Information about this photograph:

  1. Aircraft No: 42-97374
  2. Tail Letter: X
  3. Fuselage ID: K8-X
  4. Group/Squadron: 398th, 602nd
  5. Official Name of Aircraft: Madame X
  6. Date of Photograph: 24 December 1944
  7. Photo Location: Nuthampstead Air Base
  8. Crew at time of Photograph: Zimmerman's Crew
  9. Final Disposition of A/C:
    1. 24 Dec 1944 crash at the Nuthampstead Air Base, Zimmerman Crew.
    2. Assigned as original aircraft on 26th April 1944. A/C 42-97374 was with the 398th for 243 days and had completed 68 missions.
    3. The a/c remains were moved as scrap to 71 M.U Slough Berkshire. (M.U.= Maintenance Unit)
  10. Interpretive Comments: The following information was provided by Malcolm Osborn during October 2004.

    There were two crashes that cold, foggy morning of 24 December 1944. These were 42-97374 Zimmerman and 42-102536 Grinter. Grinter's A/C 42-102536 exploded violently after burning for a short while. However, Zimmerman's A/C 42-97374 was the first A/C to crash that day, and also burnt, but miraculously did not explode. The Zimmerman A/C came down just off the end of the main runway, still on 131 site. The photo is almost certainly that of 42-97374. Both aircraft were totally destroyed. Their remains were eventually removed to a scrap depot at Slough, Berkshire. Both aircraft were carrying 4000 Lbs bomb loads and were filled with maximum gas.

Report of Accident Committee:
B-17G aircraft 42-97374 was scheduled to go on an operational mission on the morning of 24th December. Bomb load was 4000 pounds, gas was maximum.

Vis was 80 yards with patches of fog on the runway reducing vis still further. Wind was North - Northeast - estimated at 7 mph. Temp 30 degrees F. Rime ice and frost was on the wings of the a/c and the pilot and crew chief removed all ice possible before take-off.

The pilot followed standard pre-flight checks on the ground. The a/c left the ground at 115 mph with a nominal increase in airspeed. The left wing dropped and application of right aileron produced no effect. The pilot dropped the nose to prevent a spin. A crash landing was made approximately 275 yards from the upwind end of the runway. The aircraft burned. No crew members were injured. It is the opinion of this committee that the accident was due to 100% icing and adverse weather conditions.

Lt. Col. Simeral
Capt. Scott
Lt. Col. Daily.


Source Information:

  1. Photo Source: The Vic Jenkin's Photo Collection and now part of the 398ths Photo Preservation Project in England.
  2. Photo Reference: HALS CD I: ACC 3910 1 of 5/Aircraft/Aircraft5
  3. Photographer: Unknown but probably 398th Base Photographer.
  4. Information compiled by the 398th Web team with special thanks to Cliff Bishop, Malcolm Osborn and Geoff Rice.
  5. If you would like to add information about this photograph, please contact our Aircraft Photo Coordinator. Please include the title.