B17G 42-37840 Hill-man honours the fallen.
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A Hill-man cache, but more sombre than the preceding ones, as people are still alive who remember the tragedy. A short hike is involved, it can be muddy in wet weather, a there-and-back trip will involve a steepish climb whichever way you approach. Boots recommended. Easiest approached from Glen Chass, but parking nearer at Cronk-y-Watch. Best taken on a walk from Port st. Mary to Cregneash or vice versa. NO NEED TO MOVE ANY STONES, SO DON'T! Appropriately, you are looking for a green ammo. box.
On the fourteenth April 1945, B17G 42-37840 a Flying Fortress of 367th squadron,306th Bomb Group, part of 1st Division-8th Airforce, USAAF, left Thurleigh airfield for Nutt's Corner, Ulster. It was destined never to arrive. Take-off was 3-00pm, by 4-00pm it was approaching the Island and passed over Ronaldsway, in conditions of low cloud (300 feet), 6/10 visibility with light continuous rain. The aircraft crossed Bay-ny-Carrickey and was confronted with rising ground, passing just above the trees of Stitt's house at Perwick, shaking the windows of the Maddrell's house at Glen Chass as it turned south-west. Seconds later it hit the ground, turning instantly into a fireball of burning fuel and exploding ammunition. All crew and passengers perished.
The bodies were removed from the site that evening and the following day, being flown back to the mortuary at Thurleigh on the 16th April. All were members of 8th Airforce except a Red Cross nurse, Emilly H. Rea, Programme Director with the American Red Cross at their Grand Central Club, Paris. She was on leave, but it is not known why she was flying to Belfast.
Upon hearing the impact a number of local people hurried to the scene, but were unable to approach closely because of the heat and exploding ammunition, 42-37840 being an armed, operational aircraft. Surgeon Commander H.Rylance at Ronaldsway was informed at 4-30pm and proceeded to the scene, quickly realising there could be no survivors.
The removal of bodies was not easy, requiring lorries to travel as far as possible along the narrow lane from Glen Chass, while naval personnel from HMS Urley (Ronaldsway) formed a stretcher party. The narrow road and lack of local knowledge caused the military parties some problems, two lorries and a fire tender having accidents, requiring the assistance of a tractor and a Bren gun carrier. There are few recognisable items left on site now, only small pieces of aluminium and nuts/bolts. A poignant moment for Mr. Bruce Maddrell must have been when, on crossing the field beside the crash site he found a watch, nearly buried, the hands stopped at 4-10. The watch was an A-11 USAAF issue, the date he found it 14th April 1985. Forty years to the day since he had been a small boy as the doomed aircraft passed close above his house.
The crew and passengers names are listed below, in alphabetical rather than rank order:-
W.B.Butterfield, USAAF, passenger
G.E.Cubberly, USAAF, passenger
E.E.Gallion, USAAF, crew
D.S.Jones, USAAF, passenger
H.E.Lecompte, USAAF, crew
C.E.Liersch, USAAF, crew
A.J.Parrish, USAAF, passenger
E.H.Rea, US Red Cross, passenger
C.F.Smaileczewski, USAAF, crew
W.C.Starbuck, USAAF, passenger
R.A.Vieille, USAAF, crew.
Since the cache was laid we have visited Madingley American Cemetery, most of those killed here now rest in that peaceful, dignified place. Few were repatriated, unlike those who died nine days later in a similar tragedy on North Barrule.
The impact area was in the rough field above the cache, part of the aircraft coming to rest in the moorland beyond, then as now MNT land.
Since this cache was placed a memorial has been placed on a pillar on the track below the crash site. It was unveiled by Mrs Joie Vieille Felts, sister of Robert Vieille, pilot of the plane, at a ceremony attended by other members of the family and a senior USAAF officer, as well as about seventy local people, some of whom remember the tragedy.
I am greatly indebted to Mr. Steve Poole for most of the information above, which can be found (with more detail), in his definitive book 'Rough Landing or Fatal Flight' on air crashes/accidents on and around the Isle of Man.
Please replace the cache upright, lid uppermost, as I am not convinced of its waterproof qualities!
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
Bire jnyy, orfvqr cbfg.