B-17 'Little Davey II' (43-38568) Plaque
Details:
To the right of the entrance door that is facing the street.
A brass plaque, mounted on a wooden backboard, showing the badge of 493rd Bomb Group and badge of 8th USAAF plus etching of B-17 bomber, followed by the list of names of the crew members with their rank. The plaque is inscribed in English in incised lettering.
On 20 February 1945 at 0914 hours a B17 Flying Fortress "Little Davey II" (43-38568) piloted by 1st Lt Frederick Stindt of Grantwood New Jersey, took off from RAF Debach (Station 152) on its final mission. Carrying some 6 tons of bombs, its mission along with 16 other bombers from the 860th Bombardment Squadron was a strategic bombing of German oil refineries.
Shortly after take-off Number 3 engine on the starboard wing caught fire. Lt Stindt was unable to gain height and the whole wing was enveloped in fire. Lt Stindt was faced with a difficult problem and had to take quick action. With his Flying Fortress circling over Woodbridge he decided to ditch in the River Deben to avoid civilian casualties.
Meanwhile, Arthur Hunt and RAF Leading Aircraftsman Reeve from Shottisham were preparing to go fishing at Ramsholt quay. Hearing an approaching aircraft they looked up and they were ‘rooted to the spot’ as the B17 was making straight for them. The plane struck the water and immediately sank about 200 yards from the shore right in front of the Ramsholt Arms.
Lt Stindt was thrown clear of the aircraft and somehow managed to swim and wade ashore. The flight engineer Sergeant Haynes was also thrown out of the aircraft and was rescued by Arthur Hunt and LAC Reeve in their fishing boat as he was drifting fast downstream towards the sea. His flying gear was so heavy that he had to be towed to shore and brought into the Ramsholt Arms where David Ransby assisted the fishermen in reviving Sergeant Haynes before they were taken to Woodbridge Hospital. The remaining 8 members of the crew perished in the plane.
Source of information: www.warmemorialsonline.org.uk, Imperial War Museum War Memorials Register, Robin's Red Rambles Facebook page
Source of photos: Imperial War Museum War Memorials Register, geography.co.uk, Google Maps
Monument Text:
THIS PLAQUE IS DEDICATED TO THE
MEMORY OF
|
1ST LT. |
F. E. STINDT |
SURVIVED |
|
2ND LT. |
R. F. IRWIN |
KILLED |
|
2ND LT. |
A. I. JOHNSON |
KILLED |
|
S/SGT. |
P. HATALSKY |
KILLED |
|
T/SGT. |
J. K. HAYNES |
SURVIVED |
|
T/SGT. |
W. B. DEUSCH |
KILLED |
|
S/SGT. |
A. J. BARANIAK |
KILLED |
|
SGT. |
F. J. GODFREY |
KILLED |
|
S/SGT. |
L. L. DENISTON |
KILLED |
|
SGT. |
N. .W. RECK |
KILLED |
.
THE CREW OF B-17 43-38568 WHICH CRASHED
IN THIS ESTUARY ON 20TH FEBRUARY 1945
AFTER TAKING OFF FROM STATION 152
860 SQDR 493RD BG (H) USAAF DEBACH
DEDICATED ON MAY 20TH 1994
Commemorates:
People:
Units:
493rd Bomb Group (Heavy)
860th Bomber Squadron, 493rd Bomber Group
8th Air Force
US Army Air Corps
Wars:
WWII
Other images :
