B17 Flying Fortress at Fairey Aviation Heathrow

[frog61]

After leaving school in 1944 my father worked at Fairey Aviation's Great West Aerodrome at Heath Row, joining his father who had worked there since it opening in 1930. My father remembers a Fortress landing at the airfield on its way back from a raid; he doesn't recall when but it would have been mid 1944 to May 1945. The aircraft was placed under guard, but his father persuaded the guards to let them both have a look inside and my father remembers the floor being covered ankle deep in spent shell cases. The next day the aircraft was flown out. Does anyone know details of the aircraft involved, the date and circumstances. I would love to give my father more information.

[Larry]

It might help narrow down when this occurred if your Dad can remember the season- was it a bright summer day or a cold and frosty day in winter?

[frog61]

Hi Larry,

I spoke to my father earlier and have obtained a little more information.

The plane landed overnight i.e. it wasn't there when he went home, but was there the following morning. The weather was fine so it was possibly in the summer. It landed normally on its undercarriage and was flown out the same day that they first saw it. He doesn't remember any markings. Understandably it's a bit vague these days, after all he was 15 at the time and it was a long time ago.

Hope this helps

Kevin