B-24J Liberator 42-50668 of the 854th Bombardment Squadron, 491st Bombardment Group, 8th USAAF, flew into Black Hameldon, near Burnley on the 19th February 1945 whilst flying from North Pickenham to B.A.D. 1 at Burtonwood.

Image: Mark Sheldon

Crew / Passengers

Rank - If Applicable

Position e.g. Pilot

Status

Charles Albert Goeking

1st Lieutenant  

Pilot 

Injured

George H. Smith

2nd Lieutenant

Co-pilot

Killed 

Frank E. Bock

1st Lieutenant

Navigator

Killed

Howard E. Denham

Technical Sergeant

Flight Engineer

Killed

Leslie E. Johnson

Technical Sergeant

Radio Operator

Injured

Joseph B. Walker III

2nd Lieutenant

Passenger

Killed

Elmer R. Brater

2nd Lieutenant

Passenger

Killed

Gerald Procita

Flight Officer

Passenger

Killed

David A. Robinson

Flight Officer

Passenger

Killed

Randolph R. Mohlhenrich

Sergeant

Passenger

Killed

Robert D. Hyett

Sergeant

Passenger

Injured

 

 

Today at the crash site there are the two main undercarriage legs and many tiny fragments of metals lying on a large bare patch on the western side of Black Hameldon. 

Sergeant Mohlhenrich, one of the six passengers on board the aircraft.

Image Copyright Ann Mohlhenrich via Tom Wilson.

A cairn topped by part of the undercarriage can also be found at the crash site.

 

A number of the crew and passengers were buried at Cambridge American Cemetery.

 

 

 

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