B-29 Superfortress in Zeeland, Holland??

By: bazv - 11th December 2012 at 22:23 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00

Only what was on a US forum...

On 3 September 1948 a B-29, serial 44-62100, crashed in the Scheldt estuary off Flushing (Vlissingen), the Netherlands. Unit was 2nd BG, 20th BS, then based at Davis-Monthan AFB, AZ. The BG was detached to RAF Lakenheath, England during the Berlin blockade and on said date participated in a joint UK-US air defense exercise called Operation Dagger. The B-29 had a broken down engine (cylinder).
Ten men of the 11-men crew survived the crash, but the last one, Sgt Walter D. Roquet died later that day in an hospital. He's now buried in Iowa.
Commander of the plane was Lt. Harold Wilson, the pilot Lt Billiy E. Thornton (or Billie J.?). Aviationarchaeology and accident-report.com say the accident was 20 miles from Brussels, Belgium, but this is where the problems started.

rgds baz

By: iclo - 17th December 2012 at 08:20 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00

I know a bit this area as I sail during spring and summer not far Vlissigen.

It's sure that the stream and sandbank move very fast in this area and a spotting a plane after all these years could be very difficult.

It depends of where the plane came down in the Scheldt, but is the way in and out to Antwerpen harbour: so perhaps not the best place for divers, but it could be interessting to try to contact divers club in the area to see what they known about this plane.

Regards

By: ericmunk - 17th December 2012 at 09:06 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00

The area is also subject to decades of intensive dredging to keep the entry to Vlissingen and Antwerp harbours accessible. But I'm sure you would have thought of this.

By: iclo - 17th December 2012 at 09:39 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00

The area is also subject to decades of intensive dredging to keep the entry to Vlissingen and Antwerp harbours accessible. But I'm sure you would have thought of this.

Yes, all will depend of where this B-29 cames down : if it's one of the "water ways" (not sure of the correct word) , the plane is sure gone since a long time.

If it's in a remote location, there is a possibility the wreck survived.

By: ericmunk - 17th December 2012 at 10:31 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00

I would suggest that for the exact location the following paths coudl yield accurate and reliable information:
- The official accident report of the USAF. Maybe via the USAF Museum in Dayton OH?
- Any reports from the KNRM (Dutch rescue service) if involved.
- An enquiry with the MLM at Soesterberg for any possible Dutch reports KLu or MLD reports on the incident wouldn't hurt.
- Eyewitness accounts, locate them through an ad in the local papers or an appeal through organisations for the elderly in the area (ANBO, PCOB)

Papers are notoriously unreliable as a source of information. I know because I used to write them. ;-)

By: EHVB - 17th December 2012 at 11:55 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00

The aircraft is in a no diving zone, and 30 to 60 meters deep. Most probably burried under many meters of sand. I wrote an article on it, in 2001. it floated for a considerable time, so it was more or less in 1 part after the ditch. Some crew parachuted from it, but others stayed onboard. Chances of raising it, or even dive to it are nil.

By: ericmunk - 17th December 2012 at 13:11 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00

And just to show the 'reliable' information that is in papers:

http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&frm=1&source=web&cd=7&cad=rja&ved=0CGAQFjAG&url=http%3A%2F%2Fresources3.kb.nl%2F010850000%2Fpdf%2FDDD_010850656.pdf&ei=EBjPUPDaGeiZ0QWryIHgCA&usg=AFQjCNHEcuyhTwHCZtAdCRyIIabEe-Nu6A

tells of the aircraft flying around in the Lübeck (Germany) area without its crew after they supposedly jumped out over the Westerschelde off Borssele.

By: TonyT - 18th December 2012 at 20:51 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00

Unfortunately once abandoned an aircraft then take on a life of its own, take the Hawk abandoned heading out to sea in the south of England that then turned to the dismay of the pilot hanging on his chute and headed inland.. Or the abandoned Mig 23? on take off due to loss of power that then regained power flew all the way to Belgium and landed on a house killing the poor beggar in it.

By: bravo24 - 24th December 2012 at 16:43 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00

Tony T,
i recall the Hunter from Brawdy that was abandoned after being pointed out to sea, which then did a 180 only to fly up Tintagel high st. and crash against the corner of a building. The chap up a ladder some feet away was quite surprised but uninjured. This about 1980.

Happy landings

By: Anon - 12th January 2013 at 23:40 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00

B-29

You don't seem to be having much luck, piratepat. Perhaps you could look at police or military records for the area? That may yield some clues or further information about the wreck.

There are also researchers in the US who will provide information, if you can give them a serial number they are able to access records over there or may have extensive information of their own. Some of the "diggers" who look at this forum may be able to point you in that direction, perhaps?

Going back to Bravo24's post regarding the Tintagel Hunter, the pilot of the aircraft, Alick Nicholson, is alive and well and living in the Lake District. Here is the story of the events leading up to the crash:

http://www.tintagelweb.co.uk/Tintagel%20Plane%20Crash.htm

Makes interesting reading (sorry for the thread hijack, piratepat). Good Luck in your search, it will make a very interesting recovery, if you find it. B-29's are rather rare in Europe.

Anon.