Coastal Warden Investigating A Wrecked U.S. Airplane Makes A Sad Discovery In The Sand
It’s December 1943 and the skies over Europe are filled with the sound of gunfire and bombs. Over on the southeast coast of England, meanwhile, an American bomber comes crashing down into Sandwich Bay. And for decades its haunting remains lie undisturbed – until one coastal warden makes a heartbreaking discovery.
First mission down
According to historical records, this ill-fated B-17 was on its first ever mission when tragedy struck. With fuel tanks punctured by anti aircraft fire, it plummeted down into the water below. But today the wreck of the bomber still sits in the English Channel off the coast of Kent, having kept its secrets for generations.
Disappearing history
Around the turn of the 20th century, though, a bank of sand swept in and covered the remains of the B-17. And slowly, the wreck began to decay. As pieces of the abandoned airplane started to drift towards the shore, a group of amateur enthusiasts banded together to protect this piece of history from disappearing altogether.
Strange activity
But over time, the story of this B-17 took an unexpected turn. And when coastal warden Tony Ovenden visited the site in May 2021 he spotted some unusual activity out in the bay. Now almost 80 years after it crashed, the secrets of this historic bomber are being uncovered – and not everybody is happy about it.
Important symbol
It should come as no surprise that the wreck of a B-17 is important to those with a passion for history. First developed by Boeing in the 1930s, these American bombers would go on to play a significant role in World War II. And even today they are seen as a symbol of the military that might have helped the Allies to victory.
