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General Posts #233

PostedMessage
Paul Bellamy


3/31/2010 12:14:48 PM
After searching for some time I finally found the newsreel short of the aftermath of 42-39825 IN-M "Zenobia El Elephanta"'s unplanned excursion into Deenethorpe village in 1943.
Once I found out it was a news team from Gaumont who shot the footage, I was able to trace it back to the collection now held by ITN in London.
Even better, the 50-second short is available to view online HERE.

Scenes during the cleaning-up operation:





The wreckage was brought back to the base, and placed beside the 450th Sub Depot workshops.



The Gaumont journalist can be seen with the crew in this photo, wearing a raincoat:



The two cameras can be seen here, beside the workshops:



Out and about, interviewing the locals:


All the best,
Paul

Paul Bellamy

MaryAlice


3/31/2010 12:16:37 PM
TOO COOL (footage of course)!!

Derrick Morris, Grandson of S/Sgt Engr/Top Turret William "Dale" Sartor, 615th BS 401st BG, "Mary Alice"
donaldbyers


3/31/2010 12:30:01 PM
It just goes to show you that the information is out there and sometimes it just takes a long time to find it.

Don

Sgt. Donald C. Byers, 613th Bomb Squadron, Togglier, 42-97344 Carrie B II, KIA 08/24/1944.
EDanaII


3/31/2010 4:36:48 PM
<Voice="Mr. Spock">

Fascinating, Captain.

</Voice>

If this ain't a candidate for our Gallery section, then I don't know what is. 🙂



Paul Bellamy


5/15/2010 9:08:52 AM
Each year small fragments of wreckage from "Zenobia El Elephanta" are brought to the surface by ploughing.
Despite a large area of the crash site being redeveloped for housing a number of years ago, there are a few quiet corners in Deenethorpe village where larger sections of the plane came to rest, to be rediscovered years later.

Here are the largest items I've found on the surface, with a CD for scale:

Wing inner skin, showing damage from the fire, and a length of seam covering trim.


Boeing part number still visible on the inner face of the trim section.


Hand-written inscription on the same part.


All the best,
Paul

Paul Bellamy

Paul Bellamy


6/29/2014 9:39:36 AM
A new post-explosion photo has turned up:



This shot appears to have been taken towards the east end of the "triangle" in Deenethorpe village, looking back up the hill toward the crash site which was directly behind the two people in the foreground. (I'll try to get a comparison photo this week to clarify.)

The lump of wreckage is the No.4 engine nacelle.
It's resting upside down, with the supercharger and cooling air inlet in the middle of shot and the engine bearer frame on the right.
The flower-like object underneath the engine bearer is the inlet impeller wheel from the back of the engine.

Paul Bellamy

Paul Bellamy


7/31/2014 2:01:32 PM
Comparison photo taken this evening.
Sorry the lighting is a bit contrasty, it was pouring with rain but with bright sunshine at a low angle:



Paul Bellamy