Corporal Fonseca was an aerial gunner aboard U.S. Army Air Corps B-24J Liberator #44-41155, assigned to the 1390th Base Unit from Dow Field, Bangor, Maine.
The bomber departed Gander, Newfoundland for a cross-Atlantic flight to the Azores. While attempting to locate Lajes Field, the pilot became confused in the cloud cover and mistook one community on his map for another. Seeing another B-24 break through the cloud cover, the pilot followed. After both pilots realized their mistakes, they turned around
and tried to find their way back to the original pattern requested by the control tower. While attempting to navigate to Lajes Field, both bombers collided with a mountain, four miles southwest of the airfield.
Eight of the ten crew aboard Fonseca's ship perished in the crash. There was one fatality aboard the other B-24, which skidded along a ridge before coming to a stop.
The airmen killed were:
1st Lt. James C Forney , Pilot
2nd Lt. Albert L Nelson, Co-pilot
2nd Lt. Ernest F Nash, Navigator
Sgt. Herbert J Ayer, Jr, (died of injuries on a later date) aerial gunner
Sgt. Lewis B Buie , Radio Operator
Sgt. Jack French , Flight Engineer
Cpl. Charles R Rawheiser, gunner
Cpl. Harley A Worchel, gunner
Entered the service from Massachusetts; ASN 31427324
Corporal Fonseca was an aerial gunner aboard U.S. Army Air Corps B-24J Liberator #44-41155, assigned to the 1390th Base Unit from Dow Field, Bangor, Maine.
The bomber departed Gander, Newfoundland for a cross-Atlantic flight to the Azores. While attempting to locate Lajes Field, the pilot became confused in the cloud cover and mistook one community on his map for another. Seeing another B-24 break through the cloud cover, the pilot followed. After both pilots realized their mistakes, they turned around
and tried to find their way back to the original pattern requested by the control tower. While attempting to navigate to Lajes Field, both bombers collided with a mountain, four miles southwest of the airfield.
Eight of the ten crew aboard Fonseca's ship perished in the crash. There was one fatality aboard the other B-24, which skidded along a ridge before coming to a stop.
The airmen killed were:
1st Lt. James C Forney , Pilot
2nd Lt. Albert L Nelson, Co-pilot
2nd Lt. Ernest F Nash, Navigator
Sgt. Herbert J Ayer, Jr, (died of injuries on a later date) aerial gunner
Sgt. Lewis B Buie , Radio Operator
Sgt. Jack French , Flight Engineer
Cpl. Charles R Rawheiser, gunner
Cpl. Harley A Worchel, gunner
Entered the service from Massachusetts; ASN 31427324
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MASSACHUSETTS
CPL
1390 AAF BASE UNIT
WORLD WAR II
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