As the 306th formation made its way back across the North Sea from a mission to Hannover, Germany, two B-17s from the 423rd squadron collided in mid-air. B-17 #44-8099 flown by 1st Lt. Harry Aylea Jr., was in the No. 1 position of the high squadron. Flying nearby in the No. 4 slot was B-17 #43-37976 “Lily Marlene", piloted by Captain Joseph Mathis.
At around 12,000 feet with a total of 19 airmen on board the two aircraft (ten and nine respectively), the lead bomber began to climb, reducing speed as it did so. "Lily Marlene" flying very close beneath, attempted to maintain position, but the gap was too tight. The aircraft collided, sending both into uncontrollable spins. As they fell from the sky, Lily Marlene exploded.
The crash occurred over the North Sea, off Clacton, Essex, and an immediate air-sea rescue operation was launched to search for survivors. Of the nineteen men aboard, only one was found alive, tail gunner Hastings Key Jr. from #44-8099. Two bodies were later recovered, but the rest were declared missing in action. Missing Air Crew Reports 9655 and MACR 9656
Meanwhile, as other B-17s neared their home bases, the weather over Bedfordshire worsened rapidly. Visibility dropped and in the poor conditions, two returning planes of Chelveston’s 305th Bomb Group approached from different directions and crossed paths directly over the Thurleigh Airfield.
A collision then followed, with both aircraft 43-38133 and 43-38030 "My Achin' B" exploding on impact and scattering wreckage across Station 111. Much of the debris fell onto the 367th Bomb Squadron's dispersal area. Image below.
Tragically, there were no survivors, and the weather had claimed yet another 19 airmen. MACR 10833