B-17 – A Fascinating Film of ‘A Bit O’ Lace’

October 5, 2014 / Aviationtrails / 1 Comment

RAF Rattlesden, was home to the 447th Bomb Group, this consisted of the 708th, 709th, 710th and 711th Bomb Squadrons.

Possibly the most famous aircraft from this group was the B-17 ‘A Bit O’ Lace’ immortalised by Airfix as their 1:78 scale model.

I recently had the good fortune to come across this film on ‘You Tube’, taken by one of the crew members of ‘A Bit O’ Lace’. It was taken at various points during the war and gives an insight in to the lives of the young crew of the B-17 during World War 2.

The film includes, scenes around bombed London, RAF Rattlesden and on missions over Europe, the exact locations are not clear.

The film also includes a Lancaster, believed to be N0. 100 Squadron Lancaster III ED587, HW-V, which shot down on the night of 9th/10th March 1943 over Munchen.

Other ‘guest’ aircraft include P-51s and P-47s.

The film is priceless.

I visited Rattlesden earlier this year and it appears in Trail 15.

Their memories lay in tatters.

October 2, 2014September 30, 2014 / Aviationtrails / 6 Comments

Losing more aircraft to accidents than enemy action, in over 170 bombing missions, the 34th never received any unit decorations.

Based at RAF Mendlesham (Station 156) in Suffolk, the memorial is dilapidated and vandalised and the brass plaque has been stolen. Plans are afoot to rectify this, but it takes time and money to honour the fallen.

Mendlesham is part of Trail 15 which tours central Suffolk, England.

RAF Mendlesham

A Heroine Meets an Ungainly Ending.

September 9, 2014September 9, 2014 / Aviationtrails / Leave a comment

Originally designated ‘Louie the Creep’, B-17 42-97976 was repaired and returned to Rattlesden as ‘Bit o’ Lace’. She went on to complete 82 missions in total before being returned via Bradley Field, Boston, to Kingman AAB for storage. Later she met an ungainly ending being stripped and scrapped on 9th November 1945.

B-17 42-97976 ‘Bit o’ Lace’ after the attack on Kiel, 4th April 1945 (author unknown)

‘Bit o’ Lace’ earned notoriety whilst serving from RAF Rattlesden in Suffolk. She is famous for several special reasons one of which is for completing a mission with only half a tail.

What’s the other?