B-24 42-100322 Article

Type	Unit	Base	Duty	Crew	Passengers
B-24J	714th Squadron, 448th Bombardment Group, US 8th AAF	Seething, Norfolk	Ferry Flight	5	14

This aircraft was a "war-weary" B-24 carying the name "WABASH CANNONBALL" being returned to the Base Air Depot 2 at Warton, Lancashire and took off from it's Norfolk base on the afternoon of Tuesday 2nd January 1945 in deteriorating weather conditions. On board, in addition to a crew of five, was an additional relief crew, who were to fly a new aircraft back to the base and nine servicemen bound for leave in Blackpool. As the aircraft flew Northwards they began to encounter low cloud with the Pilot of the relief crew Lt. Holt at the controls and by the time they reached Lancashire, the crew were experiencing navigational difficulties. At approx. 14.30 Lt Holt descended to around 1000 feet in order to obtain a fix on their position, but was warned that they were flying amongst hills by the ferry crew's pilot, Lt Crandell and regained a safer altitude. A short time later Lt Holt again attempted to descend in order to obtain a more accurate fix, but as they descended, visibility at the lower altitude was apparently non-existent and he pulled back on the control column in order to regain height. With the aircraft in this tail-down attitude they struck the summit ridge of Burn Fell in the Trough of Bowland, tearing the fuselage apart as the bomber skidded across the moor and then erupting in flames as the fuel tanks ignited. Despite their injuries those that survived quickly vacated the shattered bomber, no doubt hastened in their efforts by .50 calibre ammunition "cooking-off" in the heat and as the dazed airmen took stock of the situation it was realised that by some miracle 15 of their number had in fact survived.

Name	Position	Status
Lt. C. Crandell	Pilot	I.
Lt. A. Carey	Co-Pilot	I.
D. Marshall	Navigator	I.
O.Olson	Radio Operator	I.
D. Zeldin	Flight Engineer	I.
Lt. Holt	Acting Pilot	I.
9 Unamed	Passengers	I.
Lt. J. Fields	Passenger	K.
Lt. O. Casto	Passenger	K.
Sgt. P. Mazzagatty	Passenger	K.
S/Sgt. E.E. Lyon	Passenger	K.

Until recently the site was marked by two huge main undercarriage forgings and a few scraps of aluminium on one side of the wall that runs along the crest of the fell and a bare burnt area with numerous small scraps, including exploded .50 calibre cases on the other. The wall has been completely rebuilt and now weathered it is difficult to imagine the huge four engined bomber smashing its way through, though one local interviewed showed us a pair of navigators dividers which he found jammed between the stones several years ago.

Main u/c legs with wall in background

Main undercarriage lying close to the wall

Site update: Re "The main U/C legs have gone!" At last some good news on the disappearance of the main U/C legs - It seems that they were recovered legitimately with the assistance of the farmer by a local enthusiast who was concerned by their recent rapid deterioration. Homes have since been found for them, albeit outside Lancashire, one at The Harrington Aviation Museum Society, Carpetbagger Aviation Museum, Harrington, North Hants and the other at The Dumfries and Galloway Aviation Museum, where they are undergoing conservation or on public display.

Mist descending over the crash site

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