Diverted American aircraft February 15th 1945

[Steve Smith]

Hi all,

Nothing needle in a hay-stack request.

Looking to identify a B17 based at Polebrook with a pilot 2nd Lt Drought (sic) that diverted to RAF Chedburgh on 15th February. Aircraft, group, pilot ID ? They landed at 17:15 hours.

On the same day 5 C47 landed, from Snetterton Heath, three becoming bogged down. Any ideas ?

TIA

Steve

[RSwank]

There was a Lt Donald B Drought in the 351st BG, 508th BS (based at Polebrook). On February 15 he flew plane 43-38694 on a mission to Dresden.

Nothing on this page about diverting, but they may not have all the mission details listed. It looks like they only record missing/lost aircraft. There may be something else on their website, it is quite extensive.

http://www.351st.org/ken.harbour/missdetail11.HTML

[Alex Smart]

Hello Steve ,
From "Mighty Eighth War Diary"
Looks like there was very bad weather on that day.

1st Air Division targets were -
Dresden - 224 a/c - 210 effective
Lingen - 1 a/c effective
Ems-Weser-Canal - 1 a/c effective.
4 a/c CatE
8 Damaged
7 Kia
8 Wia.

43-38694 - 351
511 - DS-C - Bigas Bird
510 - TU-D
Was later returned to King man in Dec 45.
So expect the C-47's were also effected by the weather.