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Assigned to the 560th Bomb Squadron at Knettishall on 18 June 1943 it was flown by Capt Jarrendt on 16 September to bomb Bordeaux but bad weather forced a diversion to the submarine pens at St Nazaire. Hit by flak the Fort limped back to England but crashed in failing light at Long Holcombe Hill near North Moulton in Devon. Three miles short of the crash point, the B17 scraped the top of a hill and the tail gunner James Jones fell out when the escape door came open. Navigator Lt Staples was seriously injured and bombardier Lt Dick lost a leg in the crash.
The aircraft was salvaged three days later. No image on any nose art or title has come to light and further information on its prior mission is sought.