Womans Name on Turret Leads to Identification of B-17 Debris in Italian Lake

[Subdeacon Joe]

Womans Name on Turret Leads to Identification of B-17 Debris in Italian Lake

 

WarBirdsNews.com: In Viterbo, Italy a long-standing mystery has been solved. A wrecked B-17 bomber

that disintegrated upon striking the surface of Lake Bolsena during

WWII has been identified after much sleuthing on the part of

investigators. Pieces of the plane had first been discovered in 1960,

but there were no parts discovered that bore identifiable serial numbers

that could establish the identity of the plane or its crew. Recently

however a machine gun turret was located by the Submarine School of

Bolsena which bore “LOIS ILEEN” hand-painted by a service member upon it

which made identifying the plane possible.

Lois

Eileen was the wife of the turret’s gunner, Ralf Truesdale which led to

the identification of the plane and connected the story of the

disposition of her crew these many years later.

[Quick Draw Granpaw #48525]

Joe, thank you, very interesting learning & discovering what has been lost for years.

 

QDG

[Subdeacon Joe]

My pleasure, QDG. What struck me was the research that had to go into making the identification.

[Four-Eyed Buck,SASS #14795]

That was the ball turret they discovered