Crash of a Consolidated LB-30 Liberator in Seymour

Date & Time: Dec 13, 1942
Operator:
Registration:
AL623
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Talara - Seymour Island
MSN:
121
YOM:
1941
Country:
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
For unknown reasons, the airplane crashed upon landing at Seymour Airfield and was damaged beyond repair. There were no fatalities.

Crash of a Consolidated LB-30 Liberator at RAF Lyneham: 5 killed

Date & Time: Nov 4, 1942
Operator:
Registration:
AL595
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Prestwick - Lyneham
MSN:
93
YOM:
1941
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
The airplane departed Prestwick on a flight to RAF Lyneham following technical modifications. On final approach to RAF Lyneham at night, the airplane descended too low, collided with trees and crashed in a field, bursting into flames. All five crew members were killed.
Crew:
F/Lt George John Le Mar, pilot
F/O Samuel Alexander Bruce Gordon, copilot,
F/O John Henry Fuller, navigator,
F/O Deiniol Davies, wireless operator,
Sgt Gilbert Henry Gregg, air gunner.
Probable cause:
Pilot error.

Crash of a Consolidated LB-30 Liberator II in Gibraltar: 14 killed

Date & Time: Oct 31, 1942
Operator:
Registration:
AL516
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Luqa - Gibraltar
MSN:
014
YOM:
1941
Region:
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
34
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
14
Circumstances:
The four engine airplane departed Luqa on a flight to England with an intermediate stop in Gibraltar. On board were various crew of RCAF, RAF and RAAF as well as few civilians including military wives and two children. Upon arrival at Gibraltar-North Front Airport, the crew encountered poor weather conditions with thunderstorm activity. It is believed that the airplane overshot the runway so the captain decided to go around when the aircraft stalled and crashed into the sea. Fourteen people, including eight civilians (among them two children) were killed and 26 other people were rescued, among them few were injured.
Crew:
W/O Rupert Henry Davey,
F/O Edwin Herbert Glazebrook,
P/O John William Williams,
F/Sgt Charles Edward Mutch,
F/Lt Erik Lawson Hetherington,
Sgt David William James Spencer.
Passengers killed:
Mr. Edward James Rowe,
Mrs Hannah Eunice Rowe,
Mrs Elizabeth Pricilla Sheldon,
Mrs Mabel Hucklebridge,
Mrs Isabella Josephine Aston,
Mr Simon Aston,
Mrs Edna Patricia Chase,
Mr Thomas Chase.
Passengers who survived:
W/Cdr A. H. Donaldson,
W/O Gordon Henry Taylor Farquharson,
F/Lt Rae Walton,
F/Lt Arthur Ford Roscoe,
F/Sgt D. A. Bye,
F/Sgt A. W. Varey,
F/Sgt E. L. Mahar,
F/Sgt I. Watson,
F/Sgt J. McCulloch,
F/Sgt L. G. Pow,
P/O G. W. R. Frampton,
P/O E. J. Sanders,
P/O George Frederick Beurling,
P/O F. D. Thomas,
P/O L. S. Reid,
P/O C. F. Bush,
F/O F. R. Johnson,
F/O A. S. Yates,
F/O C. A. M. Barbour,
F/O J. G. W. Farmer,
F/O J. A. H. Pinney,
Sgt E. J. Booker,
Sgt K. R. Mitchell,
Sgt F. W. Clewley,
Mrs D. W. Spencer,
Mrs J. Neighbours.

