It was just a little before  midnight on 27th May 1944,When a B-24

Liberator four engined bomber lifted into the darkened skies on

another training mission from Westover AFB, Only minutes later

the aircraft was a mass of burning debris on a dense wooded area

on Mount Holyoke, all ten men aboard had been killed  outright.

 

As Army, Police, & Fire Services rushed to the scene of devastation

which lay about 75 feet from the summit, they were hindered by the

thick wooded terrain and had engineers cutting a path from the old

mountain road to the site.

 

Parts of the aircraft were scattered over a wide area, and a wing was

found 100 feet from the main crash site, on arrival at the scene it  was

obvious that nothing could be done for the poor unfortunate souls.

 

From a copy of the accident report it was found that the B-24 was from

Sec.E of 112th Army Air Force Base Unit and was a `J` model.  The B-24

had left Westover with maximum load and had been cleared for a local

flight. The pilot was quite experienced on the type having flown a total

of 128 hrs 55 mins.

 

It would appear from all accounts that an error of judgement caused

this crash in that pilot held down too long to build up speed, but was

not familiar with the mountainous terrain close by and did not have

sufficient lift to clear Mt Holyoke, the aircraft struck a path through

trees before exploding on the hill at approx 23.53 hrs.

 

Crew of the B-24.

 

Navigator:     2/Lt   William Ashley Jr.   Perrysburg, Ohio.

A/Gunner:     Sgt    Arnold H.Anderson.     Chicago, Illinois.

 

Many thanks to Craig Fuller of AAIR for a copy of the report.

 

Photo: From a painting by Alan E.Jones.