{"product_id":"original-u-s-wwii-b-17-42-3544-stars-and-stripes-recovered-bomb-switch-on-period-mount-with-provenance-note-crashed-january-5th-1944","title":"Original U.S. WWII B-17 42-3544 “Stars and Stripes” Recovered Bomb Switch on Period Mount with Provenance Note - Crashed January 5th, 1944","description":"\u003cp\u003eOriginal Item. One-of-a-Kind. This is an outstanding artifact which was mounted onto a board for display during the period. This B-17 Flying Fortress bomb switch was recovered off of the B-17G 42-3544 “Stars and Stripes” which crashed shortly after takeoff from Great Ashfield at Brook Farm in Badwell Ash on January 5th, 1944. The plane crashed on farmland to the northwest of the Badwell Ash, off Langham Road near Brook Farm.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIt is probable that the pilot, Flying Officer William H Morris was aware that there was a problem with the aircraft and was trying to get back to Great Ashfield Airdrome. As a result of the crash, one bomb exploded and together with the impact of the crash, all the crew, bar one, was killed and debris from the plane was scattered over a large area. The plane was carrying 16 M31 300lb bombs.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThere were nine men on the ”Stars and Stripes” that day. The official crash report said that “due to the sudden illness of one crew member just prior to take off, only nine men were aboard the aircraft at the time of the crash”. The nine members of the crew were:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePilot – Flying Officer William H Morris\u003cbr\u003eCo-Pilot – 2nd Lt. Dennis J. Ziebarth\u003cbr\u003eNavigator – 2nd Lt. Richard S Proctor\u003cbr\u003eBombardier – 2nd Lt Robert M Totaro\u003cbr\u003eTop Turret Gunner T\/Sgt Russell A Stevens\u003cbr\u003eRadio Operator\/Gunner – Sgt. Chester A Rober, Jr\u003cbr\u003eBall Turret Gunner – S\/Sgt Walter A Stuebgen\u003cbr\u003eWaist Gunner – Sgt. Stanley Lowitz\u003cbr\u003eTail Gunner – S\/Sgt Burnell W Hamilton\u003cbr\u003e \u003cbr\u003eOnly S\/Sgt Burnell W Hamilton, the Tail Gunner, survived.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis bomb switch is mounted to a wooden board measuring 11 ¼ x 7 ¾” and has an attached note reading:\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: center;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eB17 USAAF FORTRESS\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eBOMB SWITCH FROM B-17, 42-3544 WHICH CRASHED\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eJUST AFTER TAKEN OFF ON JANUARY 5TH, 1944.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTHE BOMBER NAMED “STARS AND STRIPES OF THE\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e385TH B.G. CAME DOWN ON BROOK HOUSE FARM,\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eBALDWELL ASH. STATION WAS GREAT ASHFIELD.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAn outstanding and macabre artifact, ready for further research and display.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Original Items","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":44764907405381,"sku":"ONSV26FWI030","price":695.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1524\/1342\/files\/ONSV26FWI030__05.jpg?v=1773092973","url":"https:\/\/www.ima-usa.com\/products\/original-u-s-wwii-b-17-42-3544-stars-and-stripes-recovered-bomb-switch-on-period-mount-with-provenance-note-crashed-january-5th-1944","provider":"International Military Antiques","version":"1.0","type":"link"}