THE DORSAL QUEEN

On 26th September 1943 at 6.53hrs,

Two B.17's of the 385th Bomb Group

551st Bomb Squadron

 From

  USAAF Great Ashfield, Suffolk, England.

Collided in mid air over the village

of

 West Horndon Essex England

info@aviationmuseum.co.uk

DETAILS TAKEN FROM THE 385th BOMB GROUP HISTORY FOR 1943

" The target today was Rheims-Champaigne.

Since all objectives were too overcast for effective bombing, none were dropped.

On the return, over England, two of our finest crews - those of Lt.John Keeley and Lt. Paul Yannello - collided while they were letting down from altitude.

S/sgt Adams of Lt Yannello's crew, alone parachuted to safety. Lt.Sidney White, Squadron Operations Officer, who was on this mission as assistant bombardier on the Yannello crew was among those who went down. Both lt Keeley and Yannello had completed 11 operational missions, and they and their crews were considered among the most efficient and dependable in this group".

The Crew

0733769.2nd Lt. Paul N. Yannello .... Pilot.

0663975. 2nd Lt. Fredric E. Wilson .... Co-Pilot.

0679709. 2nd Lt. Guilford N. Black .... Navigator.

0738679. 2nd Lt. Charles A. Wardel ....Bombardier.

39847395. S/Sgt. Walter F. McMillan .... Aero Eng Gunner.

11033994. S/Sgt. Stanley J. Gula .... Radio Op Gunner.

15104643. S/Sgt. Edgar L. Seitz .... Asst Aero Eng Gunner.

18116991. S/Sgt. LawrenceC. Kern .... Asst Rad Op Gunner.

33304101. S/Sgt John J. Adams .... Arm Gunner. ( the only survivor pictured right)

15070226. S/Sgt. Marion E. McGuinnis .... Asst Arm Gunner.

This aircraft remains were originally excavated in 1977 with major finds of engines,

undercarriage, machine guns and many personal effects.

The remains of the B17 are in storage