Consolidated B-24 Liberator

In unclear circumstances, the Consolidated B-24D-CO Liberator registered 41-1132 collided with a second USAAF B-24 registered 41-11759 at Sewart AFB, Smyrna, TN. The collision seems to have occurred while both airplanes were taking off. Both airplanes were destroyed and there were no fatalities.

Suffered a ground accident while taxiing at Holloman AFB. Damaged beyond repair. There were no fatalities.

The crew departed Davis-Monthan AFB in the afternoon on a bombing exercise. After takeoff, the airplane reached the altitude of 7,500 feet then proceeded to the target area. Due to clouds over the zone, the crew decided to return and to continue the bombing exercise in the vicinity of the airbase. Approaching the airfield, both left engine stopped. The pilot attempted to reach the base but the airplane stalled and crashed 5 km south of the airfield. Eight crew members were killed and two others were seriously injured.
Crew:
2nd Lt Clinton L. Lee, pilot,
2nd Lt Jay R. Thompson, copilot,
S/Sgt Charles E. Bennewitz, flight engineer,
S/Sgt Fredie C. Eifert, assistant flight engineer,
S/Sgt Theodore A. Rusnack, radio operator,
S/Sgt Frank D. Snell, radio operator,
2nd Lt Walter T. Chase, bombardier,
S/Sgt Robert E. Kamp, air gunner.

Crashed for unknown reasons while taking off from Langley AFB. Five crew members were killed.
Crew:
Maj Paul M. Person,
1st Lt Milton R. Montgomery,
2nd Lt Paul A. Kirk,
Sgt Edward W. May,
Cpl Joseph M. Keyes.

The airplane departed RAF Shipdham on an operation to the railway marshalling yards in Sotteville. Approaching Rouen, it was shot down by a German fighter and crashed east of Sierville. Ten crew members were killed and the navigator parachuted to safety and became PoW.
Crew:
1st Lt Robert W. Blaine, pilot, †
2nd Lt Lawrence J. Roetto, copilot, †
T/Sgt George L. Nored, flight engineer, †
1st Lt Leo O. Frazier, navigator,
T/Sgt Oscar Kreissig, radio operator, †
2nd Lt Thomas C. Mayen, bombardier, †
S/Sgt Norman A. Breniser, air gunner, †
S/Sgt Frank N. Doria,air gunner, †
S/Sgt Edward Sufka, air gunner, †
Sgt Benjamin F. White, air gunner, †
S/Sgt Don J. Williams, air gunner. †

The airplane departed RAF Shipdham on an operation to the railway marshalling yards of Soteville-lès-Rouen. It was shot down by a German fighter and all 10 crew members abandoned the airplane. Three of them parachuted to safety and became PoW while seven others were killed by enemy fire while descending to the ground.
Crew:
Cpt Clyde E. Price, pilot, †
2nd Lt Robert E. Forrest, copilot, †
T/Sgt Dalton R. Snell, flight engineer, †
S/Sgt Roy E. Gosline, assistant flight engineer, †
1st Lt Jacob A. Augenstene Jr., navigator, †
1st Lt Donald E. Jester, radio operator, †
2nd Lt Morton P. Gross, bombardier, †
S/Sgt Lewis J. Fleshman, air gunner, †
S/Sgt Deane J. Devars, air gunner,
S/Sgt Kenneth Lynn Erhard, air gunner,
S/Sgt Iris C. Wyer, air gunner.

After landing at Manchester-Ringway Airport, the aircraft was unable to stop within the remaining distance, overran and came to rest in a field. There were no casualties and the airplane was damaged beyond repair.

The airplane departed March AFB on a routine training exercise. En route, it suffered a catastrophe structural failure, lost its tail section and crashed in a mountainous area located near Lytle Creek. All five crew members were killed.
Crew:
Cpt Marvin J. Frum, pilot,
2nd Lt Marshall E. Oberg, copilot,
T/Sgt Merle F. Draper, flight engineer,
S/Sgt Fred Bedford, radio operator,
S/Sgt Russell P. Boyd, air gunner.

The airplane departed Holloman AFB on a local training exercise. While cruising at an altitude of 7,800 feet, the airplane suffered an explosion that occurred between the fuselage and the engine n°3. Out of control, the airplane entered a dive and crashed in the White Sands Missile Range, some 24 km west of Holloman AFB. Nine crew members were killed and one was ejected when the explosion occurred and parachuted to safety.
Crew:
2nd Lt John G. Striplin, pilot,
2nd Lt Joseph L. Shumsky, copilot,
2nd Lt Royce G. Matthews, bombardier,
T/Sgt Patrick G. McKay, flight engineer,
Sgt Marvin Litz, assistant flight engineer,
S/Sgt William F. George, radio operator,
Sgt John S. Swenk, assistant radio operator,
Sgt Lawson R. Armstrong Jr., air gunner,
Sgt James R. Early, air gunner.

While on approach to Parnamirim AFB, Natal, the airplane crashed in unknown circumstances 5 km west of the airfield. All five crew members were killed.