Crash Site Consolidated B24 Liberator 42-639969

On 22 December 1943, the B24 bomber belonging to the 93rd Bomber Group / 409th Bomber Squadron crashed into the IJsselmeer in this area. The aircraft had taken off in the morning of that day from Hardwick airfield in England. Its target was the marshalling yard of the German city of Osnabrück.

On the way back, over the Netherlands, east of Staphorst, the formation came under fire from German anti-aircraft guns (Flak). The formation broke up after which the stragglers were attacked by German fighters. It is not known exactly what caused this plane to crash.

All nine crew members were killed. In the months that followed, crew members washed ashore at various locations around the IJsselmeer. Near the port of Oude Zeug, tail gunner Bennet was found. Possibly the second pilot Congelli would also have washed ashore there. During the war, the bodies were buried in the Middenmeer cemetery. After the war, they were reburied in Margraten, Neuville-en-Condroz (B) or transferred to the United States.

The crew consisted of:
Pilot 1st Lt. G.G. Hunt, O-675432, USAAF, USA
Co-Pilot 2nd Lt. J.P. Congelli, O-748579, USAAF, Margraten Wall of Missing
Navigator 2nd Lt. T.R. Curry, O-682150, USAAF, Margraten Wall of Missing
Bombardier 2nd Lt. L.C. Matthews, O-676589, USAAF, Margraten Wall of Missing
Engineer T/Sgt. R.R. Galindo, 39252107, USAAF, Margraten Wall of Missing
Radio Operator T/Sgt. G.B. Murry, 18162590, USAAF, Margraten Wall of Missing
Air gunner S/Sgt. R. Cook, 15337089, USAAF, buried at Margraten A-8-25
Air gunner S/Sgt. T.A. Blanchard, 11038400, USAAF Margraten Wall of Missing
T Gunner S/Sgt. J.W. Bennett 07009747, USAAF, Buried Ardennes American Cemetery Belgium B-10-21

Do you have more information about this location? Inform us!

Source

• Text: TracesOfWar
• Photos: Stichting Herdenkingspalen Hollands Kroon
• - Crashinfo_42-63969_NL | shhk.nl