In the parking area next to the access track.

Marker

A rectangular information board details the crash of B-17G Flying Fortress #43-38847 at Clee Hill, Shropshire, on November 25, 1944. It includes the names, ranks, roles, and images of the fallen personnel. The board is written in English.

Source of photo: Alan Skiffins

First Column:

At the top of these steps is a Memorial Plaque to the three crew and three passengers of B-17-G (Flying Fortress) 43-38847 who died when it struck the top of old Dhustone Quarry and cart wheeled over the Common coming to rest near the old Belfry Quarry, Clee Hill, at 15.20 hours on 25th November 1944.

The following information has been sourced from John Trow, who as a young boy, was one of many locals to witness the crash and also the U.S.A.A.F. crash report. 

The aircraft had taken off from A.A.F. Station 169 at Stansted, Essex at 14.31 hours and was on a cross country flight to Langford Lodge near Gortnagallon, Northern Ireland, via Buttonwood. Calf of Man and Nutt's Corner. Dundrod. The weather forecast for the route was given as fit. The pilot, 1st Lt. George C. Johnson, was a qualified first pilot for this type of aircraft with a flying time of 324 hours. He had completed 30 combat missions as a co-pilot and first pilot.

The fight path should have taken the aircraft well to the east of Clee Hill but it was actually 28 degrees off course. Witnesses said it was flying over the Tenbury Wells area heading west towards Ludlow before it turned to the north flying up the valley between Ludlow and Clee Hill. It changed course again heading out of the valley towards Clee Hill flying straight towards Dhustone Quarry. 

Second Column:

In the accident report, witnesses said it was flying at approximately 200 feet and into cloud. The top edge of the old Dhustone Quarry is approximately 1500 feet above sea level. The Clee Hill area has its own weather system at times and on this day the summit was in a sleet storm with zero visibility. 1st Lt. Johnson would not have seen the quarry face until the last moment. A witness said there was a huge increase in roar from the engines as the crew desperately tried to gain height. The aircraft banked to the left but the left wing hit the top edge of the Dhustone Quarry. The left wing tip and left horizontal stabilizer were found at the bottom of quarry. The aircraft then cartwheeled over the Common on top of the hill disintegrating in the process. 

Large parts of the aircraft crashed through stone walls but luckily missed the houses. Much of the wreckage came to rest between the houses and the old Belfry Quarry. At the time, John Trow was walking home from school and he ran up the hillside to the crash site. Men from the nearby quarry also arrived at the crash and removed casualties laying them against one of the stone walls. According to the U.S.A.A.F. crash report all died in crash except for the Radio operator, Cpl. Bean, who died in an ambulance on the way to Ludlow Cottage Hospital. 

With thanks to Midland Quarry Products for donating the Dolerite stone for the plaque and allowing the memorial to be sited on their ground and members of the Public for their donations. 

Third Column:

In memory of the B-17-G which crashed here at 15:20 hours on 25th November 1944, killing all on board

CREW

1st Lt. George C. Johnson,

U.S.A.A.F. Pilot

S/Sgt. Francis O. Hull,

U.S.A.A.F. Flight Engineer

Cpl. John E. Bean,

U.S.A.A.F. Radio Operator

PASSENGERS

Lt. Col. Hartford H. Vereen, U.S.A.A.F.

Major Kenneth T. Omley, U.S.A.A.F.

Capt. Priscilla Gotto, 

British Mechanised Transport Corps