B-24H Liberator 42-94841 of the 857th Bombardment Squadron, 492nd Bombardment Group, USAAF Crashed on Twizle Head Moss, Holmfirth, on the 9th October 1944

Consolidated B-24 Liberator at the RAF Museum

 

Elmer D. Pitsenbarger 1st Lieutenant Pilot Killed
James D. Nendel 2nd Lieutenant Co-pilot Killed
Jack M. Bliss Flight Officer Navigator Killed
Frank Cser Flight Officer Bombardier Killed
Presley E. Farris Technical Sergeant Engineer Killed
Zoe W. Zwinge Technical Sergeant Radio Operator Killed
Frank A. Villelli Technical Sergeant Gunner (Tail) Killed
Curtis Anderson Staff Sergeant Gunner (Waist) Injured
Charles T. Lowbald Corporal Passenger Killed
Clarence S. Watson Corporal Passenger Killed (Missing)

 

The crew were on a cross country training flight from their home station at Harrington, near Kettering. The route was to have been Base – Goole – Huddersfield – Stafford – Builth Wells – Worcester – Banbury – Base. It was flown that day by another crew who reported very poor visibility in the area around where 42-94841 crashed.

After arriving in the Huddersfield area the 1st Lt Pitsenbarger turned the aircraft towards Stafford, it had drifted by half a mile to the west but was otherwise on course. While flying at 1,600ft the aircraft struck the northern edge of Twizle Head Moss above Holmfirth, the aircraft disintegrated over a short distance and caught fire. The centre section was completely gutted by the fire, and such was the severity of the blaze that Cpl Clarence Watson who was flying as a passenger was never found.

S/Sgt Curtis Anderson had been thrown out of the aircraft when it crashed, and although very badly injured survived.

Crew of Consolidated B-24H 42-94841 which crashed on Twizle Head Moss, Holmfirth
Eight of the ten men on board 42-94841 are shown in this photograph taken prior to their departure from the US.
Back Row (L-R): Jack M. Bliss, Frank Cser, Elmer D. Pitsenbarger and James D. Nendel
Front Row (L-R): Zoe W. Zwinge, Presley E. Farris, Charles Anderson, C. McQuade (not in crash), Frank A. Villelli and H. Stee (not in crash)
Image: Ron Collier via David Earl
Wreckage at the crash site of Consolidated B-24H 42-94841 on Twizle Head Moss, Holmfirth
A view of the main collection of wreckage, mostly it is very small bits of metal.
In this photo the majority of the light colour is frost.
Crash site of Consolidated B-24H 42-94841 on Twizle Head Moss, Holmfirth
At the site where the aircraft burned out there is one of the two undercarriage legs, and many small fragments.
Undercarriage oloe at the crash site of Consolidated B-24H 42-94841 on Twizle Head Moss, Holmfirth
A short way down the moor is the second undercarriage leg, this one has been cut into two sections, though a very long time ago.
Crash site of Consolidated B-24H 42-94841 on Twizle Head Moss, Holmfirth
A slightly more recent photograph, taken on the 60th anniversary of the crash on the 9th October 2004.

 

A number of the crew were buried at Cambridge American Cemetery, Cpl Watson is commemorated on the Tablets of the Missing, it was reported some time ago that his remains were discovered during the salvage operation, but his status as missing was confirmed by the US Department of Defence’s Defence Prisoner of War / Missing Personnel Office. As such this site is one of the few, true, war graves on high ground in the UK.

Grave of 1st Lieutenant Elmer D. Pitsenbarger at Cambridge American Military Cemetery

Grave of 2nd Lieutenant James D. Nendel at Cambridge American Military Cemetery

Grave of Flight Officer Jack M. Bliss at Cambridge American Military Cemetery

Grave of Flight Officer Frank Cser at Cambridge American Military Cemetery

Grave of Corporal Charles T. Lowbald at Cambridge American Military Cemetery

Commemoration of Corporal Clarence S. Watson on the Tablets of the Missing at the Cambridge American Military Cemetery