Spare a thought...

[Micawber]

...for the Cornard crew who all perished when their 453rd BG H B-24 failed to make altitude after take-off from Old Buckenham 75 years ago today. The aircraft hit cottages just a few fields away from my place. RIP lads.

"Flying Control Office
AAF Station 144
APO 558
26 November 1944

At 0832 hours on 26 November 1944, B-24 J No. 42-51503 made a normal take-off on ann operational mission. At 0835 hours an explosion was seen approximately six to eight miles ssw of the field. 2nd Bombardment Division Flying Control was informed. At 0910 hours Fersfield Flying Control informed us that a B-24 had crashed near Groves Farm, Banham, and requested that we send fire trucks and ambulances, as they were unable to cope with the situation. A doctor, ambulance, and two crash trucks were immediately dispatched to the scene of the accident. At 1045 hours it was ascertained that the crashed aircraft was B-24 no. 42-515303 belonging to the 453rd Bombardment Group.

All members of the crew were killed in the accident.
The aircraft is non-repairable
There was a certified flying control officer on duty at the time of the accident.

Lewis S. Hauger
1st Lt. A.C.
Duty FCO"

 

[Smithy]

Tragic Steve and a timely reminder to just remember.

 

[Edward]

the missions were risky but so was just trying to get off the ground.... or come in for a landing... many perished trying to get into group formations. so much could go wrong before you even got started. dangerous work all the way around.

 

[Micawber]

The immediate area around here is littered with crash locations, random examples include a Lanc that went down about a 1/4 mile away in one direction, another about 3 miles away, a couple of B-17's collided over a neighbouring village ...I could go on.

Puts it all into perspective.

 

[Micawber]

A dull, wet morning. I swung by the B-24 crash site on the way home which is mere seconds flight time from our property....

That is the field that can be seen scattered with wreckage in the period photo above. The damaged cottages are immediately behind where I am standing.

 

[Lord Flashheart]

Good post Steve, if people forget this brief period of our history I do feel we may find ourselves repeating it. I know this patch quite well as it's not that far from me but I don't know this site. I should go and pay my respects if you can point me in the right direction? Dangerous work indeed.

 

[Grant]

Thanks for posting this. Tonight I'll raise a glass to the Crow's Nest crew.

 

[Micawber]

Thanks for posting this. Tonight I'll raise a glass to the Crow's Nest crew.

Grant just to clarify, while that is the crew who met their demise the actual aircraft involved did not have a nickname. Apologies for the confusion. So to be accurate raise a glass to the Cornard crew. Further investigation reveals there were actually 12 men onboard and killed that morning. Talking to the landowner he had heard that there was a dog on the a/c too.

Crows Nest saw out the end of the war and returned to to the U.S.

 

[Grant]

Steve, thanks for clarifying. Raising a class of nice California red tonight to the Conrad crew, as well as the pup.

 

[Micawber]

Another year but this one is the 80th anniversary of the crash of Crows Nest, a Pathfinder B-24 of the 453rd BG H three minutes after take off from Old Buckeham on November 26th 1944 resulting in the loss of all twelve men onboard. The incident happened a short distance from my home.

This year a small group of us have installed a plaque marking the site of the incident and accompanied the nephew of one of the crew who came over from the States to pay his respects today.

Lest we forget.