Zone

Crash of a Consolidated B-24A-CO Liberator off Lofoten Islands: 3 killed

Date & Time: May 28, 1942
Operator:
Registration:
AM924
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Stornoway - Stornoway
MSN:
15
YOM:
1940
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Aircraft flight hours:
450
Circumstances:
The crew left Stornoway at 0500LT on a survey flight over the Norwegian Sea to locate the German battleship christened 'Tirpitz'. Following an unsuccessful mission, the crew was returning to Scotland when flying along the Lofoten Islands coast, the aircraft was attacked by the pilots of three German Messerschmitt Me.109 fighters. The captain was forced to ditch the aircraft along the coast and while four crew members were able to find refuge in a dinghy, all three other occupants were killed in the attack. The aircraft was lost.
Crew (120th Squadron):
F/O Walton,
P/O Corkran,
Sgt T. J. Culnane, †
Sgt Pickering,
Sgt Booker,
F/Sgt E. A. Allgood, †
Sgt B. F. Smith. †
Probable cause:
Shot down by the pilots of German fighters.