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10:
B17 42-30156
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Relics Page 10 B17 42-30156
This section
contains 100% genuine relics of the great aerial conflict Second
World War including the Battle of Britain. We have added this
section due to numerous enquires for this sort of personal history.
All items will have been
legally recovered and
supported with
authentification. Many
parts listed in other sections of the site can be linked to the
correct aircraft types. The following pieces listed on these pages
are from aircraft crash sites and details of the, Squadron, Pilot
,exact date, combat details, aircraft type, and serial number. In
most cases if not already supplied it will be possible for a small
fee to receive copies of the Squadron Operational record book and
official combat reports which are available from the record office
at Kew. We have found that its allot more economical to employ the
services of a professional
researcher. Its costs
around £50 to locate and take copies of original documents.
Obviously these are crash relics and will not be in a usable
condition, its the history that counts and it is possible for
example to build up a collection of a
Battle of Britain items
from start of the battle until the end . Spitfire Spares does not
support the recovery of wreckage from anything classified as a War
grave or any recovery not fully compliant with the current
legislation. Respect for
the Brave aircrew is paramount
and we will not offer or purchase any personal items recovered from
aircrew killed in action serving their Country.
Click
on the picture for Rocket relics
B17 42-30156
Hustling Sue
The following parts were
purchased on one of our trips to Holland they sat in the store
until recently rediscovered. It took allot of research and help
from lots of experts on the B17 to identify as many of the parts
as possible.
This aircraft crashed
and parts were recovered in
Vriescheloo which
is located in Groningen (province)
Netherlands.
It has an
absolutely incredible story the pure courage of its crew and an
eye opening incite into what those brave men went through.
Delivered Cheyenne 17/4/43; Smoky Hill 24/4/43;
Presque Is 16/5/43; Assigned 423BS/306BG [RD-Z] Thurleigh
22/6/43; Missing in Action Hanover 26/7/43 with Wes Courson,
Co-pilot: Roy Bronson, Navigator: Ted Grezlak, Bombardier: Henry
Lynch, Flight engineer/top turret gunner: John Champion, Waist
gunner: Cedric White,Tail gunner: Bill Lamb all taken as 7
Prisoners of War. Radio Operator: Bill Dayton, Ball turret
gunner: Dock Thomas, Waist gunner: Bob Stevens{wia & drowned in
River Ems. Three Killed in Action. Flak over Frisian took off
vertical stabiliser, crashed Hofkamp Farm, Vriescheloo, Hol.
Missing Air Crew Report 127.
On a mission to Hannover. Lt. Wesley Courson's plane from the
423rd of the 306 BG. A/C damaged by AAA fire inbound to target,
made it to target, fell out of formation and was attacked by
fighters near border on the way back.
I found information that Hustling Sue was shot down by
Lieutenant Gerhard Dittmann of the 12./NJG 1 (flying a Bf 110
G-4 from Leeuwarden airfield) or by Major Anton Mader of the
Stab/JG 11 (flying a Bf 109 G-6 from Jever airfield) at
Vriescheloo, the Netherlands, however according to the Pilots
testimony it would seems they were attacked by multiple FW 190s.
The Radio operator was killed by fighter fire on board, all
other crew bailed out of burning aircraft.
2 crew members found dead from wounds, still in their
parachutes, others captured that day and sent to Dulag Luft. See
USAAF Missing Air Crew Report # 127.
This is from
the Pilots own words and highlights just how brutal these
missions could be along with the immense bravery of the crews.
2nd Lt. Wesley E. Courson
Above middle
not Hustling Sue but is from 423 Squadron. Above right the
official missing crew report 127. Click on the image to enlarge
it.
After basic training, Courson trained as an aircraft mechanic at
several bases. During that time, he applied for flight school
and was accepted. Upon completion of basic, primary and advanced
flight training, Courson was given his pilot’s wings and
commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant.
He
was sent to Hendricks Field at Sebring, Florida, where he
trained to fly the B-17 bomber.
Learning
to fly the B-17 took him all across the country for several
months. In May 1943, he was given a crew and orders to prepare
for a transatlantic flight to England. Upon landing in
England, Courson and his crew were assigned to the 306th Bomb
Group, 423rd Bombing Squadron.
Their first four flights into combat were fairly routine with
only minor damage to their aircraft.
Their 5th mission began on the morning of July 26, 1943.
Courson would recall later
“Our fifth mission proved to be the most and the worst. More
flak and fighter planes than all previous runs together. Higher
altitude mission at 27,500 ft. for it was a hot spot we were
hitting that day.
The submarine depot and repair installations in Hanover,
Germany.”
That mission for Courson and his B-17 crew proved to be their
last of the war. As their B-17 neared the target, Courson and
his co-pilot, Lt. Bronson, struggled to maintain control. In his
diary, Courson described their dire situation,
“The
flak looked like black clouds….suddenly, there was a resounding
explosion just beneath us.
The sound and the pressure hit our ears simultaneously and
lifted the plane with a jar. Immediately, the four superchargers
went wild, I had absolutely no control of manifold pressure,any
attempt at changing the prop pitch setting with the thought of
feathering engines one and four set up such vibration that it
was beyond structural safety. Fighting to hold in formation,
Bronson and myself were soaked in perspiration, the bomb run to
the target was an eternity.
When
the bombardier, Lt. Lynch, let the 6,000 lb. load go, we shot up
200 ft.”
Still trying to maintain their place in the formation, both
pilots were fighting the controls to maintain altitude. About
that time, the formation turned left and lowered their altitude
for the return trip to England.
