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Boeing B-17G Flying Fortress (42-31559 AW-J) ditched in the sea off Millendreath in Cornwall on 20 March 1944.

Type

Boeing B-17G Flying Fortress

History

Boeing B-17G Flying Fortress (42-31559 AW-J) of the 96th Bomb Group, 337th Bomb Squadron based at Snetterton Heath, Norfolk, had completed a bombing mission to Frankfurt, Germany, and was on her way home.  The aircraft was seen flying over the countryside east of Looe, she was badly damaged and off course.  Unable to proceed any further, the American pilot, Lt. Robert Dennisen, ordered the crew to bale out while he was over land then he flew the plane south and out to sea.  Once clear of land Dennisen baled out himself and let the plane fly on, but reports suggest that it turned around and flew north, finally crashing into the sea about half a mile offshore between Millandreath and Downderry in about 10m depth of water.

The pilot was seen baling out and fortunately the weather was good with calm seas.  A small boat was launched by RAF Sergeant Love and civilians Mrs Pearce and Mrs Durrant.  Sergeant Love and Mrs Pearce then set out in the boat, it was leaking badly, and Mrs Pearce had to bale out the water with her shoe.  After twenty minutes they reached pilot Dennisen who was much distressed, they hauled him aboard and he lost consciousness.  Sergeant Love and Mrs Pearce brought him ashore and handed the pilot over to the care of the RAF, and he soon recovered.  Of the ten men on the aircraft, two were seriously injured in the incident.

Local sports divers found the aircraft crash site in the 1970s and brought up several parts of the aircraft.  Then in Autumn 2004 three divers (Dick Berrie and his sons Thomas and Sam) found two propellers and two engines near some rocks at Millendreath Beach which were later lifted off the rocks at low tide with the cooperation of some local people. Some of the recovered aircraft parts can be seen in Looe Museum.

Location

Millendreath Beach, Cornwall

Please note that all aircraft in UK waters that have crashed during military service are protected under the Protection of Military Remains Act 1986.

Last updated 30 Apr 2022

Position GPS: Unknown

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