photo by courtesy of David Earl
LIBERATOR PB4Y-1 63926
DATE OF CRASH 28th DECEMBER 1943 PARENT UNIT 110 US NAVY BOMB SQUADRON DUNKERSWELL DEVON THE AIRCRAFT WAS RETURNING FROM AN OPERATIONAL FLIGHT AFTER SEACHING FOR DESTROYERS IN THE BAY OF BISCAY THE ETA AT DUNKERSWELL WAS 222O hours THE WEATHER CONDITIONS WERE OVERCAST AT THE TIME AND AT 2250 hours A MESSAGE WAS RECEIVED BY 19 GROUP COASTAL COMMAND HQ THAT AN AIRCRAFT HAD CRASHED ON DARTMOOR THIS WAS REPORTED BY AN ARP THAT IT WAS A FOUR ENGINED AIRCRAFT HAD CRASHED ON SHELLSTONE TOR THE TIME OF THE CRASH WAS 2235 hours THE PB4Y HAD COME WITHIN FEET OF CLEARING THE HILL AT AN HEIGHT OF1,875 feet IT HIT THE GROUND GOUGING A FURROW A QUARTER OF A MILE LONG BEFORE GOING OVER THE EDGE OF SLIPPER STONES AND FALLING 400 feet ONTO THE ROCKS AND SCREE BELOW THE CORRECT POSSITION IS HALF A MILE SOUTH OF BLACK TOR SX 56468-88401 A FAIR BIT OF WRECKAGE REMAINS AT THE SITE THE BEST START POINT TO GET THE SITE IS FROM THE HIGHWAYMAN PUB GR SX53489-90339 PLEASE MAKE SURE THAT THE RANGES ARE NOT IN USE Tel 0800 4584868 FOR INFORMATION
FATE OT THE CREW THEY WERE ALL KILLED- PILOT Lt Parish-CO-PILOT Ens Don Lyons NAVIGATOR Ens Roger Lovelace F/Eng AMM2 Arthur Stork 2nd Mech AMMC2c John Shaffer 1st R/Op ARM2c Leo Davenport 2nd R/Op ARM3c John Benson Ord/Mech AOM3c Alfred Roddy AMM3c Charles Reynard AMM3c Dwight Nash
LOWER ENGINE COWLING
SECTION OF WING