Crash of a Consolidated LB-30 Liberator II at RAF Marston Moor: 10 killed

Date & Time: Aug 5, 1942 at 1715 LT
Operator:
Registration:
AL588
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Marston Moor - Marston Moor
MSN:
086
YOM:
1941
Region:
Crew on board:
10
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
10
Circumstances:
The crew was engaged in an air gunnery training exercise with a RAF Spitfire. Shortly after takeoff from RAF Marston Moor, while climbing, the captain initiated a sharp turn when he lost control of the airplane that dove into the ground and crashed in a huge explosion in a field located about 800 metres from the airbase. The airplane was destroyed and all 10 crew members were killed.
Crew (1653 HCU):
F/Sgt Bryn Williams, pilot,
Sgt Alan Francis Bell, pilot,
P/O Thomas Henry Jones, air gunner,
Sgt Wilfred Anthony Kup, observer,
Sgt Edward Thorley, wireless operator and air gunner,
Sgt Sidney Sampson, wireless operator and air gunner,
Sgt Edward Albert Smith, air gunner,
Sgt Kenneth Caselton, air gunner,
Sgt William Henry Charles Booth, air gunner.
Sgt Douglas Arnold Wood.
Probable cause:
Loss of control in initial climb caused by the failure of the tail section, maybe due to a structural issue.

Crash of a Consolidated LB-30 Liberator on Pinzón Island: 11 killed

Date & Time: Jul 30, 1942
Operator:
Registration:
AL629
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
MSN:
127
YOM:
1941
Country:
Crew on board:
11
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
11
Circumstances:
The airplane crashed in unknown circumstances on Pinzón Island, killing the entire crew of 11.
Crew:
Pvt Albert W. Anderson,
Sgt William R. Coulter Jr.,
S/Sgt Thomas J. Drummond Jr.,
2nd Lt Robert L. Forrester Jr.,
2nd Lt Anselm B. Harrison,
M/Sgt Paul Knoppke
Sgt Charles J. Korpi,
Sgt Loyd W. Miller,
2nd Lt Richard E. A. Regula,
1st Lt William Russell Ussery Jr.,
S/Sgt Harold W. Woodcock.

Crash of a Consolidated LB-30 Liberator at March AFB

Date & Time: Jul 1, 1942
Operator:
Registration:
AL527
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
25
YOM:
1941
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from March AFB, the airplane crashed, bursting into flames. There were no casualties.

Crash of a Consolidated LB-30 Liberator near Hamilton AFB: 14 killed

Date & Time: Jun 4, 1942
Operator:
Registration:
AL601
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
MSN:
99
YOM:
1941
Crew on board:
14
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
14
Circumstances:
The airplane suffered a technical failure and crashed 5 km northwest of Hamilton AFGB, CA. All 14 occupants were killed, among them nine USAAF personnel.
Crew:
Pvt Alexander Constantopoulos,
T/Sgt Floyd W. Gerald,
Cpl Walter B. Haynes,
S/Sgt Joseph E. Kulis,
T/Sgt Alex Mazeikas,
S/Sgt John M. Pilarcik,
Pvt Travis Polk,
T/Sgt Clyde E. Tweedy,
T/Sgt Loren E. VanKirk +5.
Probable cause:
Unknown technical failure.

Crash of a Consolidated LB-30 Liberator in Kodiak

Date & Time: May 22, 1942
Operator:
Registration:
AL602
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
100
YOM:
1941
Location:
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crashed upon landing in Kodiak. There were no casualties.

Crash of a Consolidated LB-30 Liberator in Buenaventura

Date & Time: Apr 14, 1942
Operator:
Registration:
AL631
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
129
YOM:
1941
Country:
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Damaged beyond repair following a crash landing on a beach in Buenaventura. There were no casualties.

Crash of a Consolidated LB-30 Liberator II in Lytchett Minster: 1 killed

Date & Time: Mar 24, 1942
Operator:
Registration:
AL546
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Boscombe Down - Boscombe Down
MSN:
044
YOM:
1941
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
The crew departed RAF Boscombe Down on a test flight consisting of a series of climb tests when the starboard outer engine (n°4) oversped and caught fire. The captain ordered his crew to abandon the airplane which they did successfully. Unfortunately, the airplane broke up and crashed in Lytchett Minster, killing the pilot.
Crew:
W/Cdr John William McGuire, pilot, †
W/O F. Robinson.