Compiled 12-24-2023 by Wayne Blanchard for: http://www.usdeadlyevents.com/

–14 Aviation Safety Network. USAAF B-24 carrying soldiers to US engine fire, crash, Isle of Skye.

–14 Clark. “B-24H Liberator 41-29369 of the USAAF crashed near Tarskavaig…” 8-5-2016.

Narrative Information

Aviation Safety Network, Flight Safety Foundation, Database, 1945, p. 108:

“Date: Monday 23 July 1945

“Time: 12:45

“Type: Consolidated B-24H-15-CF Liberator

“Owner/operator: United States Army Air Forces (USAAF)

“Registration: 41-29369

“MSN: 468

“Fatalities: Fatalities: 14 / Occupants: 14

….

“Location: Tarskavaig, Isle of Skye – United Kingdom

“Phase: En route

“Nature: Military

“Departure airport: RAF Valley (EGOV)

“Destination airport: Meeks Field, Keflavik (BIKF) [Iceland]

“Narrative:

“The aircraft was used to fly soldiers back to the U.S. from Europe. This was an original 467th Aircraft, it served from April to September with a total of 38 missions. When the aircraft was nearing the southern end of the Isle of Skye the port outer engine (nr.1) caught fire. When the aircraft crossed the coast the port wing outboard of the No.1 engine broke away. As the wing fell it struck the tail section causing it to separate from the aircraft before the plane dived into a hilltop and exploded, killing all those onboard.”

Clark: “41-29369 was one of many aircraft that following the end of the war in Europe was being used to take aircrews back to the United States. The aircraft were typically approaching the end of their useful lives but only had to make it across the Atlantic. The aircraft had taken off from RAF Valley on Anglesey bound for Meeks Field on Iceland. When the aircraft nearing the southern end of the Isle of Skye the port outer engine caught fire, it would appear that the fire could not be brought under control as when the aircraft crossed the coast the port wing outboard of the No.1 engine broke away. As the wing fell it struck the tail section causing it to separate from the aircraft before the plane dived into a hilltop and exploded, killing all those onboard. An attempt had been made to escape the aircraft as one of the escape hatches was found with the release mechanism having been used….”

Clark provides names of crew and passengers, all of whom died, as follows:

William H. Bell 1^st Lieutenant Pilot

Theodore E. Lundell 1^st Lieutenant Co-pilot

Albert L. Harmonay 1^st Lieutenant Navigator

Svend E. Hansen Technical Sergeant Engineer

Robert R. Bisbing Staff Sergeant Radio Operator

Edward Grzesiek Flight Officer Passenger

George W. Baker Flight Officer Passenger

Stephen A. Fenwick Flight Officer Passenger

Marvin Fleak Flight Officer Passenger

Arthur A. Vogel 2^nd Lieutenant Passenger

Eldon E. Eads Flight Officer Passenger

Edward J. Ruszala Flight Officer Passenger

Wilbur L. Titus Flight Officer Passenger

Newton D. Stanley Flight officer Passenger

Sources

Aviation Safety Network, Flight Safety Foundation, Database, 1945, p. 108. USAAF B-24 carrying soldiers to US engine fire/separation hitting tail, crash, Tarskavaig, Isle of Skye, Scotland, 23 July 1945. Accessed 12-24-2023 at: https://aviation-safety.net/wikibase/77757

Clark, Alan. “B-24H Liberator 41-29369 of the USAAF, assigned to BAD 2, Warton, crashed near Tarskavaig on the Isle of Skye, 23^rd July 1945 whilst flying from RAF Valley to Meeks Field on Iceland.” Peak District Air Accident Research, 8-5-2016. Accessed 12-24-2023 at: https://www.peakdistrictaircrashes.co.uk/crash_sites/scotland/consolidated-b-24h-41-29369-tarskavaig/

1945 — July 23, USAAF B-24 engine fire/separation, crash, Tarskavaig, Isle of Skye, Scotland–14