1945 — July 30, USAAF B-24 crash in forest near Schofield Barracks, Oahu, HI         –all 12

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

–12  Aviation Safety Network. USAAF B-24D Liberator crash near Oahu, 30 July 1945.

–12  Pacific Wrecks. “B-24D-1-CF ‘Evelyn’ Serial Number 42-63765.” 2-18-2020 update.

Narrative Information

Aviation Safety Network, flight Safety Foundation, Database 1945, p. 109:

“Date:                          Monday 30 July 1945

“Type:                         Consolidated B-24D Liberator

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

“Registration:              42-63765

….

“Fatalities:                   Fatalities: 12 / Occupants: 12

….

“Location:                   near Oahu, HI – USA

‘Phase:                         En route

“Nature:                      Military

….

“Narrative:                  Crashed near Oahu, killing the entire crew.”

Pacific Wrecks. “B-24D-1-CF ‘Evelyn’ Serial Number 42-63765.” 2-18-2020 update:

“Aircraft History

“Built by Consolidated at Fort Worth, Texas. Constructors Number 14. Delivered to the U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF) as B-24D-1-CF Liberator serial number 42-63765.

Wartime History

“Assigned to the 7th Air Force (7th AF), 30th Bombardment Group (30th BG), 392nd Bombardment Squadron (392nd BS). Nicknamed “Evelyn”. When lost, engine serial numbers noted in Missing Air Crew Report 14812 (MACR 14812). No weapons were aboard when lost.

Mission History

“On July 30, 1945 at 8:36am took off from Wheeler Field on Oahu piloted by Captain William D. Frostic on an instrument calibration mission. This was the first aircraft to take off that day, and had extra time warming up. Weather was 10/10 [cloudy] cumulus clouds with a 2,000′ ceiling, 5 mile visibility and light rains. Around 9:10am, crashed into a forest near Schofield Barracks, killing the entire crew on impact. The crash was observed by Major Durr, Captain Massey and Sgt Bleiberg. On impact, the bomber broke into pieces and burned.

“After the crash, three search parties were sent to the crash site. The first was a group of seven men led by Lt. Robert M. Wood. The second with walkie-talkies was led by Major Bastron, base flight surgeon reached the site on July 31, 1945 at 11:30 am. The third party had a pack mule train to recover the bodies of the crew…”.

Fatalities:        

Aircraft Commander  Captain William D. Frostic, O-422844 (KIA, BR) Wyandette, MI
Pilot  1st Lt Russell E. Reeves, Jr. (KIA, BR) Memphis, TN
Crew  1st Lt Kenneth G. Kinne (KIA, BR) Sioux Falls, SD
Crew  1st Lt David A. Moyer, O-855667 (KIA, BR) Los Angeles, CA
Crew  1st Lt John Franco, O-929052 (KIA, BR) San Francisco, CA
Crew  SSgt Stephen Medovich, 15131935 (KIA, BR) Yongstown, OH
Crew  SSgt Hubert P. Miller (KIA, BR) Kannapolis, NC
Crew  SSgt William G. Gilliland, 19044252 (KIA, BR) San Francisco, CA
Crew  Sgt Elmo L. Engman, 37579526 (KIA, BR) MN
Crew  Sgt Abraham A. Albert (KIA, BR) Baltimore, MD
Crew  Sgt Robert E. Krueger (KIA, BR) Chicago, IL
Radio   Sgt James Paul Hinchsliff, 37539505 (KIA, BR) Bonner Springs, KS

“MACR 14812.”

Sources

Aviation Safety Network, flight Safety Foundation, Database 1945, p. 109. USAAF B-24D Liberator crash near Oahu, 30 July 1945. Accessed 12-24-2023 at:

https://aviation-safety.net/wikibase/100405

Pacific Wrecks. “B-24D-1-CF ‘Evelyn’ Serial Number 42-63765.” 2-18-2020 update. Accessed 12-24-2023 at: https://pacificwrecks.com/aircraft/b-24/42-63765.html