42-97942 Heavenly Body II

media-39846.jpeg UPL 39846 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.

Photo 379th Bombardment Group Association, Via Mitch Peeke.

Object Number - UPL 39846 - 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...

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 Operator: Leroy Monk, Ball turret gunner: Bill Farmer, Waist gunner: Dick Andrews (6 Returned to Duty); Co-pilot: Fred Kauffman, Navigator: Ed Sadler,Tail gunner: Lou Schulte (3 Killed in Action); mid air collision with 44-6133, wreckage crashed Canvey point mud bank, River Thames estuary, UK. Missing Air Crew Report 6983.



On 19 June 1944, a formation of B-17 Flying Fortresses of the 379th Bomb Group were returning from a mission to bomb V weapons sites in north west France. While crossing the Thames, near Canvey Island, B-17 44-6133 experienced engine trouble and collided with B-17 42-97942 nicknamed "Heavenly Body II", the two aircraft became temporarily entangled.



B-17 44-6133 eventually fell away and crashed into the sea near Allhallows. After becoming free of the other aircraft Heavenly Body II began to lose height, but some members of the crew managed to bail out. Eyewitnesses reported that it appeared as if the aircraft was attempting to land on the nearby river mud, but suddenly fell nose first into the Thames near Canvey Island and burst into flames.



In the 1970s Blake Hall Museum (now closed) recovered the engines of Heavenly Body II from the Thames. Pieces of the aircraft are now on display at Thames Aviation Museum.



In 2014 local residents erected a memorial plaque to the crew of Heavenly Body II close to the site of the aircraft crash. In 2015 a commemorative mural was painted along Canvey sea wall which depicted the crew of Heavenly Body II, and Canvey Island Local Post issued a commemorative stamp the same year.

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 525th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 32752979
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Waist Gunner
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 379th Bomb Group 525th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 14079510 / O-810816
  • Highest Rank: First Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Pilot
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 379th Bomb Group 524th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 18148426 / O-754791
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Bombardier
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 379th Bomb Group 525th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 39557878
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Ball Turret Gunner
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 379th Bomb Group 525th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 10924622
  • Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Top Turret Gunner

Places

Missions

Aircraft

  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Unit: 379th Bomb Group 525th Bomb Squadron

Events

Event Location Date Description

Delivered

Denver AAF, CO 11 April 1944 Delivered Denver AAF 11-Apr-44.

Assigned

Kimbolton, UK 24 May 1944 Assigned 525BS, 379BG, 8AF USAAF.

Crashed

Failed to Return (FTR)

Canvey Island 19 June 1944 - 19 June 1944 Failed to Return (FTR) from mission to Enguine/Catts 19-Jun-44; mid air collision with 44-6133, wreckage crashed Canvey point mud bank, River Thames estuary, UK. MACR 6983.

Manufactured

Long Beach, CA Built at Vega.

Revisions

Date
Changes
Sources

Account of the crash written by Paul Wilkinson for Canvey Island Local Post - https://www.canveyisland.org/history-2/wartime-canvey/wwii/stan-pierces…

Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

Dave Osborne, B-17 Fortress Master Log / MACR 6983 / Paul Andrews, Project Bits and Pieces, 8th Air Force Roll of Honor database

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