History Hunters International

Difficult and dangerous digging - Photograph ? Matthew Reynolds

The bombers in the marsh

On 29 November 1944, two Douglas A-26 Invader US bomber planes crashed into Warton Marsh, eight miles from Preston, in Lancashire. Both planes, along with a number of others, had left Warton Airbase in formation, en route to join forces in the preparations for the Battle of the Bulge, which took place from 16 December 1944 to 25 January 1945. Only one minute off the runway and 1,000 feet into the air, the aircraft collided and came to rest in the marsh. All the crew died. Their bodies were recovered from the planes, but an investigation into the causes of the crash was inconclusive.

Tail fin sees the light of day - Photograph ? Matthew Reynolds

When the planes crashed back in 1944, they landed directly on sand. Since then, however, about two metres of silt has built up over the wrecks. It means that the site is a difficult one to excavate, and an earlier attempt to retrieve the aircraft in the 1980s was unsuccessful.

For this programme, Time Team enlisted a veteran air crash investigator, along with the RAF's 'crash and burn' team and other experts to try to find out what caused the crash. Each of the planes, including the engines, was believed to be relatively intact and, it was hoped, would provide the necessary information to determine why these two planes collided.

Local eyewitnesses and fellow flyers in the US Air Force were all called upon to help to build up a picture of what happened on that fateful day in 1944.

Time Trail

This was not the first time that Time Team investigated the site of crashed Second-World-War aircraft. It did so first for the 1999 series, when the team visited Reedham Marshes in Norfolk ? a site that had many similarities with the one at Warton Marsh.

In February 1944, two American Flying Fortress bombers crashed into each other on their way back from a bombing raid over Germany. One of the aircraft fell into in a marsh at Reedham ? killing all 10 of the crew ? and gradually became buried in the peat. The incident was forgotten until a group of aviation enthusiasts attempted to raise the 30-ton plane in the 1970s. Three decades later, their leader contacted Time Team. The excavation techniques required for this dig were like nothing the team had experienced before.

Reedham Marshes, Norfolk
21 February 1999

In February 1944, two American 'Flying Fortresses' crashed into each other only a few miles from their home base, on their way back from a bombing raid over Germany. One of the aircraft tumbled into in a marsh at Reedham in Norfolk ? killing all 10 of the crew ? and gradually became buried in the peat. The incident was forgotten until a group of aviation enthusiasts attempted to raise the 30-ton plane in the 1970s. Three decades later, their leader contacted Time Team who, on their arrival, were faced with excavation techniques that were like nothing they had experienced before.

Teaser
Hundreds of these items were found during the excavation of the World War II bomber from Reedham Marshes in Norfolk. They are also frequently casually picked up by passers-by and become knick-knacks on mantelshelves. What are they and is this a good idea? (Photo: Mick Aston)

Answer
These are bullets from the machine guns of the B-17 'Flying Fortress' that crashed in Reedham Marshes. According to the RAF bomb disposal squad ? and contrary to popular opinion ? most of this ammunition is 'live' and still capable of injuring (or worse) anyone handling it. A Metropolitan Police spokesman said that the police are, unfortunately, quite familiar with horrendous accidents that have occurred when war-time ammunition, having become corroded, exploded without warning. So if you have any 'antique' bullets such as these, or come across them in or on the ground, do not touch them and contact the police immediately.

What might have happened? Animated reconstruction by Steve Breeze.

Further reading

The B-17 Flying Fortress Story: Design, production, history by Roger. A Freeman and David R Osbourne (Arms & Armour Press, 1998) hardback ?35
Operational histories of the 12,731 B-17s that flew in World War II, including the aircraft that crashed at Reedham. The evolution, testing, and performance of the aeroplane are also covered.

The Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress by Martin W Bowman (Crowood Press, 1998) hardback ?25
A detailed examination of the design, development and operational career of the Flying Fortress, from its earliest beginnings through its seven major variants.

Claims to Fame: The B-17 Flying Fortress by Steve Birdsall and Roger. A Freeman (Arms & Armour Press) 1997, paperback ?10.99
The B-17 Flying Fortress was the most successful bomber in World War II and was held in great affection by its crews. Its claims to fame include the most missions flown, the shortest operational life, famous crew members, and the most damaged aircraft.

Final Flights: Dramatic wartime incidents revealed by aviation archaeology by Ian McLachlan (Patrick Stephens Ltd, 1989) hardback ?14.95
An account of the salvage of various aircraft crash sites in England by aircraft enthusiasts, as well as the stories behind the crashes. Although narrative sometimes triumphs over fact, everything is based on true stories that no fiction can match.

Twentieth-Century Defences in Britain: An introductory guide (Council for British Archaeology Practical Handbook in Archaeology 12)
The CBA's Defence of Britain project aims to record as many as possible of 20th-century military sites and structures. This is an illustrated handbook providing an introduction to the recognition and interpretation of Britain's wartime archaeology.

Those fascinated by historical aviation may be interested in joining the Airfield Research Group. Contact: John Nichols, .