B17 crash site find identification.

B-17G 44-8639 was assigned to the 305thBG at Chelveston 10/2/45 transferred to the 351BG Polebrook 23/5/45,crashed Barmouth salvaged 8/6/45 from Craif Cwm Llydd mountain. Pilot was 1/Lt Joseph C. Robinson of the 509th Bomb Squadron.

B-17G 44-8639 was assigned to the 305thBG at Chelveston 10/2/45 transferred to the 351BG Polebrook 23/5/45,crashed Barmouth salvaged 8/6/45 from Craif Cwm Llydd mountain. Pilot was 1/Lt Joseph C. Robinson of the 509th Bomb Squadron.

Thanks Alan, much to look at there!

Thanks Alan, much to look at there!

I’ve come across photos of a couple of the crew / passengers online.

There is a photo of John D. Leasure on the 351st BG website, which kind of confirms it is one of the same.

On the Boston College Veterans Memorial site there’s a photo of Edwin R. Birtwell, and that site states he died in Wales.

There is a photo of a Max Marksheid on another site which lists personnel on a training course for pilots, though it could have been elementary flying training and he maybe failed the course so was re-mustered as a radio operator (that happened to my grand-dad so it did happen).

And finally on Ancestry there is a photo of a Boyd P. Dobbs in what appears to be a USAAF uniform, so it is probably the same person.

You’ll find them if you run an image search for the full names.

I’ve come across photos of a couple of the crew / passengers online.

There is a photo of John D. Leasure on the 351st BG website, which kind of confirms it is one of the same.

On the Boston College Veterans Memorial site there’s a photo of Edwin R. Birtwell, and that site states he died in Wales.

There is a photo of a Max Marksheid on another site which lists personnel on a training course for pilots, though it could have been elementary flying training and he maybe failed the course so was re-mustered as a radio operator (that happened to my grand-dad so it did happen).

And finally on Ancestry there is a photo of a Boyd P. Dobbs in what appears to be a USAAF uniform, so it is probably the same person.

You’ll find them if you run an image search for the full names.

The piece in the third pic could be a tank strap

See my post #10.

or maybe even the attachment bracket for an aircrewmans shoulder straps to a bulkhead or similar strongpoint.
Anon.

It’s deffo not the latter.

I Like your mic call though and if it’s not that then it’s a headset jack plug.

The piece in the third pic could be a tank strap

See my post #10.

or maybe even the attachment bracket for an aircrewmans shoulder straps to a bulkhead or similar strongpoint.
Anon.

It’s deffo not the latter.

I Like your mic call though and if it’s not that then it’s a headset jack plug.

Thanks for that. I can imagine that information, especially in written form can often be taken as “gospel” by researchers and as you say the error can be purpetuated over and over again.

Time to change all the little labels I have on the pieces of wreckage from 44-8639!

Do you know if there are any pictures online of the aircraft or crew?

Thanks for that. I can imagine that information, especially in written form can often be taken as “gospel” by researchers and as you say the error can be purpetuated over and over again.

Time to change all the little labels I have on the pieces of wreckage from 44-8639!

Do you know if there are any pictures online of the aircraft or crew?

Should also have mentioned that 44-6005 was written off as the result of a fire while on the ground at Chelveston on the 11th August 1944.

Should also have mentioned that 44-6005 was written off as the result of a fire while on the ground at Chelveston on the 11th August 1944.

The accident report is where the correct serial came from.

We didn’t publish 6005, neither did Dave Smith in HGWs or Edward Doylerush in No Landing Place Vol.2 (though he did mention the incorrect serial as a note, saying it was incorrect), the spurious serial was published in the appendix of Legend of Llandwrog and No Landing Place Vol.1, and Terence Hill published it in Down in Wales, as did Dave Earl in Hell on High Ground. Those books were all published within a couple of years of each other and it was shortly after that the correct serial was found. Unfortunately once someone publishes an incorrect serial (or other information for that matter) it is very hard to correct the mistake as it can be re-published numerous times and be accepted as true, then you have an up hill battle.

The accident report is where the correct serial came from.

We didn’t publish 6005, neither did Dave Smith in HGWs or Edward Doylerush in No Landing Place Vol.2 (though he did mention the incorrect serial as a note, saying it was incorrect), the spurious serial was published in the appendix of Legend of Llandwrog and No Landing Place Vol.1, and Terence Hill published it in Down in Wales, as did Dave Earl in Hell on High Ground. Those books were all published within a couple of years of each other and it was shortly after that the correct serial was found. Unfortunately once someone publishes an incorrect serial (or other information for that matter) it is very hard to correct the mistake as it can be re-published numerous times and be accepted as true, then you have an up hill battle.

Whoops. I should have put 44-6005- my mistake, sorry! All the books I have read have had it down as 44-6005, Where has 44-8639 come from?

I think we have a match on the hook. Well done evryone who said it was from the bomb bay!
http://www.zazzle.co.uk/b_17_bomb_bay_poster-228911077126081950

Whoops. I should have put 44-6005- my mistake, sorry! All the books I have read have had it down as 44-6005, Where has 44-8639 come from?

I think we have a match on the hook. Well done evryone who said it was from the bomb bay!
http://www.zazzle.co.uk/b_17_bomb_bay_poster-228911077126081950

Just looked at my photo of part of the bomb assembly from 43-37667 I took about 12 years ago, the hooks are identical, though on that a/c they did not have the anti-slip catches (though there are the remains of something on some of the hooks which could be rusted off catches). However the design of the hooks is the same, even the bolt through the lower section.

p.s. you’ll never be found with 44-5005, the a/c which crashed near Barmouth was 44-8639.

Just looked at my photo of part of the bomb assembly from 43-37667 I took about 12 years ago, the hooks are identical, though on that a/c they did not have the anti-slip catches (though there are the remains of something on some of the hooks which could be rusted off catches). However the design of the hooks is the same, even the bolt through the lower section.

p.s. you’ll never be found with 44-5005, the a/c which crashed near Barmouth was 44-8639.

Pic. 4 shows a microphone jack plug, which would have been fitted on the end of the lead and plugged into the aircraft panel somewhere.

Anon.

I withdraw my earlier comment, I now see the pointy end is a bit different to the thingie I have sat here. Mine has the kind of pointy bit that you ABSOLUTELY DO NOT want to poke.. altho it’s inert now… but leads to me think that shenanigans with what I have & one of those jackplugs could be used for nefarious purposes. Possible use for militant music criticism etc..

Pic. 4 shows a microphone jack plug, which would have been fitted on the end of the lead and plugged into the aircraft panel somewhere.

Anon.

I withdraw my earlier comment, I now see the pointy end is a bit different to the thingie I have sat here. Mine has the kind of pointy bit that you ABSOLUTELY DO NOT want to poke.. altho it’s inert now… but leads to me think that shenanigans with what I have & one of those jackplugs could be used for nefarious purposes. Possible use for militant music criticism etc..