Paul Bellamy
1/24/2009 8:35:52 PM | Serial Number: 42-37835
Model: B-17G
Manufacturer: Douglas Aircraft, Long Beach, California
Production Block: B-17G-15-DL
Delivered by Manufacturer: 16 Sep 1943 at Long Beach
Squadron Code: SC-J (612th)
Nickname: Channel Express
Date Assigned to 401st BG: 5 Nov 1943
Date Arrived at Station 128: 19 Nov 1943 (one of the original 401st aircraft that landed at Deenethorpe)
Date Lost: 22 Dec 1943
Mission Lost: Osnabruck
Nature of Loss: Abandoned by Crew
Other Details:
While over the target "Channel Express" was struck by a bomb dropped from another group, causing considerable damage to the controls. The pilot, Lt Stuart E. Smith, managed to bring the aircraft back to Deenethorpe where the crew bailed out before heading it for Germany on automatic pilot. The plane in fact didn't go all that many miles from base, crashing near Washingley, Huntingdonshire (about TEN miles due east of the airfield).
Three photo's of the wreck being salvaged by AAF recovery crews, as she lay in a field near Peterborough, from the NARA files:
All the best,
Paul
Paul Bellamy
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