Martin B-26C (AT-23) 41-35791 of the 322nd Bombardment Group, USAAF crashed on Cronk ny Arrey Laa on the 4th July 1944

Charles W. Hoover Major Pilot Injured
Roy A. Schekzer Captain Co-pilot Killed
Floyd E. Swain 1st Lieutenant Navigator Killed
Duke MacConaghy Major Passenger Injured
Robert C. Botsford 1st Lieutenant Passenger Killed
Morton A. Cundiff Captain Passenger Killed
Ralph E. Lowther Captain Passenger Killed
Howard Myers Scull Major Passenger Killed

 

While being ferried from Andrew’s Field in Essex to Langford Lodge in Northern Ireland the aircraft flew into Cronk ny Arrey Laa on the west coast of the Isle of Man just south of the summit of the hill, it broke up over a fairly wide area with some pieces being destroyed by fire.

Crash site of B-26C 41-35791 on Cronk ny Arrey Laa, Isle of Man - Copyright Peak District Air Accident Research
Very little remains at the crash site today. Most has been covered by heather and grass, however this scar remains where one of the aircraft’s wings burned. There are a number of small burnt fragments in amongst the exposed slate.

Of those who were killed in the crash three were later buried at Cambridge American Cemetery at Madingley near Cambridge.

Grave of 1st Lieutenant Floyd Swain at Cambridge, killed in the crash of B-26C 41-35791 on Cronk ny Arrey Laa, Isle of Man
1st Lieutenant Floyd E. Swain, Navigator.
Grave of 1st Lieutenant Robert Botsford at Cambridge, killed in the crash of B-26C 41-35791 on Cronk ny Arrey Laa, Isle of Man
1st Lieutenant Robert C. Botsford, Passenger.
Grave of Major Howard Scull at Cambridge, killed in the crash of B-26C 41-35791 on Cronk ny Arrey Laa, Isle of Man
Major Howard M. Scull, Passenger