That manoeuvre brought more trouble for Courson’s plane. “We
tried to come on down with them but our flaps began to rip off
and lose their effect.”
Losing
their ability to stay within the formation made them a target of
the German fighter planes.
“They had spotted us as a cripple and were moving in for the
kill. Most of the fighters were FW-190s, they were coming in
fast and hitting hard, the tail-gunner called in all shook-up,
the best I could understand was that the barrels of his guns had
been shot off, It happened faster and faster, I saw the top of
the left wing open up with at least four gaping holes
The right waist gunner called and said the 1st radio engineer
was on the radio-room floor, his whole head is blown off.” About
that time the right waist gunner was hit. Courson called for the
tail gunner to take over the waist gun.
“
I couldn’t spare the co-pilot because he had his feet against
the control column to hold it forward,Without that, I couldn’t
hold against the forces. I also wanted the other officers and
men to stay at their guns and keep them hot.”
The gunners were calling out hits and claiming some kills.
Courson couldn’t verify any kills because of the confusion.
Courson was suddenly jarred by an explosion.
“I
heard the high-pitched bang of a 20mm round at the same time the
hot concussion hit the back of my head. I looked back to see the
1st engineer fall out of the top turret,I had to also look at
his handsome face that was now spurting blood from his eyes and
cheeks, but he got off the floor saying something about the
plexiglass dome blowing up in his face, I yelled to him to get
his parachute adjusted and stay where I could yell to him.
The
1st engineer asked Courson about his parachute which was located
on the top step of the catwalk. He retrieved it and helped
Courson strap it on. Courson noted, “That action on his part may
well be the reason that I was later able to get out of the
aircraft.”
The fighters were still pressing home their attack.
“They
were coming in lined-up three to five in a row and their leading
edges looked like a fireworks display, the number three engine
showed fire, we tried to blow CO2 but nothing came out, number
two engine was mostly oil and smoke, the acrid stench of burning
was everywhere. I looked back to see what was causing it and I
still don’t know what could have set the entire floor of the
radio room on fire. The tops of both wings had been chewed
up by 20mm fire, the trailing edge of the left wing was ragged
and a large piece flapped a couple of times then blew away, so
this was the way it was, no way to move' no way to go but down.”
With the intercom gone, Courson yelled to the Engineer, “Champ,
it’s time to go. I’ll be giving the three bell rings
continuously but yell to everyone to bail out, we can’t let go
of the controls so tell them to throw anyone on the floor out
and hold onto their ripcords. That was the last thing I knew
about that went on in the back."
Courson
instructed the Bombardier to destroy the Norden bombsight. He
recalled, “I could hear the .45 caliber as Lynch shot up the
bombsight and what sounded like everything else in the nose, If
the Germans hadn’t shot us down by then he would have done it
for them.”
It was now time for Courson and Bronson to bail out.
The Co-pilot went first. Fearing that the plane would fall off
to the left and go into a spin once he let go of the controls,
Courson decided to open the bomb-bay doors.
“That
was the biggest hole I could think of to go through. I didn’t
know the door controls and locks had been shot away and that
they would be slamming open and shut in the wind and they were
very heavy doors.”
He
decided to risk it anyway and jump when the doors offered an
opening.
As
he jumped, the plane did a sharp roll that caused him to be
struck as he went through the doors. Courson recalled,
“They
knocked the living hell out of me. I knew I was hurt and I knew
I was falling.
There was lots of wind flurry and whistling sounds and body
numbness that had pain mixed with it.
I
fell forever. When the parachute caught the wind in a jolting
wallop it knocked me out cold. At some point I became aware that
I was being escorted down by two circling FW-190s.
I
could see the earth looming larger…it met me hard and didn’t
give an inch.
I
am lucky to have come through that beating with only a
dislocated right knee, torn lateral ligaments in that area, and
possibly a hairline crack in the pelvic region.” As Courson lay
there in confusion, still in lots of pain, he noticed a man
standing nearby.
Courson remembered the man saying “Netherlands,” which gave him
some hope. That hope was short-lived when five German Border
Guards arrived.
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Click on pictures to enlarge
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B17 Hustling Sue Turret
part
(nos 1 pg 10
Relics ) This peace is
from the Mid upper turret of B17 Hustling Sue its part of the
flexible belt that one of the 50 cal the Guns poked through. You
can see it on the drawings far right under marked collar
connection plate.
Click on pictures to enlarge
Sorry now out
of stock |
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Click on pictures to enlarge
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B17 Hustling Sue Turret
Turret Hydraulic unit plate
(nos 2 pg 10
Relics ) This plate was
part of the Hydraulic unit that powered one of Hustling Sues Gun
turrets seen in the drawing under far right.
Click on pictures to enlarge
£39
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B17 Hustling Sue
K3/4 Gunsight (nos 3 pg 10
Relics ) These peaces
came from one of the K3/4 Gunsights used in Hustling Sue its
incredible to think this was actually used in Combat shooting at
FW 190s and other German fighters in this aircrafts epic but
ultimately unsuccessful fight to survive.
Click on pictures to enlarge
Shown above the
target dimension feet adjustment for setting the wingspan of the
aircraft onto the Gunsight.
You can see the
paece above on the drawing of the K3 Gunsight
£95
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B17 Hustling Sue
Panel light switch (nos 4 pg 10
Relics )
This is a toggle switch used
in Hustling Sue its the main instrument panel light switch
mounted to the right of the repeater compass. Every B17 cockpit
I have looked at appears different but this switch can been seen
clearly in the Memphis Belle cockpit to the right of the
repeating compass.
£155
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Lots more parts
of this aircraft being listed soon please watch this space. |
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