Field Trip to Dungeness
The plaque reads:
This is one of four Wright/Cyclone engines and propeller from a WWII B17 Flying Fortress bomber (the same aircraft as the Memphis Belle). The artefact was accidentally snagged off Dungeness on the 18th of September 2017 by Joe Thomas and Tom Redshaw (local fishermen). The engine is almost certainly from a well documented B17 Flying Fortress that ditched off Dungeness in 1944.
The Sleepytime Girl was on a daytime bombing raid on an aircraft factory over Oberpfaffenhofen in Germany. The aircraft suffered heavy flak damage over Germany and all four engines stalled. The crew dived the B17 to 5,000 feet and managed to restart the damaged engines. The crew then had a vote and opted to strike back towards the safety of Britain, rather than trying to make it back to Switzerland, which was closer.
At 5,000 feet the B17 was a sitting duck was was repeatedly attacked over France, where two German ME-109s further damaged the aircraft, knocking out three of the four engines. Amazingly the remaining crew managed to limp the aircraft back over the Channel on a single engine, where they ditched it off Dungeness. Only four of the original crew of ten were left alive and were rescued by an Air Sea Rescue Walrus (an amphibious biplane). The co-pilot, William Nesen, received a posthumous Purple Heart.
It’s difficult to imagine how these incredibly brave men in their teens and early twenties could submit themselves to a virtual death sentence on a daily basis. Please take a few moments t reflect on the extraordinary sacrifices that were made for us, in order to free occupied and oppressed peoples and to ensure our own freedom and way of life.
Posted: September 26th, 2024 under personal.
Comments: 4
Comments
Comment from Uncle Al
Time: September 26, 2024, 6:57 pm
It’s difficult to imagine how these incredibly brave men in their teens and early twenties could submit themselves to a virtual death sentence on a daily basis. Please take a few moments to reflect on the extraordinary sacrifices that were made for us, in order to free occupied and oppressed peoples and to ensure our own freedom and way of life.
Indeed. This has been part of my entire life: my father was a WWII submariner. RIP
p.s. edit: He survived the war and lived a fine life, was a fine father, and passed away in 2012, age 96.
p.p.s. He was a sub-muh-REEN-er, not a sub-MARE-inner. (-:
Comment from Durnedyankee
Time: September 26, 2024, 10:19 pm
Had the honor to attend a Silver Star recipients ceremony 10 years or so ago.
The things these men did to earn those stars, both posthumously, and those who lived to receive them were astounding.
And for all those who got them there were probably untold others who were never recognized.
A toast to all of them, recognized, or not.
Comment from Veeshir
Time: September 27, 2024, 6:42 am
My stepfather was a radioman. He was on his way to Britain to fly B-17s when he got diverted to Burma.
I probably never would have met him if he hadn’t.
He still looked scared about it when he told me about it in the 70s or 80s.
Comment from Rich Rostrom
Time: September 27, 2024, 9:57 pm
My father flew 30 missions as a bombardier with the Eighth Air Force – two to Berlin. I am very proud of him. The required turn of duty was 25 missions. He volunteered for those extra 5.
He told me once that the Air Force didn’t know what to do with airmen who completed the 25 missions, because they weren’t supposed to be alive.
The Collings Foundation “Wings of Freedom” had a B-17 restored to flying condition. Dad and I got to tour the plane (though not ride in it). He showed me his position in the glass nose. I’ve tried to imagine what it was like, looking straight down from 25,000 feet with 88mm flak bursting all around. I can’t.
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