Crash B17 Fortress Lady Godiva
In memory of the crash of the B17 Fortress "Lady Godiva" 42-29878 of the 379th Bomb Group of the 8th US Air Force Army, hit by the FLAK then shot down by German fighters near the Saint Quay Islands. The locals managed to rescue 6 airmen.
The fall of the LADY GODIVA
On Saturday May 29, 1943 at around 5:00 pm, an American B-17 Fortress belonging to the 379th Heavy Bombardment Group prepared for a mission with the Saint-Nazaire submarine base as its target. The raid will involve 169 bombers. Soon all hell broke loose, the anti-aircraft guns went wild, a thousand plumes of black smoke surrounded the B-17s. The LADY GODIVA is hit by a shell on its left wing. Despite everything, the pilot and crew decide to continue the mission and bomb Saint-Nazaire. On its return, the plane and its 10 members are attacked by the German hunting force. The captain, knowing that he was unable to reach Kimbolton base, decided to abandon his aircraft. The crew parachuted over the communes of Tréguidel and Plourhan. The plane crashed into the sea near the Saint-Quay islands. During their descent by parachute, several soldiers were wounded by bullets.
The inhabitants of Plourhan helped save 6 airmen. The Germans, knowing that the latter had escaped their search, began the first arrests in mid-July
★ Peterson Theodore M. Pilot managed to reach England on August 6.
★ Bourn Jack Willys, Co-Pilot, prisoner.
★ Woodrow T. Moore Navigator, prisoner.
★ Warren J. Rosacker Bomber, prisoner.
★ John M. ScottRadio managed to reach England on August 6.
★William Eugene Blubaugh Turret gunner, prisoner.
★ Gideon August Brown Rear gunner, prisoner.
★ Paul Reese Cribelar Left side gunner, prisoner.
★ William Toye Ayres Right side gunner, prisoner.
★ Maynard Martin Spencer Mechanic, prisoner.
Photo credit and contribution Le Bourvellec Eric
