Boeing B-17G 44-8639 of the 351st Bombardment Group, USAAF, crashed on Craig Cwm Llwyd on the 8th June 1945
Howard R. Hibbard | 1st Lieutenant | Pilot | Killed |
Joseph C. Robinson | Captain | Co-pilot | Killed |
Joseph A. Glover | Captain | Navigator | Killed |
John Q. Montgomery | Master Sergeant | Engineer / Crew Chief | Killed |
Max Marksheid | Technical Sergeant | Radio Operator | Killed |
Santo A. Caruso | Staff Sergeant | Gunner | Killed |
Kenneth W. Craumer | Technical Sergeant | Gunner | Killed |
David I. Rapoport | Sergeant | Gunner | Killed |
Lester A.F. Rhein | Technical Sergeant | Gunner | Killed |
Robert E. Smith | Staff Sergeant | Gunner | Killed |
Richard E. Higley | 1st Lieutenant | Passenger | Killed |
Teed O. Smith | Staff Sergeant | Passenger | Killed |
Morris Lemewski | Technical Sergeant | Passenger | Killed |
Paul Lucyk DFC | Technical Sergeant | Passenger | Killed |
Edwin R. Birtwell | Sergeant | Passenger | Killed |
Sheldon R. Coons | Sergeant | Passenger | Killed |
Camille F. Devaney | Sergeant | Passenger | Killed |
Boyd P. Dobbs | Sergeant | Passenger | Killed |
John D. Leasure | Sergeant | Passenger | Killed |
Calvert G. Pool | Corporal | Passenger | Killed |
Following the end of conflict in Europe US Forces began to return home, some as their period of service came to an end and others in preparation for the expected attack on Japan. Most returned by sea but some USAAF personnel returned by air. This aircraft was one of many that were being flown back to the USA with those additional passengers. It was being flown from Polebrook in Northamptonshire to RAF Valley on Anglesey before the final leg back to the USA, on board was a crew of ten with another ten passengers. As with a number of other flights engaged in this operation it never left the British Isles.
While approaching Valley in low visibility the crew requested a course to steer and this was transmitted to them by Valley, however the aircraft flew on the reciprocal course which took it inland towards Dolgellau. After a short while the crew realised the error and began a turn to starboard to take them back out to sea. Before this turn was completed it struck high ground close to the summit of Craig Cwm Llwyd on the southern side of the Mawddach Estuary, it travelled approximately 300 feet along the crags before its last impact where the wreck broke up and was destroyed by fire.
Eleven of those killed were subsequently buried at Cambridge American Cemetery, below are photographs of nine of their graves.
Passengers