"B-17" Mystery "March 1942"

[paulmcmillan]

I have just came back from 2 weeks holiday, and one of the enjoyable things I do is read/buy some local produced history booklets especially if they deal with WW2... These are usually written by some very enthusastic individuals but there are times when there base historic aviation knowledge can let them down... But they can put 'flesh' on a story.. here is my problem..

I have just come back from 2 weeks in the South Hams, Devon where I picked up a booklet called 'Burgh Island and Bigbury Bay of Yesterday'... For an idea of where this is see the following link..

http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?f=q&so...0&z=14&iwloc=A


Anyway there is a passage at the back which says

"In March, 1942, a Flying Fortress returning from a bombing mission at St. Nazaire also came down into the water at the estuary mouth. The crowd which gathered to watch this exciting episode was treated to the spectacle of crew members clambering aboard their rubber dinghy, then rowing to safety on the Bantham side of the river. The plane was later dismantled".

I have a few worries about this, the fact that a Flying Fortress was involved.. especially baring the date mentiuoned.. This would seem to be too early for USAAF Missions and 90 Sqn RAF had finished with them by then.. . Yet the type is clearly mentioned...

Also in March 1942 the only missions to St Nazaire involved Hampdens, Whitleys, Stirlings and Wellingtons.. and I can find no 'likely losses'

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Submarine_pen

Could it be another mission to other Submarine Pens or other dates say March 1943???

Can anyone identify this incident, the date and aircraft concerned?

Regards

Paul

[kaki3152]

I think its a misprint, should be 1943.

[brewerjerry]

Hi
no date but a link the remains ?
cheers
Jerry

http://www.ukdiving.co.uk/wrecks/wreck.php?id=442

[paulmcmillan]

Jerry

Thanks

Could be.. I did doubt it was recovered!

[Alex Smart]

Hello,

Interesting,from the report in the Diving website it seems that there is more than one aircraft wreck there as "they" have no engines ?

Alex

[paulmcmillan]

Ross McNeil on RAFCommands has answered both mysteries...

http://www.rafcommands.com/forum/sho...5178#post35178

B-17 abd correct date was

16/09/43
407th BS/92nd BG
B-17F-80-BO
#42-29965


Diving reference is:

"He has picked up on the reference to a number of fuselages dumped around Burgh Island (not the crash location) of Catalina Lend Lease aircraft stripped/scrapped and sea dumped before being carried by the tides to the location.

I've dived this location so can personally verify the contents."

[paulmcmillan]

The loss 16th Sept 1943 of Bolt Head

was

42-29699 not 42-29965

http://www.384thbombgroup.com/php/On...?SortieKey=585

29699 (384th BG, 547th BS, "Old Battle Axe") ditched in English
Channel Sep 16, 1943 on mission to Nantes, France. Crew rescued.

http://memories.384thbombgroup.com/i...ons&Itemid=106