock wave preceded the blast. All reported no smoking. - 42-29833 (92nd BG 8 may 43, salvaged 14 june 43)'. NARA Ref 342-FH-3A15286-B25287AC. *42-29833, **42-29685.
Delivered Cheyenne 24/2/43; Casper 13/3/43; Morrison 13/4/43; Presque Is 6/5/43; Assigned 92BG Alconbury 8/5/43; 412BS, 95BG Alconbury; 27-5-43 Damaged Beyond Repair DBR by debris from exploding 42-29685 bomb load, listed as salvaged n/battle damaged by 91BG 14/6/43.
Service
Aircraft
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42-29706 Passion Flower
B-17 Flying Fortress
Delivered Cheyenne 7/2/43; Rapid City 22/2/43; Kearney 12/3/43; Morrison 14/4/43; Dow Fd 21/4/43; Assigned 412BS/95BG [QW-W] Alconbury 25/4/43; 3m, Written off after another aircraft 42-29685 exploded nearby on base 27/5/43, Salvaged. PASSION FLOWER. -
42-29808
B-17 Flying Fortress
Delivered Cheyenne 21/2/43; Stillwater 8/3/43; Assigned 412BS/95BG [QW-C] Alconbury 15/4/43; [QW-X] Alconbury 12/5/43; 5m, Destroyed Beyond Repair DBR by flying debris after bomb loading accident on 42-29685 14/6/43. Parts salvaged post accident.
Units
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8th Air Force
Eighth Air Force Bomber Command became the Eighth Air Force on February 1944, it oversaw bombardment of strategic targets in Europe until 1945. ... -
92nd Bomb Group Fame's Favoured Few
Group
The 92nd Group sometime after arrivial in the UK converted to the role of in-theater combat crew indocrination and training. For this role, the Group traded its B-17F complement and obtained the B-17E, mostly from the 97th BG which was departing for... -
95th Bomb Group
Group
The 95th Bomb Group was the only Eighth Air Force Group to be awarded three Distinguished Unit Citations. The first, shared by all four Bomb Wing Groups, was for the bombing of an aircraft factory under intense enemy fire at Regensburg on 17 August... -
412th Bomb Squadron
Squadron
People
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John Carlisle
Military | Private | Radio Operator; Mechanic | 95th Bomb Group
KIS. 27 May 1943 in an accident at Alconbury, ground crew were loading bombs into B17s for the next day's mission when several bombs detonated. 19 were killed and 14 injured. -
Thomas Cunningham
Military | Master Sergeant | Radio Operator; Mechanic | 92nd Bomb Group Fame's Favoured Few
KIS. 27 May 1943 in an accident at Alconbury, ground crew were loading bombs into B17s for the next day's mission when several bombs detonated. 19 were killed and 14 injured. Cunningham and McCool were working at Horham with the 95th BG/ 412th BS when... -
Wallace Henderson
Military | Corporal | Radio Operator; Mechanic | 95th Bomb Group
KIS. 27 May 1943 in an accident at Alconbury, ground crew were loading bombs into B17s for the next day's mission when several bombs detonated. 19 were killed and 14 injured. -
Clinton Lewis
Military | Sergeant | Mechanic | 95th Bomb Group
KIS 27 May 1943 in an accident at Alconbury, ground crew were loading bombs into B17s for the next day's mission when several bombs detonated. 19 were killed and 14 injured. Combat Sup, Losses of the 8th & 9th AFs Vol. 1 by Bishop & Hey p. 134 -
Louis Palmer
Military | Technical Sergeant | Radio Operator; Mechanic | 95th Bomb Group
KIS. 27 May 1943 in an accident at Alconbury, ground crew were loading bombs into B17s for the next day's mission when several bombs detonated. 19 were killed and 14 injured. -
Glen Swarts
Military | Sergeant | Armorer | 95th Bomb Group
KIS. 27 May 1943 in an accident at Alconbury, ground crew were loading bombs into B17s for the next day's mission when several bombs detonated. 19 were killed and 14 injured. -
Jack Twiford
Military | Sergeant | Armorer | 95th Bomb Group
KIS. 27 May 1943 in an accident at Alconbury, ground crew were loading bombs into B17s for the next day's mission when several bombs detonated. 19 were killed and 14 injured. -
Howard Welch
Military | Sergeant | Armorer | 95th Bomb Group
KIS. 27 May 1943 in an accident at Alconbury, ground crew were loading bombs into B17s for the next day's mission when several bombs detonated. 19 were killed and 14 injured.
Places
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Alconbury
Military site : airfield
Alconbury had been constructed as a satellite airfield for RAF Upwood and Wyton and was used by RAF Squadrons: Nos. 15, 40 and 156. In preparation for the arrival of American heavy bombers, the base was developed in 1942 with the runways extended. When... -
Presque Isle Army Airfield
Military site : airfield
Events
| Event | Location | Date |
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| Damaged Beyond Repair DBR | RAF Alconbury | 27 May 1943 |
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27-5-43 Damaged Beyond Repair by debris from exploding 42-29685 bomb load. |
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| Salvaged | RAF Alconbury | 14 June 1943 |
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Salvaged non/battle damaged 14/6/43. |
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Revisions
| Date | Contributor | Update |
|---|---|---|
| 08 January 2016 16:14:39 | Paul Bellamy | Changes to description, events, unit associations and place associations |
| Sources | ||
Loss location corrected from Framlingham to Alconbury. |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 15 December 2015 20:10:36 | Al_Skiff | Changes to production block number, manufacturer, description, events, aircraft associations, unit associations and place associations |
| Sources | ||
AAM DB Entry. |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 27 September 2014 18:40:24 | AAM | AAM ingest |
| Sources | ||
Dave Osborne, B-17 Fortress Master Log |
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