43-38030 My Achin B

Two 306th Bomb Group B-17 Flying Fortresses collided in mid-air in heavy fog over Thurleigh airbase after returning from a mission; both were destroyed with all hands lost. Handwritten caption on reverse: '55819.' Printed caption on reverse: '55819 AC - Returning from a daylight bombing assault on important synthetic oil plants and key communications centers just behind von Rundstedt's lines, two B-17 Flying Fortresses collide in mid-air and disintegrate. None of the crews of either plane escaped. The fat media-407862.jpg FRE 4436 Two 305th Bomb Group B-17 Flying Fortresses collided in mid-air in heavy fog over Thurleigh airbase after returning from a mission; both were destroyed with all hands lost. Handwritten caption on reverse: '55819.' Printed caption on reverse: '55819 AC - Returning from a daylight bombing assault on important synthetic oil plants and key communications centers just behind von Rundstedt's lines, two B-17 Flying Fortresses collide in mid-air and disintegrate. None of the crews of either plane escaped. The fateful accident occurred only a few hundred feet off the ground as the formation roared through thick blanket of clouds that covered the base and reduced visibility to almost zero. The density of the overcast is indicated by the fact that only a few Fortresses of the formation, which numbered more than a score, are visible in this picture. This photograph is evidence of the weather hazards that U.S. Army 8th Air Force bomber crews are forced to brave almost daily during the winter months to continue without pause their sledge-hammer blows on industrial Germany and to provide tactical bombing cooperation for our ground forces. England. U.S. Air Force Photo.' Roger Freeman Collection

Changed group to which aircraft belonged in caption from 306th to 305th Bomb Group.
Clifford Deets, 306thBG Historical Association historian: 'This is a picture taken at the 306th and Thurleigh of two 305th Bomb Group planes colliding over Thurleigh on 22 October 1944 killing seventeen men.'

Object Number - FRE 4436 - Two 305th Bomb Group B-17 Flying Fortresses collided in mid-air in heavy fog over Thurleigh airbase after returning from a mission; both were...

Delivered Cheyenne 17/6/44; Kearney 28/6/44; Dow Fd 13/7/44; Assigned 422BS/305BG [JJ-E] Chelveston 14/7/44; Missing in Action Hanover 22/10/44 with Phil Lichty, 2Lt Robert Coverstone, 2Lt John L Touchett, 2Lt Michael J Veraa, S/Sgt Albert B Zieglmeier, S/Sgt William R Robinson, S/Sgt Harold E Boling, S/Sgt Ersel E Lennier, S/Sgt Nick Colaiuta (9 x KIA); mid air coll with 43-38133 (305BG), crashed Thurleigh, UK; 19KIA in total. MY ACHIN' B.

Connections

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Units served with

Unofficial emblem, 305th Bomb Group.
  • Unit Hierarchy: Group
  • Air Force: Eighth Air Force
  • Type Category: Bombardment

People

  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 305th Bomb Group 422nd Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 35251603
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Radio Operator / Photographer
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 305th Bomb Group
  • Service Numbers: 33702503
  • Highest Rank: Staff Sergeant
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 305th Bomb Group 422nd Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 19129595 / O-763082
  • Highest Rank: Second Lieutenant
  • Role/Job: Co-pilot
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: 305th Bomb Group 384th Bomb Group 422nd Bomb Squadron 546th Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 19177124
  • Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant
  • Role/Job: Top Turret Gunner / Flight Engineer
  • Military/Civilian/Mascot: Military
  • Nationality: American
  • Unit: VIII Bomber Command 1st Bomb Division 40th Combat Bomb Wing 305th Bomb Group 422nd Bomb Squadron
  • Service Numbers: 39281473
  • Highest Rank: Technical Sergeant (2nd Grade)
  • Role/Job: Flight Engineer/Top Turret

Places

Missions

  • Date: 22 October 1944

Aircraft

Two 306th Bomb Group B-17 Flying Fortresses collided in mid-air in heavy fog over Thurleigh airbase after returning from a mission; both were destroyed with all hands lost. Handwritten caption on reverse: '55819.' Printed caption on reverse: '55819 AC - Returning from a daylight bombing assault on important synthetic oil plants and key communications centers just behind von Rundstedt's lines, two B-17 Flying Fortresses collide in mid-air and disintegrate. None of the crews of either plane escaped. The fat
  • Aircraft Type: B-17 Flying Fortress
  • Unit: 305th Bomb Group 364th Bomb Squadron

Events

Event Location Date Description

Delivered

Cheyenne, WY, USA 17 June 1944

Assigned

Chelveston, UK 14 July 1944 Assigned to 422BS, 305BG, 8AF USAAF.

Crashed

Thurleigh, UK 22 October 1944 Missing in Action Hanover 22-Oct-44; Mid air in fog over base with B-17 43-38133. 9 x RTD

Manufactured

Long Beach, CA Built at Boeing.

Revisions

Date
Contributorghichens
Changes
Sources

Greg Hichens

Date
ContributorTom
Changes
Sources

Associated bomb group and aircraft it collided with from description.

Date
ContributorTom
Changes
Sources

Added nickname and biographic events from description.

Date
ContributorAAM
Changes
Sources

Dave Osborne, B-17 Fortress Master Log

43-38030: Gallery (1 items)