Consolidated B-24J 42-100322 of the 714th Bombardment Squadron, 448th Bombardment Group, USAAF, crashed on Burn Fell near Slaidburn in the Forest of Bowland on the 2nd January 1945 while flying from Seething in Norfolk to Warton near Preston to collect a new aircraft which had been delivered, as a consequence they were carrying two crews.
Image: Mark Sheldon
|
Crew / Passengers |
Rank - If Applicable |
Position e.g. Pilot |
Status |
|
Carl H. Holt |
1st Lieutenant |
Pilot |
Injured |
|
Allen H. Carey |
2nd Lieutenant |
Co-pilot |
Injured |
|
Marshall K. Dan |
2nd Lieutenant |
Navigator |
Injured |
|
Donald Zeldin |
Technical Sergeant |
Flight Engineer |
Injured |
|
Oscar W. Olson |
Sergeant |
Radio Operator |
Injured |
|
John J. Madden |
Sergeant |
Passenger |
Injured |
|
Joseph B. Brown |
2nd Lieutenant |
Passenger |
Injured |
|
Richard G. Seymour |
2nd Lieutenant |
Passenger |
Injured |
|
Francis M. Louthan |
Technical Sergeant |
Passenger |
Injured |
|
John C. Jacobs |
Sergeant |
Passenger |
Injured |
|
Bertram O. Chernow |
Staff Sergeant |
Passenger |
Injured |
|
Robert M. Brandon |
Sergeant |
Passenger |
Injured |
|
Mack S. Thomas |
Sergeant |
Passenger |
Injured |
|
Phillip Mazzagatti |
Technical Sergeant |
Passenger |
Killed |
|
Orvie O. Casto |
2nd Lieutenant |
Passenger |
Killed |
|
James E. Fields |
1st Lieutenant |
Passenger |
Killed |
|
Michael J. Hill |
Staff Sergeant |
Passenger |
Injured |
|
Cortland C. Crandall |
2nd Lieutenant |
Passenger |
Injured |
|
Edgar E. Lyons |
Staff Sergeant |
Passenger |
Killed |
The crew had become disorientated in cloud and when they obtained a radio fix on Warton and the pilot turned onto the appropriate heading to get to Warton, after accident it was determined that the fix was on out by 20 miles, while flying at 1500ft the aircraft flew into the top of Burn Fell and slewed round demolishing a stone wall and bursting into flames. The aircraft was reduced to ashes, photographs from the accident (taken from the air) show no recognisable parts, only a large burnt scar on an otherwise snow covered hill. Fortunately, of the 19 aircrew onboard 15 of them survived the crash and subsequent fire.
On both sides of the wall that the aircraft demolished are patches of burnt metal, until a few years ago there were the two main undercarriage oleos in this scar.
Above is a photograph of 1st Lt Cortland Crandall, one of the passengers onboard the aircraft.
Image: Courtland Crandall & Pat Everson (448th BG Collection,Seething) Via David Earl.
On the opposite side of the wall is this much larger rock strewn patch again with lots of small and very burnt bits of metal and a large amount of broken glass, including quite a bit that has been melted.