B29 Crash site

.This particular B-29A was attached to the 301st Bombardment Group of the USAF (United States Air Forces). The aircraft had been involved in the post-war Berlin airlift. Together with another B-29, the crew were flying the aircraft back to their home base at Smoky Hill, Salina (via RAF Scampton), with a refuelling and re-supply stopover at Keflavik (Meeks Field), Iceland. However, while over Scotland, the aircraft began to experience icing on the wings, making the B-29 very difficult to handle.




The pilot of one of the two B-29s, Captain Donald E. Riggs, requested permission to return to RAF Scampton. The pilot of the B-29 featured here, 1/Lt. Sheldon Craigmyle, requested permission to climb from 10,500 to 14,500 feet. This, however, may have proved extremely difficult, if not impossible, in view of the icing on the wings. Ultimately, the aircraft lost height, clipped the summit of Beinn Tharsuinn in Argyll, and crashed in flames in Succoth Glen below.




The exact cause of this accident is unknown, but the accident report suggests that the prevailing weather conditions and heavy icing may have been a contributory factor, if not the sole cause.




Twenty people perished in this accident (crew and military personnel returning from the Berlin airlift). These were:

•Pilot, 1/Lt. Sheldon C. Craigmyle;

•Co-pilot, 1/Lt. Myrton Patrick Barry;

•Navigator, 1/Lt. Richard D. Klingenberg;

•Bombardier 1/Lt Robert A Fritsche;

•T/Sgt Delbert E Cole;

•M/Sgt Wayne W Baker;

•T/Sgt John B Lapicca;

•S/Sgt Malcolm W Bovard;

•Sgt Anthony V Chrisides;

•Sgt Rufus W Mangum;

•PFC Jack L Heacock;

•M/Sgt Henry P Prestoch;

•T/Sgt Frank M Dobbs Jr;

•Sgt Cecil G Jones;

•Sgt Charles W Hess;

•PFC Robert Brown Jr;

•T/Sgt Rufus G Taylor;

•Sgt Paul W Knight;

•PFC Frederick N Cook;

•PFC Bruce J Krumhols

There is some speculation, however, that there were 21 people on board the aircraft, but this has never been confirmed.




A stone memorial cairn can now be found at the wreck site.

Category:

Autos & Vehicles

Tags:

• B29
• crash
• HD
• plane.
• The
• rear
• gunners
• turret.

[ThePartyboy8]

thing is that doesnt even look close to a b29

[whrwatson]

@ThePartyboy8 Thats the reaer gun turret which sits under the tail. Check B29 Crash site 2 for the other parts. Ple

[moley782]

RIP



[hunterevans802]

@hunterevans802 b-29

[hunterevans802]

RIP to the crew.

[Arrows73]

RIP

[vonFisch]

Nice video. What amazes me that the pieces of the aircraft are still there! It's probably in a very rough terrain, but still, in my country (and many others for sure), all the metal bits would be stolen and scraped hours after the crash. It's nice to see that there are places where people have still respect to others sacrifice. RIP to the crew.