The Meltin' Pot
By Jack Scoltock

Introduction

My Third book, Meltin' Pot, has brought me the greatest pleasure. From 1985-2005 I had been running a dive shop in Derry, and when news came to me that the Inishowen Sub-Aqua Club had found the wreck of a B-17 bomber in Lough Foyle I was almost as excited as they were. I knew they had been searching for the plane, called the Meltin' Pot, for some time, but when one of the divers told me he had heard a rumour that a young girl had sailed out single-handedly and rescued the nine airmen off the wing tip of the plane, my instincts told me there had to be a good book in the discovery. I found out that the girl's name was Elisabeth Benson and that she lived with her father, Reverend Benson, in Greencastle at the time the plane had sank in 1942. So, how to contact the Reverend Benson to check that the story was true? I contacted the Presbyterian Department in Queens University and they said they had a Reverend Benson's address. I wrote to the address hoping I was on the right track. Shortly after, Elisabeth Ferguson (née Benson) O.B.E. phoned me to tell me she was that same young girl, and that it was herself and her mother who had rescued the airmen. She also told me that it was a coincidence that she had visited her brother (Reverend Benson) shortly after my letter had arrived at his address. She told me her brother was about to bin the letter as he thought it was from some crank. He was surprised to hear of Elisabeth's rescue.

When word got out that I was writing about the Meltin' Pot, the Inishowen Sub-Aqua Club let me have some of their information. They told me they had been in touch with Lee Kessler, who was a gunner on the Malting' Pot and the only member of the crew they believed to be alive. They gave me his email address and I was surprised when, during one of the emails to me, he mentioned that he had been in contact with Captain Melton. I then contacted Captain Melton myself and during our many conversations I told him that Elisabeth had always been irked that the American Government had not thanked her or her mother for saving the airmen. Captain William Curtis Melton then took it upon himself, when I put him in touch with Elisabeth, to tell her that he would come over to Ireland and personally thank her.

Although very frail, Captain Melton arrived at Elisabeth's house in 2004, when they had a great reunion. They both came to Greencastle where a lovely reception at the Greencastle Museum was held for them by the Inishowen Sub-Aqua Club.

Many artefacts from the plane have been brought to the surface and are housed at the Greencastle Museum. Still to be uncovered are 120 Tommy Dorsey Records and record player that were the property of one of the airmen who played relief saxophone for Tommy Dorsey before he was called up.

It is intended, some time in the future, that the complete wreck of the Meltin' Pot be brought to the surface, when many more discoveries should come to light.

The story of the Meltin' Pot has been a great pleasure for me to write. I hope you enjoy it.

Jack Scoltock
March 2008

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The Beginning

Elizabeth

Lee

Curtis

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Meltin Pot' draws large crowd to Greencastle
Derry Journal 10th March 2009

First Published 2008 The History Press Ltd The Mill, Brimscombe Port Stroud, Gloucestershire, GL5 2QG ISBN 978 0 7509 4725 4

I would thank the Inishowen Sub-Aqua Club www.inishowensubaqua.com and Greencastle Museum, www.inishowenmaritime.com for the help they have been to me through the process of publishing my book and the organisation of the Launch.

Jack Scoltock