Hi Andy,
I think you have a photo of this loss:
27/08/43
327BS/92BG
B-17F-115-BO
42-30617
Target: Watten
Took off: Alconbury
Additional info
Bomber Command Mission 87.
“Boeing B17F Flying Fortress 42-30617 was assigned to the 92nd Bomb Group of the US Army’s 8th Air Force on August 21, 1943 and became UX-N of the 327th Bomb Squadron, based at Alconbury. Whether it acquired the name Miss Billie Jnr before or after it joined the unit is not known, as B-17s were often ‘christened’ before delivery.
Whatever the case, it was destined to be short lived. Only six days later, on August 27, 19 of the 92nd’s B-17s were sent on a mission to bomb a target at Watten, behind Calais, where there was a V1 launch site. This was the first 8th Air Force attack on such sites.In the event only 15 of the B-17s attacked the target, and the results were reported to be ‘poor’.
One of those which did reach the target was Miss Billie Jnr, piloted by Lt Winston J Tucker and carrying another nine crew. Unfortunately it was hit by flak over the target, and Tucker was obliged to ditch in the Channel on the return flight. All ten of the crew were picked up by the Air Sea Rescue service.
Exactly what happened to Miss Billie Jnr after that is not clear, but, as these photographs testity, the B-17 ended up aground at Sheerness, Kent, in the Thames Estuary. Although it appears to have survived its immersion in surprisingly good condition, it does not seem to have been resurrected, and may well have been the B-17 queried in Questions in the Air (June & November 1997 Aeroplane)”
(Source: Aeroplane April 1998)
Regards
Ross
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