Date & Time:
Dec 6, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Consolidated B-24 Liberator
Operator:
Registration:
41-23786
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Bombing
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Shipdham - Shipdham
MSN:
581
Country:
France
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
10
Crew fatalities:
10
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
0
Other fatalities:
0
Total fatalities:
10
Circumstances:
While approaching Abbeville, the four engine aircraft was attacked by several German Fw.190. Engines number three and four were hit and caught fire. The aircraft lost altitude, dove into the ground and crashed in a field, killing all ten occupants.
Crew (68th Squadron):
1st Lt James D. Du Bard Jr., pilot,
2nd Lt Henry B. Kaitala, copilot,
2nd Lt Richard V. Somerville, navigator,
2nd Lt George A. Crawford, bombardier,
Sgt Charles S. Dick, flight engineer,
Sgt William G. Mears, radio operator,
S/Sgt Paul E. Beverly, assistant engineer,
Sgt Anthony F. Rizzo, assistant radio operator,
Sgt Robert F. Lilley, air gunner,
Sgt Donald M. Smith, air gunner.
Crew (68th Squadron):
1st Lt James D. Du Bard Jr., pilot,
2nd Lt Henry B. Kaitala, copilot,
2nd Lt Richard V. Somerville, navigator,
2nd Lt George A. Crawford, bombardier,
Sgt Charles S. Dick, flight engineer,
Sgt William G. Mears, radio operator,
S/Sgt Paul E. Beverly, assistant engineer,
Sgt Anthony F. Rizzo, assistant radio operator,
Sgt Robert F. Lilley, air gunner,
Sgt Donald M. Smith, air gunner.
Probable cause:
Shot down by German fighters.
