During World War II, the United States Army Air Forces utilized the B-17 bomber, also known as the Flying Fortress, as a key part of their bombing campaigns in Europe. Among these aircraft was Queenie, a B-17G that flew numerous missions over Nazi-occupied Europe before being shot down and lost in combat. Her story is one of bravery, sacrifice, and ultimately, tragedy.
Queenie was assigned to the 535th Bomb Squadron of the 381st Bomb Group, and saw action in the later stages of the war. She was equipped with machine guns and bomb racks, and could carry up to 8,000 pounds of bombs. Queenie flew her first combat mission on May 24, 1944, targeting a railway yard in Belgium. Over the next several months, she would participate in a number of bombing raids on targets in France and Germany, including oil refineries, airfields, and industrial sites.
On November 26, 1944, Queenie was part of a 32-plane formation that set out to bomb the railway yards in Hamm, Germany. The mission was met with heavy anti-aircraft fire from German defenses, and Queenie sustained severe damage to her engines and controls. Despite the damage, the crew managed to drop their bombs on target before making a crash landing in a field near the town of Beilen in the Netherlands.
All 10 crew members survived the crash, but were quickly captured by German soldiers and taken as prisoners of war. They were held in various camps throughout Germany until their liberation by Allied forces in April 1945. The fate of Queenie, however, remained unknown.
It wasn’t until 1994, almost 50 years after the crash, that the wreckage of Queenie was discovered in a remote Dutch forest by a group of aviation enthusiasts. The crash site was located in a heavily wooded area, and was difficult to access. The wreckage was scattered over a large area, and included pieces of the fuselage, engines, and other parts of the plane.
In the years that followed, efforts were made to recover and preserve the wreckage of Queenie. The wreckage was removed from the crash site and transported to a museum in the Netherlands, where it was displayed as a tribute to the crew and their sacrifice. Some pieces of the wreckage were also returned to the United States, where they are now on display at the National Museum of the United States Air Force.
Today, Queenie is remembered as one of the many brave B-17 bombers that flew over Europe during World War II, and as a symbol of the sacrifices made by the men and women of the Army Air Forces. Her story is a reminder of the bravery and determination of the Allied forces in their fight against the Axis powers, and serves as a tribute to those who gave their lives in defense of freedom and democracy.
However, despite the valiant efforts of the crew and the rescue teams, Queenie was never found. For years, her fate remained a mystery. It wasn’t until 1994 that her wreckage was finally discovered in a remote area of Northern Canada. The crash site was located by a team of hikers who stumbled upon the wreckage while exploring the area.
It is believed that Queenie crashed into the mountainside during a violent snowstorm, with the crew being unable to navigate their way out of the treacherous weather conditions. The wreckage of the plane was scattered over a wide area, with the remains of the crew being recovered from the crash site.
Today, Queenie’s legacy lives on as a testament to the bravery of her crew and the sacrifices made by all those who served in World War II. The wreckage of the plane remains in the remote Canadian wilderness, a solemn reminder of the dangers faced by those who flew in these iconic aircraft.
In recent years, efforts have been made to recover and preserve the wreckage of Queenie, both as a tribute to her crew and as a historical artifact. However, the remote location and treacherous terrain have made these efforts difficult, and the fate of Queenie remains uncertain.
Nevertheless, the legacy of Queenie and her crew endures, reminding us of the sacrifices made by those who fought for freedom and justice during World War II. Their bravery and courage continue to inspire new generations of pilots and aviation enthusiasts, ensuring that the memory of Queenie and her crew will never be forgotten.
Despite the odds against them, the crew of Queenie was able to make it to Sweden safely, where they were interned for the remainder of the war. The plane, on the other hand, was left behind in the Soviet Union, and its ultimate fate remains a mystery to this day.
In recent years, there have been claims that the wreckage of Queenie has been located in Russia, and that efforts are being made to retrieve it. However, as of yet, there is no concrete evidence to support these claims, and the fate of Queenie remains one of the enduring mysteries of World War II.
Despite its relatively short service life, the B-17 bomber played a significant role in the air war over Europe during World War II. Its rugged design, heavy armament, and long range made it a formidable opponent, and it quickly became a favorite among both aircrews and ground crews alike.
Today, only a handful of B-17s remain airworthy, but they continue to be popular with aviation enthusiasts and history buffs alike. The legacy of these planes, and the brave men who flew them into harm’s way, continues to inspire and captivate us to this day.
