Archaeologists uncover remains from Second World War bomber on 80th anniversary of crash

Bullet casings and chunks of the plane’s fuselage are just some of the items discovered at the site where it crashed

Archaeologists have uncovered remains from a Second World War bomber plane nicknamed “Little Blue Boy” on the 80th anniversary of its demise.
Several personal items were discovered at the site where the B-17 bomber crashed just outside Thurston, near Bury St Edmunds, on July 19 1944.
The bomber was cut in half in a collision while trying to rejoin a mid-air formation, leaving eight out of the 10 crew dead.
A 40-man team, including ex-UK servicemen and serving US military personnel, has spent several months excavating the site.
They have uncovered a range of items in the Suffolk field ranging from bullet casings to chunks of the plane’s fuselage.
Cotswold Archaeology led the team of volunteers to try to piece together the items found at the crash site.
Only two airmen managed to escape the doomed aircraft, with the bodies of three of the young Americans left unaccounted for.
The bodies of pilot Walter Malaniak, of Pennsylvania, 26, co-pilot Aaron Brinkoeter, of Texas, 24, and radio operator Ronald Grey, of New York, 27, were unable to be recovered at the time.
Now the team has uncovered key items from the crash including a dog tag belonging to Brinkoeter, found on his actual birthday.
Team lead Rosanna Price, engagement manager at Cotswold Archaeology, said: “This project has been a profoundly moving experience for all involved. As archaeologists, we very rarely recover individuals with known identities and names, and with living relatives.
“To say I’m proud of the whole team, and the use of our professional expertise to attempt these recoveries, would be an understatement. Collaborating with active-duty and retired military personnel truly highlights the historical significance and contemporary relevance of this sort of work.”
Families of the airmen flew to the UK for a special memorial service last Friday following the discoveries.