| Summary : The Post-War period crash site of aircraft 44-61999 "Over Exposed": an American Boeing Superfortress RB-29A heavy bomber, which was modified to be a F13A, and which had thus been in use prior to the crash in a reconnaissance role. The crash occurred at Higher Shelf Stones on 3rd November 1948. The aircraft is of historic interest because of its role in the Cold War: it was formerly part of the 509th Composite Group involved in filming the atomic bomb tests at Bikini Atoll, codenamed Operation Crossroads. Afterwards at the time of the Berlin Air Lift the aircraft was used by the 16th Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron, 311th Air Division, to reconnoitre and map the Russian occupied area of Germany from bases in Britain. The crew's tour of duty was coming to a close and they were on a transport flight from RAF Scampton (1388211) to the USAAF base at Burtonwood when they crashed, probably due to becoming lost in overcast conditions. An RAF mountain rescue team from Harpur Hill found the crashed aircraft; all the crew had been killed in the crash and subsequent fire. Large pieces of aircraft wreckage were reportedly still on site at the start of the 21st century, including part of a gun turret, wing section, cyclone engine and fragments of undercarriage. By 1997 a commemorative stone had been erected at the crash site. The site lies not only within the Peak District National Park but also the Park Peak Site of Special Scientific interest. Please note that a licence to excavate or recover any remains from a military crash site must be first obtained from the Ministry of Defence before any such investigation can take place. |
More information : The Post-War period crash site of aircraft 44-61999 "Over Exposed": an American Boeing Superfortress RB-29A heavy bomber, which was modified to be a F13A, and which thus had been in use prior to the crash in a reconnaissance role. The crash occurred at Higher Shelf Stones on 3rd November 1948. It was formerly part of the 509th Composite Group involved in filming the atomic bomb tests at Bikini Atoll, codenamed Operation Crossroads. Afterwards at the time of the Berlin Air Lift the aircraft was used by the 16th Photographic Reconnaissance Squadron, 311th Air Division, to reconnoitre and map the Russian occupied area of Germany from bases in Britain. The crew's tour of duty was coming to a close and they were on a transport flight from RAF Scampton to the USAAF base at Burtonwood when they crashed, probably due to becoming lost in overcast conditions. An RAF mountain rescue team from Harpur Hill found the crashed aircraft: all the crew had been killed in the crash and subsequent fire. (1)
By the time of publication of source 2 in 1997, a memorial stone had been erected at the crash site. Large sections of wreckage were said to be on site. (2)
Aircraft wreckage was reportedly still on site at the start of the 21st century, including part of a gun turret, wing section, Cyclone engine and fragments of undercarriage. (3)
Photograph of the plaque in situ commemorating the 13 crew lost while descending through cloud on 03-NOV-1948, spelling the name "Overexposed": date of plaque 12th November, 1988. Further photographs in the set, taken in January 2011, depict engine and other wreckage with the plaque in view, a cairn, and commemorative cross markers. (4)
Crew: 13 (4)
Crew Lost: 13 (4)
Owner: USAAF (4)
Date of Loss Qualifier: Actual date of loss |