Lest we forget

Superfortress “Over Exposed” crash site. Bleaklow, Peak District. One if the most moving places I visit in the Peaks. The memorial plaque at the site reads as follows:

 

“IN MEMORY

 

HERE LIES THE WRECKAGE OF THE B29 SUPERFORTRESS “OVEREXPOSED" OF THE 16TH PHOTOGRAPHIC RECONNAISSANCE

SQUADRON USAF WHICH CRASHED WHILST DESCENDING THROUGH LOW CLOUD ON 3rd NOVEMBER 1948 KILLING ALL 13 CREWMEMBERS. THE AIRCRAFT WAS ON A ROUTINE FLIGHT FROM RAF SCAMPTON TO AMERICAN AFB BURTONWOOD. IT IS DOUBTFUL THE CREW EVER SAW THE GROUND.

 

MEMORIAL LAID BY 367 AIR NAVIGATION COURSE OF RAF FINNINGLEY ON 12 NOVEMBER 1983”

 

‘Over Exposed!’ was a photo reconnaissance aircraft – hence the name – and had photographed some of the nuclear bomb tests at Bikini Atoll in the Pacific Ocean and had taken part in the Berlin airlift.

 

CREW:

pilot Captain Landon P. Tanner

co-pilot, Captain Harry Stroud;

engineer, Technical Sergeant Ralph Fields;

navigator, Sergeant Charles Wilbanks;

radio operator, Staff Sergeant Gene A. Gartner;

radar operator, David D. Moore;

camera crew, Technical Segeant Saul R. Banks, Sergeant Donald R. Abrogast, Sergeant Robert I. Doyle and Private First Class William M. Burrows.

Two other crew members were Corporal M. Franssen and Corporal George Ingram.

Acting as photographic adviser was Captain Howard Keel of the 4201st Motion Picture Unit.

Done