Bovingdon AFB

The aircraft left RAF Bovingdon on a transatlantic flight to the US with an intermediate stop in Keflavik. While descending to the airport, the crew encountered poor weather conditions with rain falls, low ceiling and a near zero visibility. At an altitude of 1,100 feet and a speed of 139 knots, the aircraft hit a rocky peak with its right wing. It crashed on a mountain slope located southeast of Keflavik and was totally destroyed, except the tail. Fourteen occupants were killed and only the tail gunner survived with minor injuries. At the time of the accident, the captain was reducing his altitude in an attempt to establish a visual contact with the ground.
Crew (93rd Squadron):
Cpt Robert H. Shannon, pilot,
Lt Gen Frank Maxwell Andrews, copilot,
S/Sgt George A. Eisel, tail gunner,
Cpt James E. Gott, navigator,
T/Sgt Kenneth A. Jeffers, radio operator,
S/Sgt Lloyd C. Weir, crew chief,
S/Sgt Paul H. McQueen, air gunner.
Passengers:
Adna W. Leonard,
Br Gen Charles A. Barth,
Col Marlow Krum,
Col Frank L. Miller,
Maj Theodore C. Totman,
Lt Col Fred A. Chapman,
Maj Robert H. Humphrey,
Cpt Joseph T. Johnson.

The airplane departed RAF Bovingdon at 0900LT to attack the Compagnie de Fives steel plant in Lille. While returning to base, it was shot down by a German fighter. Three crew members were able to bail out from an altitude of 18,000 feet while six others were killed when the airplane crashed in flames into The Channel some 8 km north of Saint-Omer.
Crew:
1st Lt Francis H. Chorak, pilot, †
2nd Lt Joseph J. Fracchia, copilot,
S/Sgt Donald E. Buckland, radio operator, †
S/Sgt John J. Dolan, radio operator, †
S/Sgt Paul E. Gordon, mechanic, †
M/Sgt James E. Lane, mechanic, †
2nd Lt Grady Wayne Roper, navigator,
2nd Lt Charles G. Kolodzinski, bomb aimer,
S/Sgt Malcolm Culpepper, air gunner. †