Redlingfield, Suffolk
Redlingfield
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15 May 2010
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MEMORIAL SITE : The Rongstad Crew Memorial
REPORT : The Rongstad Crew Memorial Dedication Day
On 19 November 1943 2nd Lt Kenneth B Rongstad and his crew boarded their aircraft, a Boeing B-17G Flying Fortress, serial number 42-31123 at USAAF Station 119, Horham Airfield in Suffolk. They were from the 334th Bomb Squadron, 95th Bombardment Group and were due to fly a mission to Germany.
Shortly after taking off the aircraft crashed at Green Farm, Redlingfield killing the crew and destroying the aircraft and farmhouse. The accident report states the cause of the crash as;
Shortly after taking off the aircraft crashed at Green Farm, Redlingfield killing the crew and destroying the aircraft and farmhouse. The accident report states the cause of the crash as;
Too steep a turn after take off before sufficient altitude attained, aircraft stalled, crashed.
Nine of the ten bombs on board exploaded, the tenth was later diffused by a RAF bomb disposal team. A heavily pregnant Ruby Gooderham who was in the farmhouse at the time with her two year old daughter, Ann Stebbings, miraculously survived the incident, Green Farm has since been re-built. Older villagers have been quoted as saying they saw the bomber 'fall out of the sky' on that fateful day.
Redlingfield Parish Council along with the 95th Bomb Group Heritage Association (The Red Feather Club) at Horham and 95th Bomb Group Memorials Foundation in America unveiled a memorial to the crew near the crash site on Green Lane. The service took place at 1030 on 15 May 2010 and started with the Dakota (ZA947) of the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight performing a series of flypast's.
As well as those mentioned above, the ceremony also saw people and representatives from the USAFE at Lakenheath, Suffolk Council, Royal Air Force Association, Royal British Leigon and the Air Cadets. Three veterans from the 95th were in attendance, they were;
After a number of speeches Ann Stebbings and Earl Joswick laid wreaths at the memorial, this was followed by a Bugler from RAF Honington playing the last post.
The crew who died were;
On 15 May 2010, in this corner of Suffolk, this crew were Remembered with Honour.
Redlingfield Parish Council along with the 95th Bomb Group Heritage Association (The Red Feather Club) at Horham and 95th Bomb Group Memorials Foundation in America unveiled a memorial to the crew near the crash site on Green Lane. The service took place at 1030 on 15 May 2010 and started with the Dakota (ZA947) of the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight performing a series of flypast's.
As well as those mentioned above, the ceremony also saw people and representatives from the USAFE at Lakenheath, Suffolk Council, Royal Air Force Association, Royal British Leigon and the Air Cadets. Three veterans from the 95th were in attendance, they were;
- Staff Sgt Earl Joswick, a ball turret gunner on the B-17 “Ten Aces". Earl flew 14 missions and was shot down on 19 July 1944 and ended the war as a PoW in Stalag Luft 4. He knew one of the crew members, Kenneth Cosby, who died in the crash.
- 1st Lt Robert Spinnenweber, a bombardier on "Yankee Wolf". Bob completed a full tour of 30 missions.
- Staff Sgt Frank Martin, a tail gunner on "Knock Out Baby". Frank completed a full tour of 35 missions and was on his first trip back since the war.
After a number of speeches Ann Stebbings and Earl Joswick laid wreaths at the memorial, this was followed by a Bugler from RAF Honington playing the last post.
The crew who died were;
- 2nd Lieutenant Kenneth B Rongstad, pilot.
- 2nd Lieutenant Warren Franklin Mansfield Strawn, co-pilot.
- 2nd Lieutenant Richard E Diete, navigator.
- 2nd Lieutenant Joseph F Spicer, bombardier.
- Staff Sgt Gail A Richmond Junior, top-turret gunner / flight engineer.
- Staff Sgt Gordon V Sorensen, radio operator.
- Sgt Charles E Phinney, ball turret gunner.
- Sgt Julius W Torok, right waist gunner.
- Sgt Louis M Mirabel, left waist gunner.
- Staff Sgt Kenneth Cosby, tail gunner.
On 15 May 2010, in this corner of Suffolk, this crew were Remembered with Honour.