1944-12-10|B-17G|42-97286|388th BG, USAAF|Beinn Nuis, Isle of Arran

B-17G 42-97286 of the 560th Bombardment Sqn, 388th Bombardment Group flew into Beinn Nuis on the Isle of Arran on the 10th December 1944

John N. Littlejohn	Captain	Pilot	Killed
Robert N. Stoaks	2nd Lieutenant	Co-pilot	Killed
William J. Frey	2nd Lieutenant	Navigator	Killed
Richard W. Rosebasky	1st Lieutenant	Navigator	Killed
Leonard W. Bond	2nd Lieutenant	Bomb Aimer	Killed
Joseph A. Payne	Corporal	Engineer	Killed
Albert E. Thomas	Corporal	Radio Operator	Killed
James R. Bell	Major	Passenger	Killed
Jack D. Merkley	2nd Lieutenant	Passenger	Killed
Charles S. Brown	Master Sergeant	Passenger	Killed
Wade D. Kriner	Staff Sergeant	Passenger	Killed

In the crash report there are three versions of the crew list which contradict each other so the above may not be entirely correct.

The crew of the aircraft were on a cross country navigation from Knettishall in Suffolk to Prestwick on the Ayrshire coast. At the time the weather in that area of Scotland was low cloud, between 1,500 and 2,000 feet, with light rains & snow with a moderate easterly breeze.

Crash site of B-17G 42-97286 on Beinn Nuis, Isle of Arran — This photograph is looking up the narrow gully which the aircraft flew into just below the top of the cliffs. In the foreground is a partially buried wing spar from the aircraft. After the wreckage was discovered it fell to No.63 Maintenance Unit at Carluke in Lanarkshire to clear the crash site. They then spent some time burying parts at the crash site.

Ninety minutes after the ETA at Prestwick, and with no radio contact having been had with the crew, enquiries were made with other airfields in the region to see if the aircraft had landed elsewhere, when it was established that it had not overdue action was taken with the RAF and Royal Observer Corps being informed. The ROC reported that an unidentified aircraft had been plotted flying west off Arran at around the time of the expected ETA of the aircraft at Prestwick.

It was felt likely that the aircraft had crashed on one of the mountains on Arran and so the Police on the island were asked to begin a search of the island, however they did not locate any wreckage from the aircraft. A few days later when the weather improved an air search was started which continued for a week without result before it was called off.

Engine parts at the crash site of B-17G 42-97286 on Beinn Nuis, Isle of Arran — The photo above shows part of one the aircraft’s engines (centre), an ammunition container (left) and an oxygen bottle (right).

It wasn’t until the 3rd March 1945 that the fate of the crew and their aircraft was established when the wreckage was discovered high on the eastern face of Beinn Nuis. The aircraft had flown into the granite cliffs below the summit while travelling west and then fallen back down a narrow gully into the rocks below the cliffs.

Partly buried mainspar from B-17G 42-97286 at the crash site on Beinn Nuis, Isle of Arran — This photo shows where part of the main spar was cut up and buried after the crash, both ends of the spar can be seen above the surface.

The crash was attributed to the crew attempting to descend through the poor weather towards Prestwick without using any of the radio navigation aids which were available at the air station.