B-17 42-31120 94BG lost 23/3/44

[Brian]

Hi guys

B-17 42-31120 GL-U of 410BS/94BG flown by 2/Lt FH Johnson out of Rougham lost 23/3/44.

Apparently damaged by German fighter attack and ditched in North Sea. Crew rescued by RAF launch (HSL2706) which was then attacked by two P-47s from 356FG. Blew up and sank with loss of 11 RAF crew plus all (?) US aircrew?

Can this be confirmed? If so, who were the US aircrewmen?

Who were the 356FG pilots responsible?

Cheers
Brian

[Leendert]

Brian,

Names of US crew can be found here: http://forum.armyairforces.com/tm.as...mpage=1#173473


Regards,

Leendert

[Leendert]

Brian,

Seems I was a bit too early, especially when you read the whole thread...

Leendert

[Leendert]

Brian,

Here again. Provided names in armyairforces post are right.

I've checked the ABMC website and the ten names are given with date of death 23 March 1944 under 94th BG/410th BS. Tablet of the Missing at Cambridge.

Leendert

[Brian]

Many thanks Leendert

A very interesting but tragic event.

Cheers
Brian

[Ivo de Jong]

The story was a little different.
The 94th BG crew was not yet on board HSL 2706. They were lost at sea while the HSL which was en route to rescue them was diverted to rescue some of the crew of HSL 2706. All crewmembers of the B-17 are listed as MIA.
HSL 2706 was lying on station when it was attacked by two P-47s of the 356th FG. I researched the incident and am quite sure that the two pilots concerned were James Cook and Shirley Green.
HSL 2706 more or less exploded and only three of its thirteen man crew managed to get into a dinghy. This dinghy was approached and the three men picked up by HSL 2679, which had been en route to the 94th BG crew. So, in a way this crew was a victim of the strafing attack as well. On board HSL 2679 one of the three survivors died of his wounds, so only two lived to tell the tragic tale. Ten of the HSL crew are listed on the Runnymede memorial, Cpl U.H. Turner who died on board HSL 2679 is buried in the Rugby cemetery in Warwickshire.
Green was later killed in a collision over England, Cooke completed his tour of duty and returned to the US.
It was a sad case of 'friendly fire' and resulted from the HSL being identified as a German E-boat......

HTH,
Ivo de Jong

[Alex Smart]

Hello,

Further info on this event can be found on the RAF Commands Website.

Alex

[Ivo de Jong]

Here are two images of the incident. One showing the burning HSL 2706, the other one the dinghy with the three men (one badly wounded) being pulled toward HSL 2679.

Attachment 3308

Attachment 3309

[Brian]

Many thanks Ivo

Excellent material

Brian