Bomber Command Memorial Register

Nailstone 43-37776 Memorial

Nailstone, Leicestershire

Complete Record
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Location

Nailstone, Leicestershire, Leicestershire

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Narrative

The B-17 "Heavenly Body" was on a night navigation training flight from its home base at Eye in Suffolk — a long way from the operational missions over Germany that the 490th Bomb Group normally flew. Twelve men were aboard, including three passengers along for the ride. Over NW Leicestershire, while executing a turn near Nailstone, the nose dropped and the port wing struck the ground. The aircraft was completely destroyed by fire and explosion. All twelve men were killed. Five were subsequently buried at Cambridge American Cemetery at Madingley, near Cambridge; the other seven were repatriated to the United States after the war. This was the single deadliest crash in Leicestershire during the war. The "Heavenly Body" name and the fact that these men died on a training flight far from their base — not in combat — adds to the tragedy.

Aircraft & Operation Details

Aircraft Type
B-17 Fortress 43-37776
Squadron
490th Bomb Group
Station
Eye (USAAF)
Date of Loss
1944-09-27
Operation Type
Training
Cause of Loss
Nose dropped during turn; port wing struck ground; destroyed by fire and explosion

Crew (12 members)

RankNameRoleAgeNationalityFateBurial / Status
1st LtMichael H. PrimusPilot—AmericanKilled
5 buried at Cambridge American Cemetery; 7 repatriated to USA
1st LtLouis G. DeputyCo-pilot—AmericanKilled
—
2nd LtRichard J. HermannNavigator—AmericanKilled
Cambridge American Cemetery
2nd LtRobert C. SimmonsBomb Aimer—AmericanKilled
Cambridge American Cemetery
T/SgtRoy E. GriswoldFlight Engineer—AmericanKilled
—
T/SgtClaude KeeleRadio Operator—AmericanKilled
—
S/SgtHarry StoeverBall Turret Gunner—AmericanKilled
—
S/SgtLawrence I. RichterWaist Gunner—AmericanKilled
Cambridge American Cemetery
S/SgtAmerico VergiliTail Gunner—AmericanKilled
—
S/SgtJohn C. BarryPassenger—AmericanKilled
—
S/SgtRalph W. FrankePassenger—AmericanKilled
Cambridge American Cemetery
S/SgtEdward ShivelyPassenger—AmericanKilled
Cambridge American Cemetery

About the Crew

1st Lt Michael H. PrimusPilot

First Lieutenant and pilot of the B-17 'Heavenly Body', 490th Bomb Group.

1st Lt Louis G. DeputyCo-pilot

First Lieutenant and co-pilot of the 'Heavenly Body'.

2nd Lt Richard J. HermannNavigator

Second Lieutenant and navigator.

2nd Lt Robert C. SimmonsBomb Aimer

Second Lieutenant and bomb aimer.

T/Sgt Roy E. GriswoldFlight Engineer

Technical Sergeant and flight engineer.

T/Sgt Claude KeeleRadio Operator

Technical Sergeant and radio operator.

S/Sgt Harry StoeverBall Turret Gunner

Staff Sergeant and ball turret gunner.

S/Sgt Lawrence I. RichterWaist Gunner

Staff Sergeant and waist gunner.

S/Sgt Americo VergiliTail Gunner

Staff Sergeant and tail gunner.

S/Sgt John C. BarryPassenger

Staff Sergeant, a passenger who was not part of the regular crew.

S/Sgt Ralph W. FrankePassenger

Staff Sergeant, a passenger.

S/Sgt Edward ShivelyPassenger

Staff Sergeant, a passenger.

Memorial Details

Type
Physical memorial

Memorial Care

parish council
Organisation
Nailstone Parish Council

Local Contacts

These local organisations are connected to this memorial and may be able to help with information or visits.

Leicester Royal British Legionbritish legion

Local remembrance and memorial support

Nailstone Parish Councilparish council

Local authority responsible for memorial upkeep

Further Reading

US War MemorialsRetrieved 2026-03-23

US War Memorials database entry for the B-17 'Heavenly Body' (43-37776) memorial at Nailstone. Documents the stone of remembrance with attached plaque in the Memorial Garden commemorating all 12 crew members of the 490th Bomb Group.

US War Memorials database referenceStone of remembrance with plaqueMemorial Garden location

Detailed technical and historical account of the B-17G 43-37776 crash at Nailstone on 27 September 1944. The bomber was on a training flight from Eye to Liverpool when it flew low over Barlestone and Nailstone, hit a tree and exploded. All twelve aboard were killed.

Training flight route was Eye to LiverpoolHit a tree on farmland near NailstoneFully loaded with bombs and ammunitionTrying to reach Desford aerodrome

B-17 Flying Fortress databaseRetrieved 2026-03-23

International B-17 database entry for 43-37776 'Heavenly Body', confirming the aircraft details, unit assignment to the 490th Bomb Group, and loss circumstances at Nailstone.

Aircraft name 'Heavenly Body' confirmed490th Bomb Group assignment confirmed

American Air MuseumRetrieved 2026-03-23

American Air Museum in Britain database entry for B-17G 43-37776, part of the IWM's American Air Museum collection records.

American Air Museum reference 11782

Imperial War MuseumsRetrieved 2026-03-23

IWM War Memorials Register entry for the B-17 Flying Fortress crew memorial at Nailstone.

IWM memorial reference 50741

Sources

  • Geograph(website)

Credits & Acknowledgements

Record compiled by
Keith Binley
Heritage sources
US War Memorials (retrieved 2026-03-23)
B-17 Flying Fortress database (retrieved 2026-03-23)
American Air Museum (retrieved 2026-03-23)
Imperial War Museums (retrieved 2026-03-23)
Last updated 2026-03-23

Nearby Memorials

Leicester Lancaster Memorial
Leicester, LeicestershireLancaster04/02/1946 (post-war)
17.2 km
away
Bunny Church Mosquito Memorial
Bunny Church, NottinghamshireMosquito1944-06-17
28.0 km
away
Melton Mowbray Wellington Memorial
Melton Mowbray, LeicestershireWellington1944-08-13
35.5 km
away
Cotgrave Place W.5365 Memorial
Cotgrave Place, NottinghamshireWellington II1941-02-08
36.3 km
away
Marchington Mk.X Memorial
Marchington, StaffordshireWellington Mk.X1944-06-13
36.8 km
away

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