I can’t remember where I found the link or if it’s been posted before. I believe the crew escaped and the damage is due to glacial action. Oh for helicopter and a big slung net. And relaxed gun laws.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/mikebull/sets/72157594303862783/show/
(third page across)
The story is here, a very lucky escape. http://www.explorer.is/gogn/winter-05.pdf
And more story. The Browning ‘unwrapping’ is particularly special: http://g503.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=139152
By: Arabella-Cox - 13th January 2014 at 17:05
You’d better take a big bag then, B-17man:D
Anon.
By: B-17man - 13th January 2014 at 12:54
Count me in for a salvage trip
By: Arabella-Cox - 12th January 2014 at 23:50
I seem to recall stories of similar wrecks of B-17’s being spewed out of glaciers in Switzerland or Austria from time to time, the remains of aircraft off course or lost when on bombing raids. They were usually picked over then unceremoniously scrapped afterwards.
There must be a few Lancs, Whitleys, Stirlings or even Hampdens entombed in the ice high up in the Alpine peaks, along with their crews, still.
Just do it Ian – but you’ve got to learn to pronounce Eyjafjalljokul fluently before you go:eek:
Anon.
By: ian_ - 12th January 2014 at 20:04
Cheers Anon, looked into it already! Check the second link, all the crew walked away safely. The damage is due to the glacier. You would though, wouldn’t you…
By: Arabella-Cox - 12th January 2014 at 19:54
I’m surprised ian_ and Rocketeer aren’t packing their bags right now (or maybe they are?!) to go to the wreck site and salvage the control columns and wheels:)
Some nice stuff there for sure. It would make for a very interesting day’s rummaging. Does anyone know the i/d of the aircraft? It looks like it has piled in to the hill but then again, with sufficient snow fall and a last-second pull-up it’s possible the crew survived and got away with it. It may then have been chopped up or blown up by the USAF afterwards.
I’d think that most of the WW2 UK high ground crash sites looked just like that at the end of the war. They just left everything where it was with few exceptions when almost every bit was recovered and/or buried.
Fascinating. It’s a big part of what makes this Forum so interesting – pictures like this being posted.
Anon.
By: Peter - 12th January 2014 at 15:38
Wow those photos and the condition of the wreck are amazing! Some interesting find’s for sure..
By: ian_ - 12th January 2014 at 10:43
Are there any Whitleys lost at glacier height? I wonder what the rations tasted like? Didn’t look promising!
By: Whitley_Project - 12th January 2014 at 10:37
Awesome pics Ian – amazing presevation too. Makes you wonder what else is waiting to be spat out of a glacier.
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January 11, 2014 at 11:38 pm