Bomber Command Memorial Register

North Lopham (mid-air collision) 43-38746 Memorial

North Lopham (mid-air collision), Norfolk

Partial Record
Approximate location?

Help us verify this location. This memorial's position is not yet precisely confirmed. If you have local knowledge, photographs, or documentary evidence of the exact site, we'd love to hear from you.

Location

North Lopham (mid-air collision), Norfolk, Norfolk

what3words: ///snoozing.preheated.homes

Aircraft & Operation Details

Aircraft Type
B-17 44-6137 "The Abortion Queen" and B-17 43-38746
Squadron
96th BG
Station
Snetterton Heath (USAAF)
Date of Loss
1945-01-29

Crew

18 killed (9 each aircraft)

Memorial Details

Type
Memorial stone

Memorial Care

parish council
Organisation
North Lopham Parish Council

Local Contacts

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

North Walsham & District Royal British Legionbritish legion

Local remembrance and memorial support

North Lopham Parish Councilparish council

Local authority responsible for memorial upkeep

Further Reading

Aviation TrailsRetrieved 2026-03-23

Detailed account of the mid-air collision on 29 January 1945. Two B-17s from the 96th Bomb Group collided over North Lopham while departing RAF Snetterton Heath (Station 138) for Mission 811 to bomb the Bielefeld marshalling yards at Kassel. 2nd Lt Alex Philipovitch's aircraft flew across the path of 2nd Lt George Peretti's B-17; Peretti's port wing struck the first aircraft causing it to explode, while his own aircraft was split in half. All 18 crew members were killed.

Mission 811 to Bielefeld marshalling yards2nd Lt Philipovitch and 2nd Lt Peretti were pilotsPhilipovitch's aircraft exploded on impactPeretti's aircraft split in half337th Bomb Squadron involved

Imperial War MuseumsRetrieved 2026-03-23

IWM War Memorials Register entry for the 96th Bomb Group B-17 Flying Fortresses 43-38746 and 44-6137 mid-air collision memorial at North Lopham, Norfolk.

IWM memorial reference 56245Both aircraft serials confirmed: 43-38746 and 44-6137

American Air MuseumRetrieved 2026-03-23

American Air Museum archive entry for the 96th Bomb Group based at Snetterton Heath (Station 138), documenting the unit's operations and losses including the North Lopham collision.

96th Bomb Group at Station 138 (Snetterton Heath)Unit history documented in American Air Museum

Sources

  • Geograph Norfolk(website)

Credits & Acknowledgements

Record compiled by
Keith Binley
Heritage sources
Aviation Trails (retrieved 2026-03-23)
Imperial War Museums (retrieved 2026-03-23)
American Air Museum (retrieved 2026-03-23)
Last updated 2026-03-21

Nearby Memorials

Bressingham Stirling Memorial
Bressingham, NorfolkStirling1943-04-10
5.2 km
away
Carleton Rode (1) Glory" Memorial
Carleton Rode (1), NorfolkB-24 44-10513 "Old Glory"1944-11-21
12.5 km
away
Carleton Rode (2) McGoon" Memorial
Carleton Rode (2), NorfolkB-24 42-50452 "Earthquake McGoon"1944-11-21
12.5 km
away
Stow Bedon V.5851 Memorial
Stow Bedon, NorfolkBlenheim V.58511942-07-07
15.3 km
away
Great Ashfield — 385th Bomb Group Memorials
Great Ashfield, SuffolkB-17 Flying Fortress
15.7 km
away

Do you have additional information, photographs, or corrections for this record? We welcome contributions from researchers, families, and local communities.

Suggest a correction or addition

Can You Help Complete This Record?

This record for North Lopham (mid-air collision) 43-38746 Memorial is partially complete. We’re looking for additional details such as crew information, photographs, narrative history, or source references.

Email admin@bombermemorial.co.uk or contribute directly via our GitHub repository