Consolidated B-24 Liberator

While performing a night training mission out from Davis-Monthan AFB, the four engine airplane entered an uncontrolled descent and crashed on Bassett Peak located in the Galiuro Mountains, northeast of Tucson. SAR operations were suspended after few days as no trace of the airplane nor the crew was found. The wreckage was spotted almost two months later in an isolated area. All 11 crew members were killed.
Crew:
2nd Lt John L. Wasson, pilot,
2nd Lt Charles A. Beaucond, copilot,
Pvt Henry C. Peterson, flight engineer,
S/Sgt Robert E. Story, assistant flight engineer,
Sgt Alman L. Porter, radio operator,
Pvt Murty J. Huckaby, radio operator,
2nd Lt Joseph Ferio, bombardier,
2nd Lt Frederick E. Neal, bombardier,
S/Sgt Ernest M. Breier, air gunner,
Sgt Henry P. Pelletier, air gunner,
Sgt Stephen A. Safko, air gunner.

The airplane departed Holloman AFB and was number four in a formation of four similar airplanes. After departure, the formation bound to the north and after entering in clouds, the pilot reduced his speed, probably to avoid any collision with the preceding airplanes. After the pilot throttled back the power lever, the airplane stalled and entered an uncontrolled descent during which the wing tip, rudder and elevator were sheared off. The airplane crashed in an open field in Tularosa and was totally destroyed. The radio operator parachuted to safety while 11 other occupants were killed.
Crew:
2nd Lt James W. McClure, pilot,
2nd Lt James B. Milligan, copilot,
S/Sgt William B. Dyson, flight engineer,
Sgt Chester C. Shoemaker, assistant flight engineer,
Sgt Robert T. Cole, assistant radio operator,
2nd Lt Daniel W. Phillips, navigator,
2nd Lt Donald A. Irwin, bombardier,
Sgt Melvin A. Plumberg, air gunner.
Passengers:
Tec5 William J. Lewis,
Tec5 Steve Voytko,
Sgt Leroy H. Wilkins.

The airplane crashed in unknown circumstances in an uninhabited area located some 22,5 km northeast of Lake Charles. A crew was killed.
Crew:
2nd Lt Benjamin E. Angell.

The four engine airplane departed Schilling AFB (Smoky AFB), Salina, on a flight to DeRidder, Louisiana, with a crew of 10 on board. Almost immediately after liftoff, while climbing to a height of about 75 feet, the left wing dropped and hit the runway surface, causing the airplane to crash and to catch fire. Five crew members were killed and five others were seriously injured.
Those killed were:
1st Lt Edward G. Riley, bombardier,
1st Lt Robert I. Van Horn, navigator,
S/Sgt Dale V. Brown, assistant flight engineer,
S/Sgt Robert L. Grace, radio operator,
S/Sgt Francis H. Ayers, air gunner.

The four engine airplane departed Holloman AFB on a training exercise with a crew of 10 on board. While flying at night at low altitude, the captain snap the automatic pilot system when the airplane nosed down and crashed in a huge explosion 5 km west of Alamogordo. The airplane disintegrated on impact and all 10 crew members were killed. It is understood that a recovery was impossible due to an insufficient distance with the ground.
Crew:
2nd Lt William F. Schulte, pilot,
2nd Lt Elmer J. Molique Jr., copilot,
2nd Lt Billie D. Stults, copilot,
Sgt Paul D. Miller, flight engineer,
Pvt Floyd J. Pekrul, flight engineer,
Sgt Willie F. Rose, radio operator,
Sgt Austin P. Young, radio operator,
2nd Lt Raymond W. Wherling, O-795324, PA, Navigator
Sgt Warren S. Leeper, air gunner,
Sgt Robert C. McCormick, air gunner.

Crashed in unknown circumstances somewhere in Canada. The airplane was on its way to UK to be delivered to the Royal Air Force. Crew fate unknown.

The crew was performing a local training flight at RAF Thorney Island. On final approach, one (maybe two) engine lost power. The airplane stalled and crashed in shallow water short of runway. All three crew members escaped with minor injuries and the airplane was damaged beyond repair.
Crew (86th Squadron):
Sgt John Murray,
P/O Ronald Harwood,
P/O Alfred W. Dungate.

The airplane crashed on landing at Accra Airport and was damaged beyond repair. All 12 occupants escaped unhurt.
Crew:
2nd Lt Harold W. Goad, pilot,
2nd Lt Albert J. English, copilot,
S/Sgt Omar A. Austin, flight engineer,
S/Sgt Robert W. Witte, radio operator,
2nd Lt Walter V. McCoy, navigator,
2nd Lt John C. Kelley, bombardier,
S/Sgt Frank J. Chiarello, air gunner,
S/Sgt Francis E. Sawyer, air gunner,
Sgt George H. Marshall, air gunner,
2nd Lt Russell E. Wisem,
S/Sgt Bernard A. Zucker,
S/Sgt Kenneth L. Diemand.

Shortly after takeoff from Reykjavik Airport, while on a transit flight from Europe to the US, the engine n°3 caught fire and exploded. The crew decided to return for an emergency landing. On final approach, the engine n°3 fell off and the airplane landed in flames. Upon touchdown, the right main gear failed and the aircraft skidded for few hundred metres before coming to rest with both wings on fire. Nine occupants were killed and six others were injured.
Crew (120th Squadron):
W/O Peter Lawrence Brooks Ellis, pilot, †
F/S John Gibson Benson, copilot, †
F/S George Frederick Denis Lowrison, radio navigator, †
Sgt D. McClelland, flight engineer,
F/S A. Barthorpe, wireless operator and air gunner,
Sgt G. Young, wireless operator and air gunner,
Sgt William Stanfield, wireless operator and air gunner. †
Passengers:
Cdr C. Harris,
Lt A. Finn,
S/L H. Catchlove,
F/O William John Wright, †
F/L Francis Henry Salt, †
LAC Maurce Ian Kidd, †
Cpl H. Y. Mills, †
Cpl J. D. Cole. †

The airplane departed Port Moresby-7 Mile Drome on an operation against Japanese ships off Lae. Over the target area, it was shot down by six Japanese Zero and crashed into the sea. Eight crew members were killed and the copilot was rescued and became PoW.
Crew:
2nd Lt Dayton S. Altman Jr., pilot, †
Lt Norman D. Smith, copilot,
2nd Lt William H. Hoyt Jr., navigator, †
T/Sgt Francis M. Brigham, radio operator, †
2nd Lt Herbert H. Gardner Jr., bombardier, †
T/Sgt Freddie K. Affeld, air gunner, †
S/Sgt Vincent M. Calise, air gunner, †
S/Sgt John F. Ratliff, air gunner, †
S/Sgt Francis E. Bogucki, air gunner. †