Need Help w/? about WWII Memorial at Kinsman Notch and NH 112

[gbolt]

I few months back, I am reading the Book - Slow and Steady by Robert Callaway. He wrote "I tented out on the north side of the mountain (referring to Mt. Moosilauke). After a steep and dangerous descent the next morning, I came to my Buick at Kinsmman notch where NH 112 crosses. I remember reading a historical marker there, memorializing a World War II military aircraft that crashed on a training mission".

Today's technology is awesome because I Google Earthed that spot and have a good idea that it exists as the way described in the book. However, I have questions that I cannot find the answers too; without eyes on the ground so to speak.

Can anyone give me more information on this memorial? Is it a plaque on a rock? Does it list names? Is it off the AT and located in the Trail Head Parking Lot? Is it at the intersection of the trail head entrance and Lost River Rd.?

The reason for the questions is two fold. I will not be able to answer the questions myself until 2018 or 2019 - Lord Willing. More important is a posible family connection - if this military aircraft that crashed is related to one of my family members. My Grandmother's Brother (my great uncle?) was a navigator on a B17 flying from Nebraska to Maine on July 11, 1944. The plane crashed somewhere between the State Line and the Rangely Lakes area, North of the AT in Maine: "on a training mission" according to the Air Force telegrams. That plane wreck combined with another two person craft that crashed into a trailer park, stands as the worst day of aviation deaths in the State of Maine to this day.

My brother's and I have research and collected items related to the family tree. We actually have the encased burial flag that drapped the remains of my Uncle when he was flown back and buried in Flagstaff Arizona. We also have the Western Union telegrams delivered the day's following the crash as they searched for and discovered the wreckage.

Sorry if this has bored anyone or is in the wrong Catagory - However, it's a piece of history that may have a link to the Trail that I have alway's been called too and that we all love.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

[Minerva]

On January 14, 1942 a B-18 Bomber crashed on Mount Waternomee. A Google search will result in an image of the plaque.
http://www.hikenewengland.com/Watern...ash070916.html

[rickb]

I recalled seeing a show on NH public TV where the host visited this sight-- I think. With some young people in tow. My google skills got me this far, but I expect more is out there.

http://www.nhptv.org/windows/episodes.asp#.U_KH8H-9KSM

[swjohnsey]

I you saw the movie "It's a Mad, Mad World", the plane Backus flew was a civilian version of that aircraft, D18 Beechcraft.

[rickb]

Following up. I just downloaded the Public Telivision App on my ipad and the went to the NH station section. sure enough the entire 26 minute episode of "Windows to the Wild" was there showing the hosts walk to the crash site and what remains of the wreckage. The piece includes a good deal of history including and interview with one of the first responders. The date and flight plan is they give is different from that of your relatives crash, however.

[Snowleopard]

gbolt, I found this very thorough report on the accident by somebody who bought the land where the crash occurred and maintains the memorial. It includes pictures and a brief biography of each crew member. The date on the report is memorial day 2011. The author's name, address, phone and email are at the end of the report. The report took a remarkable amount of work to research. The memorial apears to be lovingly maintained by the local people.
http://sunfishmedia.com/Aziscohos/Hi...7_Memorial.pdf
Here's another rather thorough report on the crash and crew:
http://www.edwilson.org/B17-Crash/Th...%20a%20B17.pdf
If you search on the date and Deer Mountain B17 crash you can find more info.
http://www.peakbagger.com/peak.aspx?pid=12488
Directions to the crash site:
http://www.geocaching.com/geocache/G...1-c6b5a33e3201
Picture of the memorial and a little more info:
http://forum.armyairforces.com/Deer-...4-m178531.aspx
Better pictures of the memorial and more info:
http://www.eskerridge.com/bj/303rdbg/crashsit.html
This thread on VFTT of a trip to Deer Mountain has the exact latitude longitude of the crash site:
http://www.vftt.org/forums/showthrea...tn-trail-found

Mt. Moosilauke and Kinsman Notch are in eastern NH, not near the Deer Mountain, Parkertown Township, Maine site.

My father was in the Army Air Force flying in B24s and would probably also have been flying to Europe in 1944. The Collings Foundation has a b-17 that still flies; each year their planes travel around the US. I'd highly recommend taking a tour of these planes if they come anywhere near your location. You can even fly in them, but that's expensive:
http://www.collingsfoundation.org/cf_schedule-wof.htm

[Alleghanian Orogeny]

I sincerely hope you can find all the information you want to concerning your family connection to this crash and crash site.

In the past few months, I was astounded to read that between 1941 and 1945 the US Army Air Force alone lost more than 7,100 aircraft and 15,530 pilots, crewmembers, and ground personnel in training flights. Some 6,350 of the fatal crashes were in the continental US. Details about each crash, based on official records, are found in the (very expensive) 3 volume set "Fatal Army Air Forces Aviation Accidents in the United States, 1941-1945".

AO

[gbolt]

Minerva, thanks for the information on the Kingsman Notch memorial and Mt. Waternomee B18 Bomber Crash Site.

However, Snowleopard was correct; Mt. Moosilauke and Kinsman notch are in Eastern NH and not near the Deer Mountain, Maine site. Early research as well as reviewing the Western Union Telegrams from Rangeley Maine have answered my question as to this being the crash site of my Great Uncle's B17 July 11, 1944. Thank you so much Snowleopard - it looks like 2019 0r 2020, I may be hiking Georgia to Deer Mountain and then Katadin. I appreciate the information you provided me and thank you for your's and your Air Force father's service to others. My father was a mechanic in the Air Force during the Korean War - His older brother - my Uncle was in the Pacific Theatre during WWII. The stories of those times, is slowly disappearing with each Generation.

AO, you are exactly correct, the statistics are unbelieveable. However, what is even more amazing is that this story, (possibly unbeknownst to the 10 Crewman's decedents) continues to live on due to the memorial dedicated in July of 06.

I would still ask that others continue to help my search of this Crash Site, should you have any current information. For example, Is the Rangeley View Motel (that housed search and recovery teams) still in operation. I am also wondering how to get the contact information of the land owners of the Memorial Site. It was mentioned that they may run a Fishing or Hiking related business.

I will post one more time, if others are interested, stating the evidence that proves my connection to this Crash Site. I just need time to process Snowleopards links, as well as share with my other brothers.

What a great community of individuals that are associated with the AT and Whiteblaze.net.

[rickb]

Great stuff Snow Leopard. Not to get sidetracked, but since you are from Massachusetts and mentioned the Collings foundation, I just wanted to make sure you were also aware of this museum in Natick. Really an amazing place, but most people have no idea it even exists. http://www.museumofworldwarii.com

[Snowleopard]

gbolt, at the very end of my first link there is contact info for the landowner of the crash site/memorial. I've bicycled in that general area and the woods looked brutal for bushwhacking as the search and rescue folks had to. Now there's some sort of road there. We'll look for you on your hike in 5 years.

rickb, thanks for the link to the Natick www.museumofwwii.com I'll go there sometime.
Another aside, the NH public tv show Windows to the Wild is great and available to watch online.

[gbolt]

Snowleopard, thanks - I rechecked and will use that contact info. I read, "Crew 43-38023, now we know you. We will always remember you. We love you. We miss you. We thank you. God bless you and may light perpetual shine upon you and the family and friends you left behind", and was so moved, I didn't see below.

Once again, thanks for your replies to shed so much light on this for myself and my brothers. It's strange, my Mother passed just this past spring and with her, the link to her Uncle passed as well. Now suddenly we have more information to finalize the family ancestry album.

[Wise Old Owl]

Great story - awesome thread -