Catalina FP287 of 210 Squadron Lost on 24th August 1943

[Trevor Matthews]

Information required on the loss of B17 4237869 of the 8th Air Force Weather Flight on 25 December 1943 at Oakhampton Devon. Any information greatfully received.

Many thanks

Trevor

[Nick Beale]

I don't know the answer but it might help your search to have the correct spelling: Okehampton rather than Oakhampton (it's named for a river, not a tree).

[shooshoobaby]

# 237869 25th BG , 652d Sq. attached to 20th FG Weather Ship.
Pilot - Lt. Ernest Patterson
5 KIA 3 WIA
For more info you can order the Accident Report.
Cheers

[rafcommands]

I have some infor on this loss from a dead website called GPSWalker.

The chap who created it removed it because he was dismayed about the removal of items from the crash sites.

The recovered text is:

B-17G Fortress 42-37869

The aircraft was from the 8th AF and was on a weather flight 25th December 1943 when it crashed on the high ground of Dartmoor Gr (Map Ref removed R McNeill) only small pieces remain at the site today thanks to 67 MU RAF

B-17G 42-37869 had been on a routine flight with crew of 8; A/c on a Weather sortie was returning to base following the mission, but bad weather had closed AAF Cheddington so the crew were diverted to St.Eval. Here a successful landing was made and the crew sat it out until the weather improved and Cheddington was cleared for landings.

Some time elapsed and the B-17 took off from St.Eval bound for Cheddington, conditions were reported that the West of England had a cloud base of 2,500ft with vis at 2-4 miles; which should have been enough to clear any of the high ground around Dartmoor. However, near Bridestow the B-17 flew into mist over Okehampton Moor, skipped over the first area of high ground at 1,430ft, then entered a real thick fog, pilot went on instruments and began to climb, but lacking some power to reach over the next batch of high ground, struck a hill at 1,750ft asl, a/c bounced for 3/4 mile, split open and caught fire. Pilot; Co-Pilot; Met Obs Sgt Basil Brown all got out, but 5 perished in the crash. 2 are buried at Cambridge ( T/Sgt
Sherwood Renner and S/Sgt Albany Blanchard) 3 others were listed as missing because the remains were not positively identified, 2 are believed to have been 2/Lt Richard Neary and S/Sgt Marcia Panteei, name of other airman not known.

Regards
Ross

[Trevor Matthews]

Ross,

Many thanks for the information

Regards
Trevor