Zone

Crash of a Boeing B-17F-25-BO Flying Fortress off Noirmoutier Island: 7 killed

Date & Time: May 1, 1943
Operator:
Registration:
41-24610
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Molesworth - Molesworth
MSN:
3295
YOM:
1942
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
10
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
7
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Molesworth on an operation to Saint-Nazaire. It was shot down by a German fighter and crashed into the sea off Noirmoutier Island. Seven crew members were killed and three others were rescued and became PoW.
Crew:
1st Lt Vincent Xavier Walsh, pilot,
2nd Lt John V. Franklin, copilot, †
T/Sgt David Stamps Lee Jr., flight engineer,
T/Sgt Emery L. Knotts, radio operator, †
2nd Lt Edward A. Zieminski, navigator, †
2nd Lt John H. Walker, bombardier, †
S/Sgt James H. Carithers Jr., air gunner, †
S/Sgt Joseph McMahon, air gunner, †
S/Sgt Leroy H. Moyer, air gunner, †
S/Sgt Anthony Joseph Peklinsky Jr., air gunner.
Probable cause:
Shot down by a German fighter.

Crash of a Boeing B-17F-35-BO Flying Fortress off Noirmoutier Island: 9 killed

Date & Time: Jan 3, 1943
Operator:
Registration:
42-5084
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Bassingbourn - Bassingbourn
MSN:
3623
YOM:
1942
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
10
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
9
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Bassingbourn at 0900LT on an operation to Saint-Nazaire. Over the target area, it was shot down by a German fighter and crashed into the sea 12 km off Noirmoutier Island. Nine crew members were killed and one was rescued and became PoW.
Crew:
1st Lt William M. Anderson, pilot, †
1st Lt James L. Lee, copilot, †
T/Sgt Rex O. Barker, mechanic, †
1st Lt John Henry Roten, navigator,
S/Sgt Anthony C. McCauley, radio operator, †
1st Lt Lyle G. Karnath, bomb aimer, †
T/Sgt Robert E. Marrer, air gunner, †
S/Sgt La Vern A. Senn, air gunner, †
S/Sgt Herman Odegard, air gunner, †
Sgt Richard Q. Flint, air gunner. †
Probable cause:
Shot down by a German fighter.

Crash of a Vickers 424 Wellington IV off Noirmoutier Island: 5 killed

Date & Time: Aug 4, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
Z1487
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Grimsby - Grimsby
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Grimsby at 23309LT to lay mines off the French coast. It crashed in unknown circumstances into the sea off Noirmoutier Island. All five crew members were killed.
Crew:
F/Sgt Claude Lorraine Love, pilot,
F/Sgt Robert Charles Pearce, observer,
F/Sgt James Anderson, wireless operator,
F/Sgt George Hall, wireless operator,
F/Sgt Earl Edwin Hopper, air gunner.