United States Army Air Forces - USAAF (1941-1947)

The airplane crashed in unknown circumstances at La Junta Airport and was destroyed. A crew was killed.
Crew:
Avc Donald E. Spencer.

The airplane crashed on landing at Dalhart Airport and was damaged beyond repair. There were no fatalities.

Two Consolidated B-24 Liberator heavy bombers collided when one bomber overtook and pulled up in front of the flight leader. The impact with the leader’s nose severed the tail section and the aircraft went out of control preventing the seven man crew from bailing out. The flight leader had sounded the bailout bell and five men parachuted to safety. Parts of the severed tail remained embedded in the nose, pinning the bombardier and navigator in the nose of the aircraft and blocking the pilot’s forward vision. The engineer went to the front of the aircraft, noted the situation and notified the pilot of the two men trapped there. The pilot, Lt. Slough, despite the damage to the aircraft, with the aid of the engineer in the copilot’s seat, managed to fly the plane back and land at the base at Pueblo. These two men, Lt Slough and S/Sgt Cailleir, were awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC) for their heroic actions.
Crew (41-11826):
1st Lt Gerald E. Smetts, pilot, †
2nd Lt Charles T. Bowen Jr., copilot, †
2nd Lt Adam C. Thompson Jr., navigator, †
2nd Lt Bliss M. Shannon, bombardier, †
Sgt Victor H. McGregor, engineer, †
S/Sgt Charles S. Meisenheimer, radio operator, †
Sgt James H. Cooney Jr., air gunner. †
Crew (41-24041):
1st Lt Frank D. Slough, pilot,
2nd Lt Steward P. Elliott, copilot,
2nd Lt Henry W. Scott, bombardier,
2nd Lt Lester M. Warner, navigator,
S/Sgt James E. Cailleir, engineer,
Sgt Elwood W. Harrison, engineer,
S/Sgt Dan Kinnon, radio operator,
Sgt Herman Siegeldt, assistant radio operator,
Sgt Robert A. Griffin, tail gunner.
Source:
http://www.coloradoaircrashes.com/Crashsites/crash_site13.htm

During the takeoff run, bound for Papua New Guinea, the twin engine airplane named 'Dumbo' started to swerve on runway. It went out of control, veered off runway and came to rest, bursting into flames. All seven crew members escaped with various injuries and the airplane was destroyed by fire.
Crew:
Lt Arthur M. Hughes, pilot,
Lt Louis B. McCord, copilot,
Lt Lineberger, navigator,
S/Sgt Stanley C. Kotek, flight engineer,
Sgt John H. Hargrove, radio operator,
Lt Fred C. Federle, bombardier,
Pfc Elliot Pasternack, air gunner.

In unknown circumstances, the airplane crashed 10 km west of Fairfield and was destroyed. All five crew members were killed.
Crew:
2nd Lt Ralph Martin Duffie,
2nd Lt James A. Howell,
2nd Lt Herman Loeffler Jr.,
2nd Lt James M. Russell,
M/Sgt Reginald D. Tolar.

The airplane crashed upon landing at Morris Field and was damaged beyond repair. There were no fatalities.

The airplane crashed in unknown circumstances in Gordon. At least one crew member was killed. The accident occurred prior to delivery to the Royal Air Force with registration BZ348.
Crew:
1st William C. Martin.

En route, the crew encountered an unexpected situation and was forced to abandon the airplane that crashed 7 km north of Pecos and was destroyed. All four crew members parachuted to safety.

The twin engine airplane crashed in unknown circumstances 4 km southwest of Waco Airfield. Three crew members were killed.
Crew:
2nd Lt Harry D. Giles,
F/O Harold Benton Jefferson,
F/O William Frederick Venzke.

The airplane departed RAF Bassingbourn on an operation to Romilly-sur-Seine. Northwest of Paris, it was shot down by a German fighter and crashed near Bernières-sur-Seine. Eight crew members were killed and one became PoW.
Crew:
1st Lt Dan Winstead Corson, pilot, †
1st Lt Bruce Howard Brown, copilot, †
T/Sgt Martin Geddes Bacon Jr., flight engineer, †
1st Lt Mark B. Connor, navigator, †
T/Sgt Edwin D. Byrdic, radio operator, †
2nd Lt Reeves S. Carper, bomb aimer, †
S/Sgt Jackson Murillo Barbour, air gunner, †
S/Sgt Robert Lemuel Ferris Jr., air gunner, †
S/Sgt Salvatore Joseph Dalterio, air gunner.