B-17 Traditional Geocache

This cache is situated on the south side of North Barrule. The most direct route is on the path up from the Hibernia but this is very steep. The best route by far is to park at the Mountain Box and approach over Clagh Ouyr and follow the ridgeline, I would recommend that you have the Isle of Man O/S Map also good boots also pack waterproofs as the weather can turn very quickly up on the ridge

B-17G 43-38856 M

lost - 23rd April 1945

Capt. Charles Ackerman, 534th BS pilot, and a reduced crew consisting of a co-pilot, navigator, engineer, radio operator, and twenty-six other officers and enlisted men took off en route to Belfast from Ridgewell in Essex, for a much deserved break. Unfortunately at 10.25 that morning the thirty-one members of the 381st Bombardment Group were killed when their B-17G (#43-38856) slammed into the North Barrule peak on the Isle of Man. Weather that day was reported as clear, but as anyone who lives on the island knows the peaks are often shrouded in cloud and mist.  Mr Harold Ennet who was working the fields on Margher-e-Kew farm  saw a silver coloured 4 engine aircraft approaching from the coast, he estimated it to be only about 500ft above the ground, he realised that it was flying directly into the mist surrounding the summit of North Barrule.  Moments later he heard an explosion and knew immediately that the aircraft had crashed.  One of the first people to reach the crash site was a medical officer from the RAF base at Andreas, below is a picture of the scene that greeted him, the aircraft had exploded on impact killing all aboard.  The bodies were transported to Andreas airfield for formal identification, they were then flown back to Ridgewell.  The 31 American servicemen who died were buried at the Cambridge American Military Cemetery.  This accident was the worst air disaster in the Island's history

Wreckage of B-17G #43-38856

Crew & Servicemen lost

In 1995 a memorial was erected at the crash site.

The plaque reads:

"On this hillside at 10:25 a.m. on the 23rd April 1945, a flying fortress B17G - 38856 crashed with the loss of 31 American servicemen. The aircraft belonged to the 381st heavy bombardment group, 533rd squadron based at Ridgewell in Essex and was on a ferry flight to Nutts corner in N. Ireland.

This memorial was erected in memory of those who lost their lives here and in other aircraft accidents in these hills, by Maughold Parish Commissioners and the Manx Aviation Society on 5th August 1995."

The plaque is situated at - N54°17.325  W004° 23.628

Strangely on the day I planted the cache it was very misty and I couldn't help wondering what it would have been like back in 1945, had the pilot or co-pilot caught a glimpse of the hill in the mist, were they frantically giving the plane full throttle and  both on the yokes trying to climb, or had the impact been sudden.  Even today over 60 years on there is still a strange smell in the area especially where rocks have been disturbed by sheep or walkers.

Whilst you visit this cache please take time to visit the memorial and pay your respects to those 31 American Airmen who tragically died in 1945.

Information on this page is taken from the 381st Bomber Group homepage www.381st.org

As this area is regularly visited please be aware of muggles and replace the cache securely.

The cache is a decon pot so small swaps only... Thanks

Happy Hunting