Site last updated 1st February 2012
Peak District Air Accident Research

Peak District Air Accident Research

Peak District Air Accident Research

 

B-24H Liberator 42-95095 of the 66th BS / 44th BG, 8th USAAF, crashed at Sidhean Mor, near Gairloch 13th June 1945

Liberator at the RAF Museum, Cosford (Since moved to Hendon)

Image: Mark Sheldon

 

Crew / Passengers Rank - If Applicable Position e.g. Pilot Service No. Status
Jack B. Ketchum 1st Lieutenant   Pilot  O-720263 Killed
Jack H. Spencer 1st Lieutenant Co-pilot O-777858 Killed 
Richard J. Robak 2nd Lieutenant Navigator O-2015143 Killed
Hillburn L. Cheek Technical Sergeant Engineer 39333461 Killed
James C. Stammer Technical Sergeant Radio Operator 17152057 Killed
Eldon J. Gilles Staff Sergeant Gunner 36275004 Killed
Albert L. Natkin Staff Sergeant Gunner 38558214 Killed
Raymond E. Davis Staff Sergeant Gunner 35151144 Killed
Herman Riefen Staff Sergeant Air gunner 16028870 Killed
John B. Ellis Jnr Staff Sergeant Passenger 34038466 Killed
James D. Harvey Staff Sergeant Passenger 34533806 Killed
Alexander W. Hastings Staff Sergeant Passenger 12153113 Killed
Emil Einarsen Staff Sergeant Passenger 32455476 Killed
John H. Hallissey Staff Sergeant Passenger 12046305 Killed
Robert J. Francis Staff Sergeant Passenger 31309090 Killed

 

Throughout the summer of 1945 the USAAF was re-positioning personnel, either for demobilisation in the USA or to the Pacific for the continuing war against Japan. Many aircrew were returned to the US by air, either in aircraft which were destined for the Pacific or ones which were simply being used as a ferry aircraft before being put into storage for eventual disposal.

One of these flights was being made with a B-24H of the 44th Bombardment Group, it had been flown to BAD2 at Warton and then on to Prestwick. It was to fly from Prestwick to Meeks Field at Keflavik in Iceland before its final leg across the North Atlantic to the USA. It took off from Prestwick under instrument flying conditions at about 14:00 on the 13th June and flew northwards, its planned route taking the aircraft via the Isle of Skye to overhead Stornaway before heading out over the Atlantic to Iceland.

As it approached the NW coast near Gairloch the aircraft was in serious difficulties, rapidly descending through the clouds in a gentle turn to port. At 15:25 the B-24 crashed killing all onboard and was completely destroyed by fire. The crash site is at least 25 miles to the East of the intended track from Prestwick to Stornaway but is only a few miles off the direct track.

While the accident investigators were not able to make any firm conclusions they suggested the most likely reason for the crash was an uncontrollable engine fire as parts had come off the aircraft before impact and they showed signs of fire damage. The reported surmised that after being unable to extinguish the fire the crew were trying to crash land before the aircraft broke apart but struck the rocky ground surrounding Sidhean Mor and the 'Fairy Lochans' while still in cloud and exploded.

 

Lochan below Sidhean Mor, with wreckage from B-24 42-95095 on its shore

The view of the crash site as you approach it. On the left near the water is one of the main undercarriage legs.

 

Memorial plaque at the crash site of Liberator 42-95095 near Gairloch

A fairly bad photo of the memorial to the crew and passengers, on the rock face next to where the plane ended up.

 

Undercarriage oleo at the crash site of B-24 42-95095 on Sidhean Mor near Gairloch

The main wheel in the first photo, slowly rusting away. 

 

Main crash site of B-24H 42-95095 on Sidhean Mor

This picture shows where the aircraft came to rest, as it is the last point where wreckage can be found in the direction of travel. 

 

View from the crash site of B-24 42-95095

This photo was taken from the same position as the above photo, but looking down at the lochan. 

 

View towards the crash site of B-24H 42-95095 and the summit of Sidhean Mor

This is the view from the opposite end of the lochan to the crash site, the memorial is below the highest point of the outcrop, there are some people stood there but are hard to see, and the final impact point is the light area about half way up to the right of the centre. 

 

Pratt & Whitney Twin Wasp from B-24H 42-95095 on a small island 

On a small island in the lochan stands an engine from the aircraft, kept in perfect isolation. That is until someone dons a drysuit and goes swimming, as Tom Buchan (of Aircraft Crash Sites of Scotland) and Dave Gordon did.

 

Of the crew and passengers Eight were repatriated in the late 1940s while Seven were buried at the Cambridge American Military Cemetery

Technical Sergeant Hillburn L. Cheek, Engineer

Grave of the engineer, Technical Sergeant Hillburn L. Cheek at Cambridge American Military Cemetery

Staff Sergeant Eldon J. Gilles, Gunner

Grave of Gunner, Staff Sergeant Eldon J. Gilles at Cambridge American Military Cemetery

Staff Sergeant Albert L. Natkin, Gunner

Grave of Gunner, Staff Sergeant Albert L. Natkin at Cambridge American Military Cemetery

Staff Sergeant Herman Riefen, Gunner

Grave of Gunner, Staff Sergeant Herman Riefen at Cambridge American Military Cemetery

Staff Sergeant Emil Einarsen, Passenger

Grave of Staff Sergeant Emil Einarsen at Cambridge American Military Cemetery

Staff Sergeant John B. Ellis, Passenger

Grave of Staff Sergeant John B. Ellis at Cambridge American Military Cemetery

Staff Sergeant Robert J. Francis, Passenger

Grave of Staff Sergeant Robert J. Francis at Cambridge American Military Cemetery

 

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