Hudson
3rd Jun 2004, 12:46
Around 1943 a B17 Flying Fortress ditched a hundred yards off shore at Sheerness, Kent. The tail was just visible at high tide and at low tide you could see the complete aircraft which was not badly damaged. It was dragged on to the beach and the wings were cut off to facilitate transport.
I was present as a young lad to watch the cutting operations and got a fright when there was a large explosion and I saw someone being blown off the wing. It may have been cutting equipment igniting a fuel tank. I later nicked numerous "souvenirs" of bits and pieces which I hauled triumphantly home to my grannies house up the road at 65 Alma Rd. My evil grannie tripped over a jagged bit which I had thoughtfully left in the kitchen, and she went ape and I was forced to dispose of the rest of my treasure.
I never forgave her and got my sweet revenge by placing a toy rubber mouse under the sheets on her bed. Spectacular screams were heard and I was sent packing back to my home town of Tonbridge.
I recall seeing a brief article and photo of the scene (The B17 - not my grannie) in a magazine about 7 years ago.
Can anyone supply info on the B17 ditching, please - or where to locate info.
On a similar note, I was a witness (1940) to an Me 109 being shot down in flames at low level by a Spitfire over the village of Cranbrook in Kent. It crashed around 2 miles from Cranbrook. The Spitfire sat steadily 100 yards behind the 109 which appeared to be gliding wings level with the pilot possibly dead at the controls.
The Spitfire would fire short bursts from directly behind the unfortunate 109 with small bursts of flame emanating from the engine of the 109 each time the Spitfire fired.
Where could I find details of this encounter?
I was present as a young lad to watch the cutting operations and got a fright when there was a large explosion and I saw someone being blown off the wing. It may have been cutting equipment igniting a fuel tank. I later nicked numerous "souvenirs" of bits and pieces which I hauled triumphantly home to my grannies house up the road at 65 Alma Rd. My evil grannie tripped over a jagged bit which I had thoughtfully left in the kitchen, and she went ape and I was forced to dispose of the rest of my treasure.
I never forgave her and got my sweet revenge by placing a toy rubber mouse under the sheets on her bed. Spectacular screams were heard and I was sent packing back to my home town of Tonbridge.
I recall seeing a brief article and photo of the scene (The B17 - not my grannie) in a magazine about 7 years ago.
Can anyone supply info on the B17 ditching, please - or where to locate info.
On a similar note, I was a witness (1940) to an Me 109 being shot down in flames at low level by a Spitfire over the village of Cranbrook in Kent. It crashed around 2 miles from Cranbrook. The Spitfire sat steadily 100 yards behind the 109 which appeared to be gliding wings level with the pilot possibly dead at the controls.
The Spitfire would fire short bursts from directly behind the unfortunate 109 with small bursts of flame emanating from the engine of the 109 each time the Spitfire fired.
Where could I find details of this encounter?