The 28th mission on 28 May 1944, codenamed Epicure, had aborted due to mechanical problems and was returning to base. There was an oil leak, then a dead engine, then another engine backfired. It was nearly midnight with only two engines and a heavy load of extra gasoline. The captain decided to eject the extra fuel because of its weight but the crew ran into trouble unbolting it from the frame. As the container finally broke loose, it fell out the door and damaged the mechanism that was needed to close the bomb bay doors. With these doors wide open and creating an additional drag, the captain decided to ditch off the coast of Ireland in Dingle Bay. With just enough moonlight we brought the plane in low until we belly-landed on the water. It was a hard landing because of the open belly doors and the plane submerged briefly. The crew climbed to the top of the fuselage and inflated the rubber dinghies. As the crew barely left the plane, it put its tail up in the air for the last time and sank to the bottom of the bay.



AM w/ 3 OLC/ WW II VM/ AMCM/ EAME