ASN Wikibase Occurrence # 100411
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| Date: | Friday 5 March 1943 |
| Time: | 03:05 |
| Type: |  Consolidated B-24E Liberator |
| Owner/operator: | United States Army Air Force (USAAF) |
| Registration: | 42-7018 |
| MSN: | 42 |
| Fatalities: | Fatalities: 9 / Occupants: 10 |
| Aircraft damage: | Destroyed |
| Location: | 15 Mi W of Alamogordo AAB, NM -
 United States of America
|
| Phase: | En route |
| Nature: | Military |
| Departure airport: | AAB, Alamogordo, NM |
| return to same |
Crashed after a mid-air explosion. For reasons not determined, the aircraft went into a dive while flying at high altitude. The Navigator was thrown and went unconscious. At a point around 7,800 feet (asl) an explosion between the fuselage and the No. 3 engine on the starboard wing occurred, and the Navigator was blown from the aircraft. He regained consciousness and was able to successfully parachute to ground. The remaining men aboard were killed. Investigators could not conclude a reason for the aircraft going into the dive which resulted in an explosion. But an altimeter was found that indicated the explosion occurred at 7,800 feet.
Killed were:
2nd John G. Striplin, O-665734, TX, Pilot
2nd Lt. Joseph L. Shumsky, O-795653, NJ, Co-Pilot
2nd Lt. Royce G. Matthews, O-727362, CA, Bombardier
T/Sgt. Patrick G. McKay, 13038546, PA, Flight Engineer
S/Sgt. William F. George, 16070179, IL, Radio Operator
Sgt. Lawson R. Armstrong, Jr., 11097361, ME, Gunner
Sgt. James R. Early, 17077285, MO, Gunner
Sgt. Marvin Litz, 33328483, PA, Assistant Engineer
Sgt. John S. Swenk, 39252668, MI, Asst. Radio Operator
Sources:
http://www.aviationarchaeology.com/src/db.asp
https://www.honorstates.org/index.php?id=537074
http://usaafdata.com/?q=search&page=1606&order=field..
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/107640955/john-sybert-swenk
Fatal Army Air Forces Aviation Accidents in the United States, 1941-1945, Anthony J. Mireles
Revision history:
| Date/time | Contributor | Updates |
|---|---|---|
| 06-Oct-2021 15:47 | Cobar | Updated [Cn, Total fatalities, Total occupants, Phase, Departure airport, Source, Narrative] |
| 02-Aug-2022 06:40 | Gumby778 | Updated [Time, Total occupants, Destination airport, Source, Narrative] |
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