36th BS

Williams Crew

The first full crew to be lost, they collided with a mountain over the UK on the night of 26/27 December 1943, flying a training mission in a newly modified B-24D (42-40474).  The crash site was near Widecombe in Devon, United Kingdom.

Only six of those killed are in this picture, as it was taken at Dunkeswell, UK, sometime previous to the Group reassignment to Alconbury.  The aircraft pictured here (Slightly Dangerous), has the typical ASW paint scheme, quite different from the all-black planes the Group would later fly.

Standing, L-R:
Milton L. Remling     - Navigator            (DNB)
Robert L. Williams    - Pilot                (DNB)
Joseph W. Hanley      - Copilot              (DNB)  
Charles R. Teer       - Squadron Bombardier, later Group Bombardier

Kneeling, L-R:
Eddie P. Rush         - Tailgunner           (DNB)
Glenn O. Wichner      - Radio Operator       (DNB)
James P. Beggs        - Radio Operator, later on the Peavyhouse crew
Jesse A. Wallace      - Engineer             (DNB)
Vincent L. Stuart     - Radio Observer (ground crew)
Major T. Callahan     - Engineer, later flew with Archambault crew

Picture Location: Dunkeswell, UK
Picture Date: Autumn 1943
Photo Credit: 801st/492nd BG Assoc.

Status: An original ASW crew, Williams was Operations Officer for the 36th BS when he went down and was replaced by Benjamin Mead.  While not flying any Carpetbagger combat missions, the officers had probably flown one or two combat missions with the RAF/SOE squadrons prior to the crash.

Aircraft Details Credit: Tom Brittan

 

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