B-17 lost 13 May 1943

[Brian]

Hi guys

On 13 May 1943 a B-17 from Grafton Underwood crashed off Cromer. It's pilot Capt D. Rodgers was recovered but died of shock and exposure.

Can anyone provide unit/serial number/crew identities, please? The rear gunner had been wounded but survived the bale out.

Cheers
Brian

[Leendert]

Brian,

This was B-17F 42-29752 of 96th BG.
Will look for more info, but lunch hour is nearly done..

Regards,

Leendert

[rafcommands]

Hi Brian.

May 13th -Sheringham, Norfolk
At about 4.45 pm information was received that an aeroplane had come down in the sea off Blakeney Point. The weather was fine with a strong S.W. breeze and a choppy sea. An exercise of the life-boat had just been carried out by the District Inspector of Life-boats, Commander T G Michelmore R.D., R.N.R., and when permission to launch had been given by the naval authorities the motor life-boat Foresters Centenary put out again at 5.30 pm.

Guided by a smoke float, dropped by a searching aeroplane, the life-boat picked up an American airman at 6.20 pm. He was unconscious and though the crew tried artificial respiration for over two hours, they could not revive him. Another airman had been rescued by the RAF rescue launch from Wells, and she spoke to the life-boat and reported that others had baled out over the land, and that the whole crew of the aeroplane were accounted for. The life-boat then returned to her station arriving at 8.30 pm. Rewards £19 18s 9d.
(Source RNLI Rescue Records 1939-1946)

The RAF rescue launch was Pinnace 1241. The search aircraft was a Stirling. Lt Norvill Gorse and Capt Derrol Rodgers were the two airmen rescued from the water. Hit by friendly fire, outbound. Turned back, crew ordered to jump over coast then aircraft turned out to sea with the intent to set autopilot but damage so severe that neither pilot could leave controls until the aircraft broke up.

338BS/96BG B-17F-70-BO #42-29752

Regards
Ross

[Brian]

Many thanks for that, Ross.

Quite an interesting story with a tragic ending for the pilot.

I would still appreciate a crew list should anyone be able to provide one.

Cheers
Brian

[Leendert]

Brian,

No crew list found, but to make good a picture that shows 42-29752 with its horizontal stabiliser shot away: http://www.ww2aircraft.net/forum/alb...-fortress.html

Also, Lt Norville J. Gorse became POW on 28 July 1943... 96th BG lost some six B-17s that day.

Regards,

Leendert

[Leendert]

Forgot to say that the name is Derrol W. Rogers, and not Rodgers.
He's buried at the Cambridge American Cemetery.

Regards,

Leendert

[paul kroon]

Losses of the US 8th etc by Bishop and Hey gives:
P Capt Derrol W Rogers CP 2 Lt Norville J Gorse
N 1 Lt Joe L Hudson B 1 Lt George D Rawlings
E T/Sgt Basil F Maxwell RO T/Sgt Robert L Bennett
BTG S/Sgt Alfred G Miles WG S/Sgt Edwin C Wolfkuhle
WG S/Sgt Robert Dominick TG S/Sgt Edward C Youngers

No MACR. Shortly after taking off from Grafton Underwood the left waist gun, stored internally, accidently discharged while being checked by the gunner. The bullets injured the gunnner and seriously injured the tailgunner, as well as shooting away the right stabiliser and damaging the controls. Returning to base six crew members, included the two injured gunners, baled out safely. A/c was flown to the Wash area of the North Sea, where the bombs were jettisoned and the navigator and bombardier baled out safely. The pilot and co-pilot came down in the sea off Blakeney Point, Norfolk. When recovered the pilot was dead, and co-pilot was suffering from exposure. 1 KOF 9 RTD
paul

[Brian]

Thanks again Leendert, and thanks Paul.

Great response in very quick time!

Cheers
Brian

[drawlings]

My father, George D. Rawlings, was the bombardier. After attending a memorial service for Capt Rogers, he was called to fill in for a sick bombardier on another crew and was shot down on 17 MAY 43 on a mission to Lorient. Total war service, two takeoffs, no landings, shot down twice in 4 days and had the unfortunate honor of being aboard the first two 96th BG aircraft lost in Europe. Spent the rest of the war in Stalag Luft III. Continued in the Air Force and served in both Korean and Vietnam. Retired as Colonel in 1972. Thank you for the information, without a MACR, I did not even have this much.