Raunchy Wolf
Updated: 4th May 2023
This web page for ‘Raunchy Wolf’ has been updated from wartime USAAF records.
We had long believed that there was some confusion between the location to where both aircraft crashed
The information in the official records clears up previous confusion in our files and proves that the aircraft we excavated at Nutty’s Farm in 1978 was B17F 42-3290 ‘Raunchy Wolf’ of the 551st BS 385th BG. The aircraft captain, 1st Lieutenant John T Keeley and all his crew died in the crash.
‘Raunchy Wolf’ crashed after a collision with B17F 42-30264 named ‘The Dorsal Queen’ from the same squadron.
The collision occurred when the squadron was letting down near Brentwood after an abortive bombing mission. At six to eight thousand feet pilots encountered severe windshield icing which hampered their vision.
‘The Dorsal Queen’ was seen to slide below and behind ‘Raunchy Wolf’ where it appeared to be affected by prop wash.
As ‘The Dorsal Queen’ pulled up to regain position it’s vertical stabiliser hit the trailing edge of ‘Raunchy Wolf’’s left wing, which broke off outboard of the number 4 engine.
The complete tail of ‘The Dorsal Queen’ also broke off before it reared up into a vertical climb and reportedly spun into the ground at Tillingham Hall Farm where it exploded shortly after impact. ‘Raunchy Wolf’ meanwhile crashed and exploded at Nutty’s Farm killing everyone on board. The only survivor from either aircraft was Staff Sergeant John Adams who managed to bale out of the severed tail of ‘The Dorsal Queen’ and knocked on the door of Becketts Farm to ask for help. The official report on the collision cited the severe windscreen icing as the likely main contributing factor.
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 who perished in this incident
0792338. 1st Lt. John.T. Keeley ..... Pilot.
0735055. 2nd Lt. Harry R. Coomes .... Co-Pilot.
0734387. 2nd Lt. Theodore R. Rouse .... Bombardier.
0795285. 2nd Lt. Arthur R. Moore .... Navigator.
15089478. S/Sgt. Ledger. Pontius .... Aero Eng Gunner.
32228496. S/Sgt. Samuel B. Rochester .... Radio Op Gunner.
38052268. S/Sgt. Douglas. Binford .... Asst Aero Eng Gunner.
37220092. Sgt. Robert L. Banner .... Asst Radio Op Gunner.
19115600. Sgt. Raymond H. Shepherd .... Arm Gunner.
32502625. Sgt. Edward. Osborne .... Asst Arm Gunner.
More information and photos published soon
Remains of the B17 arein storage