

Details
Publication Date
27 Jun 2024
Language
English
ISBN
9780957399327
Category
History
Copyright
All Rights Reserved - Standard Copyright License
Contributors
By (author): William Lindsay, By (author): Alfred Montgomery
Specifications
Pages
354
Binding
Perfect Bound
Black & White
Dimensions
US Trade (6 x 9 in / 152 x 229 mm)
Price: £24.99 - FREE worldwide postage-shipping. Usually printed & Dispatched within 3 - 5 business days.
On 1 June 1944, in Northern Ireland, there was a huge increase in aerial and maritime activity around the major towns cities and ports, in preparation for the forthcoming allied invasion of Europe (D-Day). New aircraft direct from the United States had been arriving daily in large numbers to bolster the strength of the U.S. Eighth Air Force. One such aircraft that was due to arrive in Northern Ireland on 1 June, was a Boeing B-17G Flying Fortress, Army Serial Number 42-97862. This aircraft was manned by ten young men of the U.S. Army Air Forces, who had recently trained together as a new crew. Ready for overseas deployment, the crew departed Gander, Newfoundland, for their intended destination, on the U.K. mainland. During the morning of 1 June 1944, there was dense low cloud which enveloped the hills surrounding the city of Belfast, Northern Ireland. The crew, after their long transatlantic flight, had decided to divert to USAAF Station 235, Nutts Corner airfield, which was situated some 10 miles from the city. The aircraft was informed to hold, until other aircraft could land at the airfield. In doing so, the young crew became disorientated and lost their bearings, with tragic consequences for all on-board. A story 80 years in the making, join the authors Alfred Montgomery and William Lindsay, as they endeavour to tell the true story, of how ten young men came to perish on a cloud enveloped hill side on a warm summers morning, just 5 days before the allied invasion of Europe. 42-97862 is the culmination of over 40 years combined research by the authors, from interviewing local eye-witnesses, delving deep into official declassified documents and examining the aircraft wreckage, to flying half way across the world to return a lost wedding ring from one of the crew on-board.