B-17 Flying Fortress B-17 40-2053

Delivered RAF [AN522] as part of Lend-Lease; 90 Squadron [WP-J] Polebrook 3-May41; t/o West Raynham, Nfk, flew in to heavy cloud and crashed 10m north of Catterick Bridge, Yorks. UK 22-Jun-41; with F/O John Hawley, Lt Bradley*, J. Humpherson, Sq Ldr David Robson, Horace Black, George Garwood, T. Willis (RCAF) (7 Killed in Action); F/l Steward (Returned to Duty); First B-17 lost in WWII; Struck Off Charge 9-Jul-41. (Survivor Steward, an RAF doctor, reported when ship entered heavy cloud it began to shake violently, pilot lost control as the bomber entered a steep dive, and at about 25,00 ft structural failure became evident. First the port wing detached itself, followed by the gradual break up of the fuselage, the rear section falling slowly, thus Steward was able to make his escape.)