_{ACCIDENTAL FORTRESS}

Upon return from the mission to bomb the panzer factory at Plauen, on  Monday, 26^th March 1945, the 3rd Air Division B17's found inclement weather over Suffolk. The 34^th Bomb Group leader instructed the squadron leaders to peel off the aircraft on top of the cloud layer and to make an instrument descent through the cloud. At approximately 18:02 an explosion was seen from the control tower at Mendlesham, closely followed by a second. Investigation revealed one aircraft to be B17G 43-38402, piloted by Lt Hugh H. McCutchan Jr. down at Shrubbery Farm, Cretingham, the other was identified as another B17 from the 452^nd BG based at Deopham Green. The latter crashed at Red House Farm, Framsden. All 18 men on board the 2 aircraft were killed.

This crash site was discovered accidentally whilst investigating the crash of a P51 also at Cretingham. Excavations revealed, a propeller boss and 2 blades, engine parts, an engine fire extinguisher, dinghy, escape kit, and cockpit and instrument parts.

Above left is detail from the life-raft dinghy, the date of manufacture is 17 August 1943, the day of the Schweinfurt & Regensburg missions which with 60 bombers lost was one of the Americans costliest days in men and machines. Centre is an army issue pocket knife. Right is water bottle containing purification tablets for use if shot down and evading capture. Below, some of the many fragments of the silk escape maps that were found.

The 452nd B17 at Framsden was excavated in 1976 by members of the 390^th Bomb Group Museum at Parham.