Compiled by Wayne Blanchard; last edit 4-5-2024 for upload to: http://www.usdeadlyevents.com/

— 10 Baugher. 1944 USAAF Serial Numbers (44-40049 to 44-70254). Oct 28, 2011 rev.

— 10 Vermeer, Jaap. Forum.armyairforces.com. “B-24J, 44-40332.”

Narrative Information

Aircraftwrecks.com: “In early August 2001 my wife and flew to Oahu in the Hawaiian Islands for a short vacation. After paying our respects at many World War Two memorials and monuments we looked into a rainforest hike in the Ko’olau Range north of Honolulu. One trail guide book that I consulted suggested that the wreck of a C-47 from 1943 was visible from the Aiea Loop Trail. So off we went into a beautiful, lush, and surprisingly cool rainforest expecting to hike five miles and find a Douglas C-47. Instead, at the halfway point we spotted the wing not of a C-47 but that of a Consolidated B-24J #44-40332 USAAF that had crashed on 5/5/44 after taking off from Hickam Field. Most of the wreck remains on site today because as the plane hit the top of Aiea Ridge only one wing came to rest on approachable geography. The majority of the B-24J plunged into a steep forested canyon accessible only by mountaineers using ropes. Sadly, this weather related accident resulted in the loss of the entire crew of #44-40332.” (Aircraftwrecks.com. Aircraft Wrecks in the Mountains and Deserts of the American West. “B-24J Oahu, HI.”)

Baugher: “Consolidated B-24J-155-CO Liberator….40332 crashed in Oahu, Hawaii May 5, 1944 after takeoff from Hickam Field en route from California to Australia. All 10 aboard killed.” (Baugher. 1944 USAAF Serial Numbers (44-40049 to 44-70254). Oct 28, 2011 revision.)

Vermeer: “B-24J,44-40332,ATC Hickam Field, crashed 5^th May 1944, 6 miles off Hickam Field at Pu’u Uau Mountain, Hawaii. Aircraft was being delivered from Hickam field to Garbutt Field, Australia. Pilot made normal take-off from Hickam, flew for 6 miles in almost straight line, and crashed into mountain.

2/Lt. Wayne R. Kimble, pilot
2/Lt. William E. Somsel Jr, co-pilot
2/Lt. Charles E. Mueller, nav.
2/Lt. Morris Righthand, bomb
S/Sgt. Jack J. Dowd, eng
S/Sgt. Marion F. Norman, radio
Sgt. James H. Means, gun
Cpl. Manuel F. Campos, gun
Cpl. Gerald L. Weiss, gun
Cpl. Joseph J. Carlucci, gun.”

(Jaap Vermeer. Forum.armyairforces.com. “B-24J, 44-40332.”)

Sources

Aircraftwrecks.com. Aircraft Wrecks in the Mountains and Deserts of the American West. “B-24J Oahu, HI.” Accessed 12-25-2001 at: http://aircraftwrecks.com/pages/b_24j.htm

Baugher, Joseph F. 1944 USAAF Serial Numbers (44-40049 to 44-70254). Oct 28, 2011 revision. Accessed 12-25-2011 at: http://www.joebaugher.com/usaf_serials/1944_4.html

Vermeer, Jaap. “B-24J, 44-40332.” Forum.armyairforces.com. Accessed 12-25-2011 at: http://forum.armyairforces.com/B24J4440332-m199905.aspx

1944 – May 5, USAAF B-24J out of Hickam Field, HI crash, Aiea Ridge, Oahu, HI –all 10