Operation Aphrodite

[Martin Gleeson]

Hallo Brian and Alex,

I can assure you that the B-17 which flew across England and Ireland was from the 452nd BG. Attempts were made to intercept it but all failed as far as I know, so it was not lost due to 'friendly fire'. It was apparently named 'Melancholy Baby', serial unknown as yet. It was on a regular bombing mission when it suffered engine trouble and had to be abandoned by its crew.

Regards,

Martin Gleeson.

[Brian]

Wow! What have I started?

Sorry if I misled you Alex, I meant that of the three B-17 drones used in September operations (which is the month mentioned in the unofficial account I have) only 39827 didn't have a name according to Blue Spader's list. The other two were 30180 Black Hawk and 30363 Ruth L III. By a simple process of deduction, my dear Watson (as Sherlock Holmes would have no doubt retorted), I dedued that '827 must be Melancholy Baby!

The account, published in the London Evening News circa 1945, in part reads: "I can now reveal that 'ghost bombers', piloted by radio control and loaded with 11 tons of bombs, were being aimed across the North Sea to crash on the heavily defended German island of Heliogoland. The planes were old Flying Fortesses. One of them caused a scare right across England from the Wash to Liverpool when it got off course and headed west instead of east. Becuase the Germans were in the dark about it when the Flying Fortress Melancholy Baby went the wrong way in September 1944, everybody in the know had to tell a story whuch would not give the secret away.

It went from the King's Lynn area, south of the Wash, in a north-westerly direction to Derby, over Spalding and Melton Mowbray, then to Merseyside, passing over Congleton, Middlewitch, Northwitch and Runcorn, It gave Liverpool its first air raid warning for 18 months and RAF officials, who knew the danger, were appalled to see it circle the city twice before setting off in a westerly direction again, causing an alert in Bangor as it went. Fighters went up to pusue 'baby', which was flying perfectly at more than 250mph, and they were ready to shoot it down into the sea. At one time it looked as if it would outstrip its pursuers, and a warning was flashed to America that the bomber was heading on a course that might carry it right across the Atlantic. But finally RAF fighters caught it and shot it down into the Atlantic."

Now, I know that newspaper reports are not always totally reliable but obviously, in this case, the writer had been briefed.

I rest my case! Over and out!

Brian

[shooshoobaby]

Brian - several accounts of B - 17s and 24s gliding back to England after being abandoned.
In book Aphrodite that you ordered , there is an account of a B - 17 that
went out of control over Ipswich and circled . They finally were able to gain control and blow it up over the North Sea.
B-17 #239827 assigned to Aphrodite
B - 17 # 46905 " Melancholy Baby " 381st BG , 532 Sq. VE - M
May 24 , 45 returned to U.S. Nov. 9 , 45 Kingman , Az.
Cheers,
Mike

[Brian]

Thanks Mike, but could not '827 have also been called 'Melancholy Baby'? Surely the newpaper reporter wouldn't have made up such a name - he must have been 'in the know'.

Martin - you are complicating matters!!

Cheers
Brian

[shooshoobaby]

Brian - According to " Heavy Bombers of the Mighty 8th " and " B- 17 Flying Fortress Story " by Freeman #827 was un - named.
34 B-17s assigned to Aphrodite
# 229688 " Little Donna "
# 230595 " Gremlin Gus " , " Olin's 69ers "
# 337685 " Slave's Dream "
Only 3 named
Mike

[Alex Smart]

Hello Martin,

The story that you refer to . Didn't that take place on the 29th September 1944 ?

I think the event here is about a "Castor" B17 that is said to have happened on the mission to Hemmingstedt on the 14th September 1944.

B17G 42-39827 was piloted by Lt. Haller, with 2Lt. Shinalt.

The one you refer too was either piloted by Eccles or Beuchat .
whichever version of events is prefered.

All for now

Alex

[Alex Smart]

Hello Mike,
That doesn't mean that she was not named by her last crews in the "Aphrodite" team.

However to confirm your earlier one on named a/c "B17 Nose Art Name Directory" has -
"Melancholy" - 381 - 44-6950
"Melancholy Baby" - 381 - 44-6950
"Melancholy Baby" - 482 -

So 44-6950 was at one time a "Melancholy Baby"
while an unknown a/c with the 482BG was too.
Can it be found if 42-39827 was at any time with the 482nd BG ?
Freemans "B17 the Flying Fortress Story" has only note of the use by 306BG.

Alex

[shooshoobaby]

History of B - 17 #42-39827:
306th BG 369th Sq. WW G Nov. 24th , 1943
Transferred to Air Force Service Command May 1 , 1944
Assigned Aphrodite August 14 , 1944
Anything is possible - maybe she was called Melancholy Baby because of her intended use?

B - 17 # 46950 1) " Alabama Girl" 2) " Melancholy" 3) " Melancholy Baby"
Mike