My second site on Cadair Bronwen was to the find the last resting place
of B-17E 41-9098 of the 340th bomb Sqn , 97th bomb group flying from RAF
Polebrook Northhamptonshire on the 11th of August 1942 , the flight
was in preparation of the first US bombing mission to Rouen six day
later on this day sadly the crew encountered the weather that masks
these mountains so often flying low to try to remain in contact with
the ground the plane was heard by R.O.C who knew the plane
was too low lighting Flares as part of 'Granite ' drill to help
tragically the bomber hit the slopes of Cadair Bronwen shortly after
bursting into flames with the loss of all 11 crew .
At the site today much has been hidden by nature the bare earth patch shown a few years back on sites such as www.peakdistrictaircrashes.co.uk
, has been covered in rough grass so much i didn't even know i was on
the site untill i walked past and could see the disturbance but after a
look at the scrapes made by the local sheep i found numerous items but
by far the best were the blown .50 41 stamped case and the
[unbelievably] complete fuse and holder .
Sadly many local US losses
have warranted a memorial this site like 42-5791 “Ruthless” near Cwm
Mountain have yet to be marked with a fitting reminder
Lost on
2nd Lt Henry L. Gilbert Pilot
2nd Lt Robert Earl Beers
2nd Lt Lawrence G. Schmitt
2nd Lt Leonard Holm Phillips
Ms Sgt Stanislas Lepa,
St Sgt Robert A. Kemp
Sgt Kenneth H. Branum,
Sgt Wallace V. Sidders
Corp Marvin A. Koepke [Passenger.]
Corp Stanley G. Aldridge [Passenger.]
Private Fidel A. Villarreal, [Passenger.]
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