[MoMo]

I'm watching a show called " Time Team ". It's quite popular in the U.K. Usually they dig up Romano-British relics/remains in an archaeological dig. they take you through the dig and bring in various experts to comment, fill in details, reconstruct and illustrate.

This show is about digging up a B17 in Norfolk.

I thought that you guys would be interested in a report on the dig, and a link on archaeological aviation sites : LAIT Aviation Archaeology Links Page

also, the relevant Time Team page : Channel 4 – Time Team

Reedham Marshes, Norfolk
21 February 1999
In February 1944, two American 'Flying Fortresses' crashed into each other only a few miles from their home base, on their way back from a bombing raid over Germany. One of the aircraft tumbled into in a marsh at Reedham in Norfolk – killing all 10 of the crew – and gradually became buried in the peat. The incident was forgotten until a group of aviation enthusiasts attempted to raise the 30-ton plane in the 1970s. Three decades later, their leader contacted Time Team who, on their arrival, were faced with excavation techniques that were like nothing they had experienced before.

Teaser
Hundreds of these items were found during the excavation of the World War II bomber from Reedham Marshes in Norfolk. They are also frequently casually picked up by passers-by and become knick-knacks on mantelshelves. What are they and is this a good idea? (Photo: Mick Aston)
Answer
These are bullets from the machine guns of the B-17 'Flying Fortress' that crashed in Reedham Marshes. According to the RAF bomb disposal squad – and contrary to popular opinion – most of this ammunition is 'live' and still capable of injuring (or worse) anyone handling it. A Metropolitan Police spokesman said that the police are, unfortunately, quite familiar with horrendous accidents that have occurred when war-time ammunition, having become corroded, exploded without warning. So if you have any 'antique' bullets such as these, or come across them in or on the ground, do not touch them and contact the police immediately.

[smartd]

Originally Posted by MoMo

I'm watching a show called " Time Team ". It's quite popular in the U.K. Usually they dig up Romano-British relics/remains in an archaeological dig. they take you through the dig and bring in various experts to comment, fill in details, reconstruct and illustrate.

This show is about digging up a B17 in Norfolk.

I thought that you guys would be interested in a report on the dig, and a link on archaeological aviation sites : LAIT Aviation Archaeology Links Page

also, the relevant Time Team page : Channel 4 – Time Team

This one aired over here a couple of months ago:

The bombers in the marsh
On 29 November 1944, two Douglas A-26 Invader US bomber planes crashed into Warton Marsh, eight miles from Preston, in Lancashire. Both planes, along with a number of others, had left Warton Airbase in formation, en route to join forces in the preparations for the Battle of the Bulge, which took place from 16 December 1944 to 25 January 1945. Only one minute off the runway and 1,000 feet into the air, the aircraft collided and came to rest in the marsh. All the crew died. Their bodies were recovered from the planes, but an investigation into the causes of the crash was inconclusive.
When the planes crashed back in 1944, they landed directly on sand. Since then, however, about two metres of silt has built up over the wrecks. It means that the site is a difficult one to excavate, and an earlier attempt to retrieve the aircraft in the 1980s was unsuccessful.
For this programme, Time Team enlisted a veteran air crash investigator, along with the RAF's 'crash and burn' team and other experts to try to find out what caused the crash. Each of the planes, including the engines, was believed to be relatively intact and, it was hoped, would provide the necessary information to determine why these two planes collided.
Local eyewitnesses and fellow flyers in the US Air Force were all called upon to help to build up a picture of what happened on that fateful day in 1944.
Time Trail
This was not the first time that Time Team investigated the site of crashed Second-World-War aircraft. It did so first for the 1999 series, when the team visited Reedham Marshes in Norfolk – a site that had many similarities with the one at Warton Marsh.
In February 1944, two American Flying Fortress bombers crashed into each other on their way back from a bombing raid over Germany. One of the aircraft fell into in a marsh at Reedham – killing all 10 of the crew – and gradually became buried in the peat. The incident was forgotten until a group of aviation enthusiasts attempted to raise the 30-ton plane in the 1970s. Three decades later, their leader contacted Time Team. The excavation techniques required for this dig were like nothing the team had experienced before.

[MoMo]

Thanks Smartd,

I'll look out for the other show. They show " Time Team " on Discovery every day, so it won't take long for it to roll round!

