WW II bomber crash found, too late.

[Warbirder]

In December, 1943 a B-17 from Hendricks Field in Sebring crashed short of the runway landing at night in heavy fog. All six crew were killed. The bodies were removed but the bomber was never removed from the thick underbrush and swamp 1/2 mi north of the runway. I know from reliable sources it was still there as late as 1990.
A few years ago my son and I made an air search from 500' and found that all the swamp and bad land is now neat acres of potatos and peas.

Searching some old aerial photos of Florida the other day, I found a pic of Hendricks Army Airfield taken three months after the crash. There, plain as day is the B-17 sitting in the boonies right where the crash report said. Comparing the photo with a current picture of the area leaves no doubt the B-17 is gone, either sold for scrap or plowed under by the farm owner.
Oh well, it was still an interesting "armchair search."
Bob

[mad4wrecks]

Very cool story. Thanks for sharing!

[Bridge End Farm]

never hurts to drop in and ask, never know might been hauled into a barn somewhere

cool post

[kakcsdad]

cool story