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Old 21st April 2018, 04:29
kaki3152 kaki3152 is offline
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Downed B-17F Brest

Interesting photo taken from a member of Marine Flak Abteilung 840 based in Brest. It shows a downed B-17F lying in shallow water with German sailors/servicemen . Nice picture. Anyone identify?

https://www.ebay.de/itm/Orig-Foto-RA...oAAOSwuWha2EPQ
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Old 21st April 2018, 19:20
kaki3152 kaki3152 is offline
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Re: Downed B-17F Brest

Here's the picture

Last edited by kaki3152; 2nd August 2018 at 18:37.
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Old 22nd April 2018, 00:26
Alex Smart Alex Smart is offline
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Re: Downed B-17F Brest

Hello,
If I read the details correctly the Soldier(?) was stationed in the area from 1942 onwards. So this a/c could have come down there at any time from 1942 ?
It also suggests that it is an RAF B17 rather than an American one.
So could it be that this soldier was detached to Norway as a couple of early B17's in RAF service did go down there. Otherwise it would if American, be one needle in a haystack ?

You may wish to look in this site -

http://accident-report.com

It has the following for 1942.
November
9th - 3 - St. Nazaire Harbour.
18th - 1 - Bay of Biscay.
18th - 1 - Brest at sea.
23rd - 2 - St. Nazaire.
December
20th - 1 - Dieppe, in Channel.
30th - 1 - Lorient, in water.
30th - 1 - Lorient.

Alex
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Old 22nd April 2018, 15:44
kaki3152 kaki3152 is offline
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Re: Downed B-17F Brest

Alex, it's USAAF for sure, based on the paint scheme. I'll do some digging through my sources to see if I can come up with some possible planes.
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Old 22nd April 2018, 16:39
kaki3152 kaki3152 is offline
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Re: Downed B-17F Brest

OK, I believe I have a good candidate for this photo.

On November 9,1942, the 306BG lost three B-17s while attacking St.Nazaire
One of these B-17s was flown by Lt. Loyal M. Felts O-366259.
On the way to the target Lt. Barnett and Lt. Felt's planes were lost. Both planes were seen to crash in the harbor,just past the target itself.
Lt. Felt's plane had the nose blown off down before the target. If you can look at the picture, the nose is indeed blown off. He was flying B-17F 41-24491 and while there were three chutes seen, actually 4 survivors.
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Old 22nd April 2018, 16:40
RSwank RSwank is offline
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Re: Downed B-17F Brest

There is 42-5422, flown by Edwin Pipp, 306th BG which the fortlog says ditched in "Brest Harbor" on 1 May 1943.

http://www.91stbombardmentgroup.com/...ID/FORTLOG.pdf

However, when you read through the full MACR, it appears it went down "in the water off Brest", and another statement says "in the Atlantic ocean about five miles off the coast of Brest, France" so it seems doubtful this is the plane. The plane was hit by flack over Brest.

(Note: on the fortlog link given, you can search for "Brest" to find some other planes).
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Old 22nd April 2018, 16:47
Alex Smart Alex Smart is offline
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Re: Downed B-17F Brest

Hello,

The 18th November a/c was -
41-24474, "Floozy" , of the 306BG/367 BS.
MACR 16448.
Hit by flak which damaged no.3 engine was hit again by flak and then also attacked by Fw190's forcing the a/c to ditch about two miles off Ile d'Oussant, on the tip of the Brest Peninsula. The a/c floated long enough to allow the crew to extricate an injured man. Another crewman had previously bailed out over the sea and was lost, 1 KIA 9 POW.
Details from " Losses of the US 8th & 9 Air Forces " vol 1.

So it looks like it's 41-24491, well found.
Same vol book has the following though.
306BG/423BS.
MACR 6012:- T/O Thurleigh, assigned target U/B at St. Nazaire, France. Hit by flak on bomb run knocking out the number three engine and possibly killing the pilot. A/c then turned over and went into a dive, crashing about five miles North-West of St. Nazaire. 6 KIA, 3 POW, 1 EVD.
Barnett's a/c was 41-24509 " Miss Swoose " also 306BG/423BS.
MACR 16010, this a/c was also hit by flak in number 3 engine which caused an uncontrollable fire. The crew were forced to bail out. The a/c crashed into the sea. 6 KIA, 4 POW.

The third was 41-24486 " Man O'War " , 306BG/367BS, MACR 16172, Down in Atlantic, approx 10 miles off St. Nazaire. All 11 crew KIA.
Alex
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Old 22nd April 2018, 19:04
kaki3152 kaki3152 is offline
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Re: Downed B-17F Brest

Interesting summary of the Nov 9,1942 mission
http://www.8thafhs.com/get_one_mission.php?mission_id=4
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Old 22nd April 2018, 20:16
kaki3152 kaki3152 is offline
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Re: Downed B-17F Brest

Link to Nov 9,1942 306BG Mission report

http://www.306bg.us/MISSION_REPORTS/9nov42.pdf
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