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B17 Crash with 11 Crew

#999595
880squadron
Participant

B17 Crash with 11 Crew

The B17 that crashed in my back garden, the “Eager Eagle” had a crew of 11 on board, flying at night. There were 10 American airmen and a British pilot teaching them how to fly at night. Sadly the British pilot was not very good, hitting a Beaufighter over Norwich. The two Beaufighter crew were killed straight away, two side gunners bailed out of the B17 and parachuted to safety, but the other 9, 8 American and 1 British, all died in my back garden. All I find now are brass 50 calibre casings, and lead bullets, and a bit of Perspex. All the rest has corroded.

Maybe there were 11 on board this one, and they were trying to teach 10 Americans how to fly at night.

I would like to put up a commemoration plaque on my wall in memory of the 9 who died. Anyone know any American USAF to contact at Mildenhall or Lakenheath who might be interested in providing the plaque?