Date & Time:
Jan 9, 1943 at 1136 LT
Type of aircraft:
Consolidated B-24 Liberator
Operator:
Registration:
AM921
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
12
YOM:
1940
Country:
Iceland
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
4
Pax on board:
8
Pax fatalities:
5
Other fatalities:
0
Total fatalities:
9
Circumstances:
Shortly after take off from Reykjavik Airport, while on a transit flight from Europe to the US, the engine number three caught fire and exploded. The crew attempted to return for an emergency landing. On final approach, the engine number three fell off and the aircraft landed in flames. On touchdown, the right main gear failed and the aircraft skidded for several hundred yards before coming to rest with both wings on fire. Nine crew members were killed while six others were injured.
Crew (120th Squadron):
W/O P. L. B. Ellis, pilot, †
F/S J. G. Benson, copilot, †
F/S G. Lowrison, radio navigator, †
Sgt D. McClelland, flight engineer,
F/S A. Barthorpe, wireless operator and air gunner,
Sgt G. Young, wireless operator and air gunner,
Sgt W. Stanfield, wireless operator and air gunner. †
Passengers:
Cdr C. Harris,
Lt A. Finn,
S/L H. Catchlove,
F/O W. Wright, †
F/L F. H. Salt, †
LAC M. I. Kidd, †
Cpl H. Y. Mills, †
Cpl J. D. Cole. †
Crew (120th Squadron):
W/O P. L. B. Ellis, pilot, †
F/S J. G. Benson, copilot, †
F/S G. Lowrison, radio navigator, †
Sgt D. McClelland, flight engineer,
F/S A. Barthorpe, wireless operator and air gunner,
Sgt G. Young, wireless operator and air gunner,
Sgt W. Stanfield, wireless operator and air gunner. †
Passengers:
Cdr C. Harris,
Lt A. Finn,
S/L H. Catchlove,
F/O W. Wright, †
F/L F. H. Salt, †
LAC M. I. Kidd, †
Cpl H. Y. Mills, †
Cpl J. D. Cole. †
Probable cause:
Fire and explosion of the engine number three caused by an oil leak.
