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North Sea Incident 2022
by Ian Garstka
Oils on Stretched canvas
|
h 61 x w 76.2 x d 2 cm h 24 x w 30 x d 0.8 in |
£675.00
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Description
On the 26th November1943, B17-'Skoal' of the 91st Bomb Group, piloted by Lt Bob.T ibbetts took off from their Base at Bassingbourn.
For Waist Gunner, James W Brady it was his first mission. Bremen was the target and twice on the mission they were hit by intense flak. Despite losing an engine they managed to release the bomb load over the target, and turning away they were hit again, losing a second engine.
Despite dropping away from the main stream, with the help of their 'Little Friends' they managed to reach the coast for a perilous journey across the North Sea. Despite coaxing the two remaining engines Tibbetts was finally left with little option but to ditch.
After gently dropping the stricken B17 onto the water, the crew, mostly unhurt, safely vacated the aircraft, although only one life-raft inflated so five of the crew remained in the cold swell of the North Sea.
Fortunately a minesweeper, HMS Eastbourne was close by and had watched 'Skoal' ditch and all the crew were rescued. Given hot tea and whisky to revive them they were finally taken ashore to the East Coast fishing town of Great Yarmouth.
Later, Tibbets stated that ”if it had not been for the two P47's that watched over us, we would never have made it home.”