42-7053
467th BG - 788th BS
492nd BG - 859th BS (Carpetbaggers)
Standing, L-R:
Lane R. Gebert - R.O. ASN 13176806
Raymond Croteau - Gunner ASN 11115089
Bernard Hochheiser - Gunner ASN 32014067 (Orphaned)
Harvey L. Bruce - Gunner ASN 18074114
Jack L. Tate - Engineer ASN 15324318 (Orphaned)
Kneeling, L-R:
Frederick W. Wood - Pilot ASN 0736449
Benjamin H. Blackwell - Copilot ASN 0693837
Lyonel V. Campbell - Engineer ASN 19074131
Robert L. Seng - Navigator ASN 0691817
George C. Reall - Bombardier ASN 0733096
Hochheiser was transferred to the 466th BG/784th BS and became part of the Homer Y. Harris Crew. He was KIA.
Object Number - UPL 23403 - Frederick M. Wood Crew 467th BG - 788th BS 492nd BG - 859th BS (Carpetbaggers) Standing, L-R: Lane R. Gebert - R.O. ASN ...
Connections
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Events
| Event | Location | Date | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Crashed |
Chicago Midway International Airport, 5700 S Cicero Ave, Chicago, IL 60638, USA | 30 May 1943 | The airplane had taken off at 0650 CWT from Tarrant Field, Fort Worth, TX, on a cross-country navigation flight to Chicago Municipal Airport, and return. The airplane had flown on top of overcast or on instruments for most of the flight to Chicago. The airplane encountered real instrument conditions when it arrived in the vicinity of Chicago. Weather conditions were reported as a ceiling of 500 feet or lower, with visibility of three-quarters of a mile in light rain, light fog and light smoke. The B-24 instructor pilot had contacted Chicago air traffic controllers and was cleared to make an instrument approach. The pilot was cleared to land to the northeast on Runway 4C (center). The airplane passed directly over the field at 1140 but the pilot was unable to get below the ceiling and make visual contact with the field, forcing him to execute a missed approach. The aircraft flew to the northeast and the pilot began a right turn until the airplane was heading southwest. Confusion & a Series of Errors The pilot was having trouble communicating with the Chicago control tower, possibly due to static or perhaps confusion over the missed approach. As the pilot attempted to get under the ceiling, the control tower again cleared the B-24E to land to the northeast on Runway 4C, transmitting the instruction twice. The pilot did not respond to the instruction and the airplane collided with the gas holding tan at that instant. Inferno The 20,000,000 cubic foot gas holding tank, which was located approximately two miles southeast of the airport, was described as a 285 foot 28-sided polygon, “381 feet from ground level to the eaves, 404 feet high to the highest point of the crown, 416 feet high to the top of the roof ventilator; 486 feet high to the top of the beacon tower; and 490 feet high t the top of the 1.000 watt light.” Investigation revealed that the B-24E, flying from the northeast, collided with the gas holding tank at approximately the 200-foot level, causing the tank to explode violently into flames. The fire, which reached hundreds of feet into the air, was reported to be visible through the fog. The terrific explosion was heard and felt for miles. All the fliers died. One man had been hurled clear of the wreckage when the tail was severed in the blast and was incinerated in the massive blaze. Only a small amount of human remains were recovered. No one on the ground was killed or injured. The gas holding tank was owned and operated by the Peoples Gas Light and Coke Company, Chicago. It was noted that Springfield, Illinois, air traffic controllers alerted the B-24 instructor pilot that Chicago Municipal Airport was reported to be closed down. The pilot stated that he would “try to make it anyway |
|
Assigned |
Fort Worth, TX, USA | 1014 Pilot Transition Training Squadron Fort Worth Army Airfield |
