ASN Wikibase Occurrence # 71533
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| Date: | Thursday 8 March 1945 |
| Time: | 11:20 |
| Type: |  Consolidated B-24L Liberator |
| Owner/operator: | United States Army Air Forces (USAAF) |
| Registration: | 44-49278 |
| MSN: | Fo4133/15675 |
| Fatalities: | Fatalities: 6 / Occupants: 11 |
| Aircraft damage: | Destroyed |
| Location: | Spinazzola AAF *1), 8 mi ENE -
 Italy
|
| Phase: | Take off |
| Nature: | Military |
| Departure airport: | Venosa AAF, Italy *2) |
*1) Spinazzola AAF: 44 NM SE Foggia
*2) Venosa AAF: 31 NM SE Foggia. Both belonged to the "Foggia airfield cluster", consisting of about two dozen airfields *3).
Bombing mission #153 to Szombathely, Hungary.
Maj Cummings was leading formation. On take off the port life raft suddenly deployed and wrapped around the tail and port stabilizor. After gaining altitude and dropping ordinances Pilot was unable to maintain control. After the bail out bell 4 men escaped before the bomber impacted the ground, destroying the ship and killing the remaining 6 men, including pilot and copilot.
Killed in action:
Maj Phillip E Cummings Pilot
Lt Glen Jones Co Pilot
Lt Will Busick Navigator
T/Sgt Richard Callahan Engineer
S Sgt Mike Kovich Tail Gunner
S Sgt Al Gasiorek Top Turret gunner
Survivors:
T Sgt George Kavanaugh Radio operator/gunner
S Sgt Richard Peath Ball Turret gunner
Lt Argie Simmons Bombardier
Last survivor unknown but being researched. Will add when identified.
Sources:
MARC Accident report/ "This Is How It Was" ISBN# 0-941072-15-0 page 248 (kavanaugh recalls mission)/Family records and history
- JF Baugher
*3) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Foggia_Airfield_Complex
Revision history:
| Date/time | Contributor | Updates |
|---|---|---|
| 17-Jan-2010 21:23 | Rodster | Added |
| 26-Aug-2011 15:48 | Uli Elch | Updated [Aircraft type, Cn, Operator, Location, Departure airport, Source, Narrative] |
| 05-Jan-2012 06:09 | Uli Elch | Updated [Time, Aircraft type, Cn, Operator, Location, Departure airport, Source, Narrative] |
| 05-Jan-2012 06:10 | Uli Elch | Updated [Cn, Source] |
Corrections or additions? ... Edit this accident description
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