B-17 Buff
January 29, 2010 at 11:00 pm

B-17G Skipper and the kids – Isle of Arran crash 10/12/44

Hi guys,

I wonder if anyone can help me with any further information on this aircraft, slightly annoyed with myself tonight as I have misplaced info I had on it including a full crew name listing and aircraft serial number. The aircraft B-17G ‘Skipper and the kids’ was, or so I always thought, on a christmas booze run flying back to base after picking up its cargo of grog (with 11 crew on board I believe) when it crashed in bad weather on the isle of Arran on December 10th 1944 sadly killing all on board. A website I have found recently holds a different story though: http://www.aircrashsites-scotland.co.uk/b-17g_arran.htm

This means a lot to me as I have various parts recovered from the crash site including some skin showing flak damage repair and paintwork and parts of the dingy with instructions for use. I have always thought of donating what I have to a museum for the memory of the crew but haven’t managed to as of yet. I would love to know if anyone has more info or even pictures of the aircraft and would greatly appreciate anything at all.

I have been meaning to post on this aircraft for some time and have never got round to it, I guess losing the info (stupidly and unlike me to do so normally) has been a good opportunity to do so.

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By: B-17 Buff - 31st March 2025 at 13:02

Thanks Moggy, thats a great start and re-affirms the booze story, I think I recall the fictional story now you come to mention it! Never clicked before now..:rolleyes: I wonder if any pictures exist(ed) of the aircraft? Yes, Rougham is a great idea.:)

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By: Moggy C - 31st March 2025 at 13:02

One from my old base at Knettishall

s/n 42-97286
388th BG
561th BS
Carrying “H in a square”
Crashed into Beinn Nuis Dec 10, 1944 enroute from Knettishall to Prestwick. MACR 11339.
All occupants (11 POB) killed, wreck not found until Mar 3, 1945.
Alleged cross-country navigation flight but the real purpose is believed to been the collection of some whisky for the Officers Mess

Pilot, Captain John Littlejohn, aged 22, from Savannah, GA;
Passenger, “Jimmy” Brown, aged 24, from Rhinelander, WI;
Pilot, 2nd Lt Jack Merkley, aged 24, from Blackfoot, ID;
Co-pilot, 2nd Lt Bobby Stoaks, aged 18, from Hollywood, CA;
Navigator, 2nd Lt William Frey, aged 23, from Oak Hill IL;
Bombardier, 2nd Lt Leonard Bond, aged 23, from St Johns, MI;
Radio Operator, Cpl Albert Thomas, aged 28, from Findlay, OH;
Passenger, Major “Doc” Bell, aged 39, from Cannonsburg, PA;
Navigator, 1st Lt. Rosebasky, aged 23, from Great Falls, MT;
Engineer, Cpl. Joe Payne, aged 20, from Monroe, MI;
Radio Operator, S/Sgt. Wade Kriner, aged 20, from Du Bois, PA.

I think this might have been the real life basis of a fictional incident in one of the David Fiddimore “Charlies War” series of books

If you do want to donate it to a musem the Rougham Tower is the obvious one, being slightly closer to Knettishall than Thorpe Abbots

Moggy

John L Littlejohn Jr