CAF Colonels from the UK wing were joined by CAF Col David Barrera from the CAF Central Texas Wing- "Thats All Brother" crew.- to embark upon oa journey around numerous sites in UK connected with the 1944 crash and loss of the crews from B17 "Stingy" and two other unnamed B17's when they collided above south Northamptonshire during a training flight in WW2.
First stop along our Journey of discovery was to meet with Eye Witness, Mr Roma Adams, and hear the first hand account of what he saw at the crash site in 1944 as a small boy witnessing the aftermath of the disaster.
During the lead up to remembrance weekend, CAF Colonels made a pilgrimage around various sites in the UK, to remember the crew of just one B17 lost in WW2 above the skies of England. Among the thousands of brave men and women who lost their lives in that conflict, we can highlight the story of these few brave men among thousands more heroic actions of that conflict.
At the start of the week we visited the crash site in rural Northamptonshire of the B17 “Stingy”. We heard first hand accounts from Mr Roma Adams- (Then a small boy) who witnessed the aftermath of the B17 crash. Mr Adams devoted his time over the 75 years to establish a memorial at the site and along with the Sywell Aviation Museum was a key member of the team of archaeologists and historians participating in the location and subsequent retrieval of artefacts from B17 “Stingy” and tell their story for future generations .
For further information about the B17 “Stingy” and the WW2 crash at this site, please refer to Sywell Aviation Museum at: http://www.sywellaviationmuseum.org.uk/.../the-blakesley.../
And the CAF UK Wing page at:- https://commemorativeairforce.org.uk/woodend-b17
More details about Stingy and the crews can be found at the AAMB sites at:-http://www.americanairmuseum.com/aircraft/5110
Mr Adams had told us about the artefacts that had been found during the excavation, including the Pilots silver bracelet (Which was returned to the pilots family descendants) as well as the original Navigators map which was found at the crash site, clearly showing the intended route across Northamptonshire and back to their home base in East Anglia. An extremely poignant artefacts which shows the last markings of route progression until the accident over Northants- a very human reminder of the crew and this tragic moment in time when the B17’s collided in mid air. With the great assistance of the volunteer team at Sywell we were able to inspect the artefacts and build a better picture of the scene and sacrifice that day in 1944.
Our next stop on the tour to find out more about the crew of “Stingy” was at the Immaculate ABMC American Cemetery at Cambridge. With the fantastic help of Superintendent Browns team we were able to find the final resting place grave markers for two of the “Stingy” crew- Harrison and Worthington. The rest of the crew members having been repatriated to the USA for burials in the home country. An extremely humbling experience to stand at the feet of heroes who paid with their lives for our freedoms, and perished in the rural fields above Northamptonshire in a training accident in October 1944. We said a few words and spent a moment to reflect at the grave sides of these two American servicemen. We then participated in the official wreath laying and memorial service for veterans day, hosted by the ABMC and led by the 501st Combat Support Wing USAF.
Next stop was the Imperial War Museum at Duxford, where with the great help of Emily Charles- Curator of the American Air Museum In Britain, and her great staff we were able to see up close the B17 on exhibit in the Museum, as well as take a look at Europe’s only operational B17, “Sally B” based at Duxford.
We Thank the numerous organisations, veterans, historians and volunteers who have painstakingly researched, documented and preserved the story for future generations. Amongst these many organisations and volunteers we must call out special thanks to:- Mr Roma Adams and the team at Sywell Aviation Museum Northamptonshire, Imperial War Museum Duxford and the great staff at the American Air Museum In Britain, Ben Brown & Rodger Clews and the team of Volunteers at Sywell, (Special thanks for opening up your museum especially for us). American Battle Monument Commission, and Superintendent Matthew Brown Madingley American Cemetery, The 501st Combat Support Wing USAF. Col Lisa Wildman USAF 501st Combat Support Wing, Mr Chris Parkhouse Her Majesty’s deputy Lieutenant of Cambridgeshire for our participation in the 2021 Veterans day observances at Cambridge American cemetery. The HQ staff of the CAF in Dallas Texas for their support and presentation of Silver Dog tag to ABMC Cemetery, and of course to CAF Col David Barrera for making the long trip from Texas to participate in the memorial pilgrimage and share the story for the Crew of B17 “Stingy”.- We Will Remember them.
B-17 FLYING FORTRESS
Delivered Cheyenne 12/9/43; Assigned 338BS/96BG [BX-W] Snetterton 29/9/43; while on a training mission damaged in mid air coll with 43-37684 (96BG) 11/10/44, with Nick Jorgenson, Co-pilot: Dave Fritsch, Navigator: Ralph Harrison, Bombardier: Tom Hooper..B17 “Stingy”
Buried at Cambridge:-
Technical Sergeant Paul A Worthington 96th Bomb Group
KIA Mid-Air collison with 4203150 and 43-37684 crashed west of Towcester, Eng. on 11 Oct 44.
Second Lieutenant Ralph W Harrison
Killed in Action (KIA) Mid-Air collison with 4203150 and 43-37684 crashed west of Towcester, Eng