[jim]

Originally Posted by MoMo

Thanks Smartd,

I'll look out for the other show. They show " Time Team " on Discovery every day, so it won't take long for it to roll round!

Don't forget they did a Spitfire dig in France.
Charlie Brown took Spitfire BM 597 over for the show.

[MoMo]

Don't forget they did a Spitfire dig in France.
Charlie Brown took Spitfire BM 597 over for the show.
Jim

Was that " Time Team", Jim? I recall seeing, and commenting on in this forum, a show about Bader's Spitfire; the one in which he was shot down. They located it, but it's in a small lake. That show was really about why Bader claimed to have been shot down in one fashion when all the evidence suggests that it happened in a completely different fashion.

You can read all about it as a part of this ancient thread from the Model Hanger.....the debate got a little heated :

Another WWI flying flick?

[MoMo]

With regard to another thread :

Consider : Niagara Falls while Viagra Rises!

[Hornchurch]

Originally Posted by smartd

This one aired over here a couple of months ago:

The bombers in the marsh
On 29 November 1944, two Douglas A-26 Invader US bomber planes crashed into Warton Marsh, eight miles from Preston, in Lancashire. Both planes, along with a number of others, had left Warton Airbase in formation, en route to join forces in the preparations for the Battle of the Bulge, which took place from 16 December 1944 to 25 January 1945. Only one minute off the runway and 1,000 feet into the air, the aircraft collided and came to rest in the marsh. All the crew died. Their bodies were recovered from the planes, but an investigation into the causes of the crash was inconclusive.
When the planes crashed back in 1944, they landed directly on sand. Since then, however, about two metres of silt has built up over the wrecks. It means that the site is a difficult one to excavate, and an earlier attempt to retrieve the aircraft in the 1980s was unsuccessful.
For this programme, Time Team enlisted a veteran air crash investigator, along with the RAF's 'crash and burn' team and other experts to try to find out what caused the crash. Each of the planes, including the engines, was believed to be relatively intact and, it was hoped, would provide the necessary information to determine why these two planes collided.
Local eyewitnesses and fellow flyers in the US Air Force were all called upon to help to build up a picture of what happened on that fateful day in 1944.
Time Trail
This was not the first time that Time Team investigated the site of crashed Second-World-War aircraft. It did so first for the 1999 series, when the team visited Reedham Marshes in Norfolk – a site that had many similarities with the one at Warton Marsh.
In February 1944, two American Flying Fortress bombers crashed into each other on their way back from a bombing raid over Germany. One of the aircraft fell into in a marsh at Reedham – killing all 10 of the crew – and gradually became buried in the peat. The incident was forgotten until a group of aviation enthusiasts attempted to raise the 30-ton plane in the 1970s. Three decades later, their leader contacted Time Team. The excavation techniques required for this dig were like nothing the team had experienced before.

Cheers smartd,

Never knew about the A.26 programme = new one on me !!!!!!!!!!

I've seen the B.17's at Reedham Marshes prog' several times & video-taped it on my old VHS-recorder when screened 1st-time around.

I remember Tony Robinson driving a 'Studebaker' 2 & 1/2 ton truck from a local museum for the dig.

The phone call to an Eyewitness/neighbouring B.17 crewman who saw the harrowing event un-fold before his eyes was the High-point of the programme.
I also remember the plump-woman painting some nose-art, as she'd done so at their base (on '17's) when CONSIDERABLY younger !


They also done a programme on Paul (I.I.R.C.) Klippsch's Spitfire on a Calais-beach, which had flown & fought from Guess-where ?

[jim]

Originally Posted by MoMo

Was that " Time Team", Jim? I recall seeing, and commenting on in this forum, a show about Bader's Spitfire; the one in which he was shot down. They located it, but it's in a small lake. That show was really about why Bader claimed to have been shot down in one fashion when all the evidence suggests that it happened in a completely different fashion.

You can read all about it as a part of this ancient thread from the Model Hanger.....the debate got a little heated :

Another WWI flying flick?

I am sure it was a time team programme MO.
The Spit in question had gone in nose first and the result was a Spitfire 5 foot long!

[MoMo]

Thanks Jim.

That's another one I'll have to watch out for!

[MoMo]

Whooooo!

Holidays!

See ya!

Be good!