Date & Time:
May 27, 1943
Type of aircraft:
Consolidated B-24 Liberator
Operator:
Registration:
41-24212
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
MSN:
1007
YOM:
1942
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
10
Crew fatalities:
8
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
0
Other fatalities:
0
Total fatalities:
8
Circumstances:
The airplane suffered an engine fire in flight and crashed into the Pacific Ocean off Palmyra Atoll. Seven crew members were killed while three others survived. They spent few weeks in a dinghy. Francis McNamara died 33 days later while Russel Allen Phillips and Louis Zamperini made it to Marshall Islands where they were captured by Japanese. They were released at the war's end in August 1945.
Crew:
1st Lt Russel Allen Philips, pilot,
1st Lt Robert H. Mitchell, †
1st Lt Charlton H. Cupernell, †
1st Lt Louis Zamperini, bomb aimer,
S/Sgt Frank Glassman, †
S/Sgt Jay S. Hansen, †
S/Sgt Francis P. McNamara, air gunner, †
Sgt Otto Anderson, †
Sgt Michael J. Walsh, †
Pvt Leslie A. Deane. †
Crew:
1st Lt Russel Allen Philips, pilot,
1st Lt Robert H. Mitchell, †
1st Lt Charlton H. Cupernell, †
1st Lt Louis Zamperini, bomb aimer,
S/Sgt Frank Glassman, †
S/Sgt Jay S. Hansen, †
S/Sgt Francis P. McNamara, air gunner, †
Sgt Otto Anderson, †
Sgt Michael J. Walsh, †
Pvt Leslie A. Deane. †
Probable cause:
Engine fire in flight.
