Memorial unveiling to B-17 Pathfinder Flying Fortress trialling H2S Radar

On 10 November 1943 a United States B-17 Pathfinder Flying Fortress crashed at Brome in Suffolk. The aircraft had been fitted with ground scanning radar called H2S at RAF Defford by the Telecommunications Research Establishment (TRE). The B-17 was the first four-engine American Pathfinder bomber fitted with this type of radar.

The crew were heading back to their home base at RAF Alconbury after taking off from Thorpe Abbots in Norfolk, when a cockpit fire broke out. Despite attempting an emergency landing at Eye, the aircraft crashed with the loss of all 13 crew members and 4 civilian workers plus a horse.

This year is the 80th anniversary year of this tragic event. Representatives from Bawdsey Radar are honoured to be attending an event to unveil a memorial near to the crash site dedicated to those who died. The Oaksmere Hotel, Brome is hosting the memorial unveiling event on 10 November at 10.40am.  The day and time of the crash.

Family members of the crew and civilians will be there to commemorate and remember their family members who lost their lives. Representatives from RAF Alconbury and Mildenhall will also attend along with an honour guard and associated organisations.