1944 – Feb 26, USAAF B-24E lost, GA to Cuba, Atlantic, off Jacksonville, FL             –all 10

Compiled by Wayne Blanchard; last edit 4-11-2024 for upload to: http://www.usdeadlyevents.com/

–10  Baugher, Joseph. 1941 USAAF Serial Numbers (41-24340 to 41-30847). 4-18-2023 rev.

–10  Mireles 2006. Fatal Army AF Aviation Accidents…US…, V2, July 1943-July 1944, p. 702.

Narrative Information

Baugher: “Douglas-Tulsa B-24E-25-DT Liberator….28548 (302nd BG, 356th BS) missing on formation flight from Chatham Field, GA to Batista Field, Cuba Feb 26, 1944. Last seen going down off Jacksonville, FL. 10 crewmembers missing.”

 

Mireles: “At an un­known time after 1005 EWT, a Consolidated B-24E [41-28548] disappeared and was presumed lost at sea with ten crewmembers. The airplane had taken off at 0835 EWT from Chatham Army Air Field, Savannah, Geor­gia, on a high-altitude formation flight to Batista Field, Cuba, and return. At approximately 0930, the waist gunner on board the lead airplane noticed that the subject airplane fell out of formation and was slowly drop­ping behind and the number-four engine appeared to be smoking. The airplane began a shallow left turn and continued in the turn until it disappeared into the un­dercast at about 5,000 feet indicated. The formation flew to the area of Orlando, Florida, and circled the area several times, waiting for the subject airplane to catch up. When the subject airplane failed to appear, the formation continued on the navigation flight to Cuba. At about 1005 EWT, a radio operator on the mainland heard a faint signal from the subject airplane but could not understand the message and was only able to read the airplane’s call sign.”  (Mireles 2006, Vol. 2, July 1943-July 1944, pp. 702-703)

 

Sources

 

Baugher, Joseph. 1941 USAAF Serial Numbers (41-24340 to 41-30847). 4-18-2023 revision. Accessed 4-11-2024 at: https://www.joebaugher.com/usaf_serials/1941_4.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.