1942 — April 5, USAAF B-17E Flying Fortress crash, near Pali Lookout, Oahu, HI — 10

lornajarrettblanchard April 5, 1942

Compiled by Wayne Blanchard; last edit 6-22-2024 for upload to: http://www.usdeadlyevents.com/

–10 Oakland Tribune, (CA). “Flying Fort Crew Perishes in Crash,” April 7, 1942, p. 2.

–10 Pacific Wrecks. “B-17E Flying Fortress Serial Number 41-2443.” 3-14-2014 update.

–10 Star Bulletin (HI). “65 Years After Plane’s Crash…Crew Will Be Remembered,” 4-4-2007

Narrative Information

Pacific Wrecks. “B-17E Flying Fortress Serial Number 41-2443.” 3-14-2014 update:

“Mission History

“On April 5, 1942 at 9:00 pm took off from Hickam Field piloted by 1^st Lt. Ward Cox, Jr. on a night patrol… Returning from the mission with bombs aboard, this B-17 crashed into the cliffs of Mount Keahiakahoe near the Nu’uanu Pali on Oahu.

Pilot                1st Lt. Ward Cox, Jr.,             O-392806 (KIA, BR) San Francisco, CA
Co-Pilot          1st Lt. Charles O. Allan, Jr., O-367225 (KIA, BR) FL
Bombardier 2nd Lt. James W. Bushee,      O-430910 (KIA, BR) WI
Crew               SSgt Luther L. Perry, Jr.,        6292999 (KIA, BR) TX
Crew               MSgt Jesse L. Schneider,        12025843 (KIA, BR) Atlanta, GA
Crew               SSgt Mathias E. Donart,         6568848 (KIA, BR) ID
Crew               SSgt Edward L. Hakes,           6667164 (KIA, BR) OH
Crew               SSgt Wilbur L. Gravitt,          6296816 (KIA, BR) TX
Crew               Cpl John F. Morris,                 6999571 (KIA, BR) PA
Crew               Cpl John E. Muckey,              6981906 (KIA, BR) NY.”

Star Bulletin, Honolulu, 2007: “On Easter Sunday – four months after the Pearl Harbor bombing 19 crew members onboard two planes were on routine combat patrol without any city lights to guide them during a heavy rainstorm. “All these guys could do was, based on their senses, hopefully plot their track,” said Donald Hinton, a historian with the Hawaii Aviation Preservation Society. “In the rain, clouds and darkness, they both found the mountains.” The crew members died after their planes crashed – one at Makapuu Point and the other on Mount Keahiakahoe near the Pali Lookout.

“At 10 a.m. tomorrow, the 65^th anniversary of the deaths, the Hawaii Aviation Preservation Society will hold a memorial ceremony for 10 crew members whose plane crashed near the Pali Lookout. An Air Force chaplain and some Air Force members will attend the ceremony.” (Star Bulletin (HI). “65 Years After Plane’s Crash…Crew Will Be Remembered,” 4 Apr 2007.)

Newspaper at the Time

April 7: “Honolulu. April 7.—(UP)—The entire crew of a United States flying fortress was believed today to have perished when the huge plane crashed Sunday night on the coastal slopes of Oahu Island. A terse Army announcement said four bodies had been recovered and “it is believed the entire crew may have been killed” Residents of Honolulu saw a flare drop from a plane about the time of the crash.” (Oakland Tribune, “Flying Fort Crew Perishes in Crash,” April 7, 1942, p. 2)

Sources

Oakland Tribune, CA. “Flying Fort Crew Perishes in Crash,” April 7, 1942, p. 2. Accessed at: http://www.newspaperarchive.com/FullPagePdfViewer.aspx?img=34403399

Pacific Wrecks. “B-17E Flying Fortress Serial Number 41-2443.” 3-14-2014 update. Accessed 6-22-2024 at: https://pacificwrecks.com/aircraft/b-17/41-2443.html

Star Bulletin (Laurie Au), Honolulu, HI. “65 Years After Plane’s Crash, its Crew Will Be Remembered,” 4-4-2007. Accessed 6-22-2024 at:

http://hiavps.com/images/B-17E%2041-2443/HSB%2041-2443%20Article.pdf