B-17 wreckage from an English village hedgerow

[RAMC181]

Even in the middle of an English country village that has been extensively redeveloped in the last few years, there are sleepy corners where wreckage from B-17G 42-39825 IN-M "Zenobia El Elephanta" can still be found.

'825 failed to lift off the runway during takeoff on a mission to Paris early on a Sunday morning in December 1943, and careered across a few fields before coming to rest against an empty cottage.
The crew managed to pull their wounded from the nose of the Fort, and ran around the village knocking on doors to warn the inhabitants. An hour or so later the fire that was consuming the airframe detonated the bombload, and destroyed or damaged every house in the village.
Despite the explosion being heard 15 miles away, the only fatalities were a calf and a number of chickens.

A period Gaumont News newsreel of the incident can be seen HERE.

I pulled these larger bits from an ivy-covered hedgebottom recently, I've included a CD for scale:



The thin strip on the right still bears it's Boeing part number...



...and this handwritten inscription:


If anyone can decipher either please let me know.

All the best,
PB

Last edited by RAMC181 on Sun May 16, 2010 1:24 pm, edited 1 time in total.

[K5DH]

Paul's quite knowledgeable about the B-17, but for the benefit of those who aren't. . . the corrugated metal sections in Paul's photos are from the wings. It was used beneath the outer skin, and is part of what made the wings so very sturdy. I dunno about the other piece, but probably also from the wings.

[Pat Carry]

Very interesting! You never know just what will turn up in the "attics" of the world.

Last edited by Pat Carry on Mon May 17, 2010 8:39 pm, edited 1 time in total.

[RAMC181]

I've just realised the photo of the part number isn't all that clear.

The printing reads:
4J2 W
15-7500-11

All the best,
PB

[Second Air Force]

The parts catalog is many miles away but I'll check that p/n when I get to Fort Worth next weekend.

This isn't the greatest photo but it's what I had loaded in Photobucket. The corrugated inner skin can be seen on the left upper portion of the photo. Also note the lap seam on the pieces Paul uncovered are also visible on the skin inside Chuckie's wing. The corrugated material is located between the fore and aft spars to create a "box" structure of sorts. The smooth outer skin rivets to the corrugated material.


S

[RAMC181]

Thanks Scott,

That photo of Chuckie's wing reminded me of another lump that I picked up a few yards from the first ones.

Looks very similar to the chunky "top-hat" section channel the corrugated panels attach to in your photo:



Just look at the sloppy paint finish on the inside!



Trace of the attachment bracket?



Boeing inspection stamp:



I wasn't expecting to see that, as '825 was a Block-1 Vega built B-17G.
The 401st had only flown two missions prior to her loss, indeed she was less than three months old, so I can't imagine how a Boeing-made channel ended up in a Vega B-17.

All the best,
PB

[JBoyle]

I wasn't expecting to see that, as '825 was a Block-1 Vega built B-17G.
The 401st had only flown two missions prior to her loss, indeed she was less than three months old, so I can't imagine how a Boeing-made channel ended up in a Vega B-17.

My guess would be that the same sub-assembly maker made the parts for all Fortresses regardless of who would do the final assembly.

As far as the other part, I'd guess the handwriting is L(eft) H(and) ...notice both are in caps...then something else I can't read...perhaps Drab.

[RareBear]

Here's a shot of the interior of the wing on Don Brooks' B-17 which is in Douglas, GA. This shows the corrugated under-skin very well.

Walt

[Pat]

IIRC, the "hat channel" in your picture was located inside the lower wing skin, just forward of the ailerons, running fore and aft (but they may have been used in other locations, too).

[390BG]

15-7500 is not a good Boeing drawing number (I don't believe). 15-7600 is the drawing for the wing/tail de-icing system.

[RAMC181]

As can be seen from the photo, it could be a 5 or a 6.
Running with it being 15-7600-11, and looking at the E&M Manual, I wonder if it's one of the deicer boot fairing strips.
With it having only one line of holes, that would make sense.

All the best,
PB

[Dave Smith]

Paul, I would say that is a 6. Compare it with the 5 in 75-, totally different shape. Your de-icer boot fairing sounds good!

[RAMC181]

(ahem).... err, well spotted Dave, I was wondering when someone would notice that.....

So, 15-7600-11 it is then.

I was handed this by the farmer today, from elsewhere on the airfield but he reckoned it "looked a bit like the right sort of stuff you pick up".





The only markings visible:



AC over ET in the circular inspection mark, and 1 1939 adjacent.

All the best,
PB

[RAMC181]

It's been suggested to me that the AC over ET stamp may be an Emerson inspection mark.
Any thoughts guys?

All the best,
PB

[SPANNERmkV]

Paul,
I was looking for an older post and came across this thread.

The boxier part marked AC/ET is for the air induction ducting from inside the wing.
I have seen those odd stacked washers inside TEXAS RAIDERS wing, and I still don't know what they are all about.

But that is certainly in keeping with the other wing re-inforcing corrugation and the de-icer bits.

GREAT FINDS!!!

It is just as well I don't live near there or I would be making a (Bigger) public nuisance of myself searching out warbird remains.

Cheers,

SPANNER