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I have a couple of pictures of a B-17 that crashed in a bay in Alaska c. 1943-45. My dad took these photos. The tail number appears to be 19205. I don't have any other info and I would greatly appreciate it if anyone can help me with the history of this plane. If anyone knows how I can research tail numbers please let me know. Not certain how to upload photos to this message.
Thank You,
Joel Brender

B-17E
Serial #41-9205
Listed in an accident report at Ft. Glenn, Alaska.
There is a book which gives the disposition of most
of the B-17s.

To post pictures, you'll need to have them hosted
somewhere online, and link them here. Or, email
me, and I'll post them for you.

brenderj wrote:I have a couple of pictures of a B-17 that crashed in a bay in Alaska c. 1943-45. My dad took these photos. The tail number appears to be 19205. I don't have any other info and I would greatly appreciate it if anyone can help me with the history of this plane. If anyone knows how I can research tail numbers please let me know. Not certain how to upload photos to this message.
Thank You,
Joel Brender

This B-17E (41-9205) was involved in a taxiing accident at Fort Glenn, Alaska, on December 4, 1942. The airplane had performed a successful landing on Runway 21 in a strong crosswind condition. The right main landing gear brake failed and the pilot was unable to control the airplane laterally by using just the engines. The pilot lost control and the airplane collided with an embankment, suffering a fair amount of damage. The airplane had a crew of ten and six passengers; no one was injured. The pilot was 1Lt. M. H. McWilliams and the co-pilot was 2Lt. R.M. Johnson. The accident report contains several good photos of the airplane. The airplane was repaired and returned to service. The AAF Form No. 14 Aircraft Accident Report can be found on Army Air Forces Aircraft Accident Report Microfilm Call # 46145, December 4, 1942, Accident # 512.

The same B-17E crashed into Lake Bennett, Carcross, Yukon Territory, on October 16, 1943, McWilliams is the pilot. I have no other details concerning this accident; I cannot find an accident report for this crash on the AAF Accident Report Microfilm for that date. The airplane is listed in the AAIR crash index for that date, indicating to me that the Form No. 14 report does exist but on a misc reel (the misc reels contain reports that were out of file when the microfilm was produced). The photo that you have likely is this accident. Please post the photo so we can see it. I'll post more info if I get any. Good Luck with your research.

Tony Mireles

Thank you for the information on this plane. The photos I have show it when it crashed in Lake Bennett. My dad was a civilian contractor working on the Alcan Highway and then spent the remainder of the war in Alaska.
I have had these photos since my dad's passing and the information you have provided enhances their value to me.
I will try to upload these photos or send them direct if need be. FYI, I was able to put them on armyairforces.com under B-17 crash in Canada.

My uncle Carl Peterson was on that plane and killed or drown. I am at present trying to obtain both of the accident reports of this plane with the same pilot, the 1st in December of 1942. I would also like to know the exact location on Bennett Lake, as I see by the salvage picture there were some huts in the background.


Currently Jeff Hunston, Department of Tourism & Culture in Whitehorse is also supplying me with info - any help would be appreciated. Little things have already been solved like the name on the flag was Watson - which we worried a body or flag had been switched. Watson is and was a store in Whitehorse where possibly the flag came. I want the names involved in the crash and maybe the accident report will give that to me.

James Allen

Both crash reports on the way. Will link when ready.

Thanks to the originator of this post for the photos as everything from microfilm is pretty bad. These files of the first crash on Dec 4, 1942 and the last on Oct 16, 1943 are abridged as there is just too much that is of poor quality.

http://www.scribd.com/people/documents/ ... der/116914

jallen wrote: http://www.scribd.com/my_docs#tab:folder:116914

- the website requires a login

Best to create an account. Just like on Aero or pickup the thread at
http://forum.armyairforces.com/photo.as ... =7&asort=3[/url]

Joel : Would like to see the pictures your father took. My father was also there after the crash. He was a Navy Ordnance Disposal Diver at the plane's base at Kodiak. After the crash he and I believe a Bosn Mate by the name of Ben Randal were flown from Kodiak to dive on the aircraft and recover the remains. From what he told me {and this was probably 30 yrs ago} they were able to jack up or lift the craft enough to manually lower the gear. He said the Army had driven in a Tank Retrevier with heavy winches and they were able to tow and winch the aircraft to the beach. They were diving Bouie rigs with surface supplied air from compressed tanks. I believe he said they also had one civilian diver on that job. After the diving portion of the salvage op was completed they were flown back to Kodiak so he did not know what the final disposition of the aircraft was. His name was Lt. A. Ward Smith, he died in 2001. Hope this adds a little info to your pictures.

Will there be pictures?

I would like to see the pictures as well, thank you!

I've added Joel's two pictures from another site. I also have the accident reports with a couple of different pictures. Those reports are in pdf format so I can not upload them here. If you want a copy sent - email me visa this site and I'll attach them to an email.

The accident report doesn't state whether the plane was salvaged or sank. Does anyone have any idea of this? My great uncle was one of the survivors.

The picture above your post shows the plane after it was brought to shore and beached.