The 1000th B-17 constructed at the Douglas Long Beach Plant, USA, number 42-38113, went to serve with the 457th BG at RAF Glatton. Named ‘Rene III’ by its crew, it served its last mission, No. 214, on March 21st 1945 over Hopsten, when it was hit by flak, and crashed. Luckily all but one of the crew, Aircraft Engineer, Sgt William Wagner, evaded capture. Glatton has now been updated and added to ‘American Ghosts‘.

A small active airfield, it was once a thriving community, housing a vast number of American crews and support staff. All that remains is a water tower, sections of the runway and a superbly crafted memorial stone. But, hidden away in the local church, someone is watching out for missing comrades.

Col Luper with ‘Rene III’ the 1000th Douglas built B17 at Glatton, England.