Compiled by Wayne Blanchard; last edit 4-7-2024 for upload to: http://www.usdeadlyevents.com/

— 11 Baugher, Joseph F. 1942 USAAF Serial Numbers (42-001 to 42-30031). 10-28-2011 rev.

— 11 Mireles 2006. Fatal Army AF Aviation Accidents…US…, V2, July 1943-July 1944, p. 747.

— 11 The East Hampton Star, NY. “Plane Lost Off Montauk.” 4-13-1944, p. 1.

Narrative Information

Baugher: “Ford B-24H-1-FO Liberator…7525 disappeared Apr 7, 1944 on training mission out of Westover Field, MA enroute to a bombing range south of Montauk Point. Crew of 11 missing.” (Baugher, Joseph F. 1942 USAAF Serial Numbers (42-001 to 42-30031). 10-28-2011 revision.)

Mireles: “At an unknown time after 1706 EWT, a Consolidated B-24H was presumed to have crashed into the Atlantic Ocean with its crew of eleven. The subject airplane, 13-24H 42-7525, was leading a two-ship flight that took off at 1440 EWT from Westover Field, Chicopee, Massachusetts, on a high-altitude gunnery mission. Investigators stated,

B- 24H 42-7525 led the formation of two down to the [Montauk Point Gunnery Range at which time lead was switched and B-24H 42-95093 took the lead. On the first run from south to north at 20,000 feet on the gunnery range, B-241-I 42-7525 called to B-24H 4295093 about 1645 EWT, reporting that he was having engine trouble and might lose an engine, and requested permission to break formation. Permission was granted by the instructor pilot in B-24H 42-95093 for B-24H 42-7525 to break formation and return to Westover Field. B-24H 42-7525 was last seen about 70 nautical miles south of Montauk Point headed north, at about 1645 EWT. The last radio call from this ship came at 1706 EWT, when it attempted to call Westover Field Ground Station. Message was garbled and only the call letters were picked up. Westover Field tried to contact B-24H 42-7525 for about five minutes and then resumed normal radio traffic. It is impossible to determine what happened and conjecture is all that remains. Since B-24H 42-7525 broke formation under control and the weather was CAVU, the only reasonable explanation seems to be fire and explosion on board.” (Mireles 2006, p. 747)

Newspaper

April 13: “Ships and planes, both Army and Navy, were scouring the Atlantic coast April 8 for an Army heavy bomber which was reported missing with a crew of 11 men since last reported off Montauk Friday night. The Eastern Defense Command, announcing that the search was being carried over an extensive area, said the plane left the Westover, Mass., air base Friday afternoon on a combat training mission. Other participating planes have returned safely.” (The East Hampton Star, NY. “Plane Lost Off Montauk.” 4-13-1944, p. 1.)

Sources

Baugher, Joseph F. 1942 USAAF Serial Numbers (42-001 to 42-30031). Oct 28 2011 revision. Accessed 12-9-2011 at: http://www.joebaugher.com/usaf_serials/1942_1.html

Mireles, Anthony J. Fatal Army Air Forces Aviation Accidents in the United States, 1941-1945 (Volume 2: July 1943 – July 1944). Jefferson, NC: McFarland and Co., 2006.

The East Hampton Star, NY. “Plane Lost Off Montauk.” 4-13-1944, p. 1. Accessed 4-7-2024 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/east-hampton-star-apr-13-1944-p-1/

1944 – Apr 7, Westover Field MA USAAF B-24 engine trouble/lost, Atlantic ~Montauk Pt.-11