USAAF Crash Investigation Report
The USAAF Accident Report of January 1945 states as follows-----
B-17 G aircraft Serial 43-30819 was returning from a Continental bombardment mission and was the lead ship in the squadron formation flying at an altitude of approximately 3500 feet and entered the clouds at about 1515 hours. The pilot continued to fly through the clouds on instruments for about 5 minutes and was directly over the field at Greenham Common when the accident occured.
It is asuumed aircraft 43-36733 flew into the left wing of the lead ship igniting fuel tanks leading to a mid-air explosion. The left wing and foward fuselage of the lead aircraft were torn off.
the pilot and co-pilot of the lead ship immediately bailed out through an opening on the left and they were the only survivors. The condition of the pieces of both aircraft that floated to earth indicated a violent explosion in the air, and no evidence of material failure cound be found.
CAUSE OF ACCIDENT.
It is believed by this Board that the accident was unaviodable. The formation ran into conditions of extreme poor visibilty, and is apparent that neither pilot saw the other aircraft.
Statement By 2nd Lt. Lorn A Wilke ( pilot of lead aircraft).
I was the pilot of B-17G 43-38019 and was flying over Greenham Common at an altitude of approxitmately 3500 feet at 1520 hours, 15 December, 1944, flying West.
I felt a sudden jar and the left wing was torn off by another aircraft. The left side of the pilot's cockpit was torn off by the impact and I was thrown clear. I parachuted safely to the ground.
Weather Report for near time of accident 1500 hours BST ( British Summer Time/ 1300 GMT)
Visibilty 3900 yards. Cloud cover- 2/10 to 3/10 1500 feet. 10/10 at 3000 feet.
Wind 5 mph from 165 degrees.
The 306th Bomb Group flew its 342nd and final mission on April 19, 1945, the most of any Eighth Air Force B-17 unit except the 303rd Bomb Group. It compiled 9,614 sorties; dropped 22,575 tons of bombs; and had 171 B-17's fail to return from missions.
The group remained at Thurleigh until December 1945
