Sergeant, 3539th Base Unit, Langley Field, U.S. Army Air Forces.
Radio Operator aboard B-24M Liberator #44-51522.
The bomber had taken off from Langley Field, near Hampton, Virginia for a mock bombing training flight to Mulberry Island.
The flight was observed at about 4,000 feet, heading in a northerly direction when an explosion was heard and smoke began pouring out of the No 3 and No 4 engines. Witnesses observed wing panels falling to earth. The plane entered a cloud and when it came back into sight, it had turned around and was dropping fast. The B-24 came down into the James River, with wings level, and entered the water about three miles west of Newport News, Virginia.
Two more explosions were heard after the aircraft impacted the water.
All eleven airmen aboard were killed:
2nd Lt. Raymond L Ferriman, Pilot
2nd Lt. Rosario Ferlita, O-838871, FL, Co-Pilot
2nd Lt. Donald E Fisher, O2078760, NY, Navigator
Flt. Off. Frank C. DeMartino, T-134190, NY, Bombardier
1st Lt Charles L Goerke, O-690559, IN, Bombardier Instructor
Flt. Off. William D Showalter, T-138262, WV, Navigator
2nd Lt. Hugh E Leonard, O-930337, CA, Navigator Instructor
S/Sgt. Ralph E Forney, 35167109, IN, Flight Engineer Instructor
Sgt. Walter Brown, 31448500, RI, Radio Operator
Sgt. Keith T. Hansen, 36647118, IL, Flight Engineer
Cpl. Wesley Faulkner, 35464419, KY, Flight Engineer
~
Walter Brown enlisted in the Army at Providence, Rhode Island, February 11, 1944.
Radio Operator aboard B-24M Liberator #44-51522.
The bomber had taken off from Langley Field, near Hampton, Virginia for a mock bombing training flight to Mulberry Island.
The flight was observed at about 4,000 feet, heading in a northerly direction when an explosion was heard and smoke began pouring out of the No 3 and No 4 engines. Witnesses observed wing panels falling to earth. The plane entered a cloud and when it came back into sight, it had turned around and was dropping fast. The B-24 came down into the James River, with wings level, and entered the water about three miles west of Newport News, Virginia.
Two more explosions were heard after the aircraft impacted the water.
All eleven airmen aboard were killed:
2nd Lt. Raymond L Ferriman, Pilot
2nd Lt. Rosario Ferlita, O-838871, FL, Co-Pilot
2nd Lt. Donald E Fisher, O2078760, NY, Navigator
Flt. Off. Frank C. DeMartino, T-134190, NY, Bombardier
1st Lt Charles L Goerke, O-690559, IN, Bombardier Instructor
Flt. Off. William D Showalter, T-138262, WV, Navigator
2nd Lt. Hugh E Leonard, O-930337, CA, Navigator Instructor
S/Sgt. Ralph E Forney, 35167109, IN, Flight Engineer Instructor
Sgt. Walter Brown, 31448500, RI, Radio Operator
Sgt. Keith T. Hansen, 36647118, IL, Flight Engineer
Cpl. Wesley Faulkner, 35464419, KY, Flight Engineer
~
Walter Brown enlisted in the Army at Providence, Rhode Island, February 11, 1944.
Sergeant, 3539th Base Unit, Langley Field, U.S. Army Air Forces.
Radio Operator aboard B-24M Liberator #44-51522.
The bomber had taken off from Langley Field, near Hampton, Virginia for a mock bombing training flight to Mulberry Island.
The flight was observed at about 4,000 feet, heading in a northerly direction when an explosion was heard and smoke began pouring out of the No 3 and No 4 engines. Witnesses observed wing panels falling to earth. The plane entered a cloud and when it came back into sight, it had turned around and was dropping fast. The B-24 came down into the James River, with wings level, and entered the water about three miles west of Newport News, Virginia.
Two more explosions were heard after the aircraft impacted the water.
All eleven airmen aboard were killed:
2nd Lt. Raymond L Ferriman, Pilot
2nd Lt. Rosario Ferlita, O-838871, FL, Co-Pilot
2nd Lt. Donald E Fisher, O2078760, NY, Navigator
Flt. Off. Frank C. DeMartino, T-134190, NY, Bombardier
1st Lt Charles L Goerke, O-690559, IN, Bombardier Instructor
Flt. Off. William D Showalter, T-138262, WV, Navigator
2nd Lt. Hugh E Leonard, O-930337, CA, Navigator Instructor
S/Sgt. Ralph E Forney, 35167109, IN, Flight Engineer Instructor
Sgt. Walter Brown, 31448500, RI, Radio Operator
Sgt. Keith T. Hansen, 36647118, IL, Flight Engineer
Cpl. Wesley Faulkner, 35464419, KY, Flight Engineer
~
Walter Brown enlisted in the Army at Providence, Rhode Island, February 11, 1944.
Radio Operator aboard B-24M Liberator #44-51522.
The bomber had taken off from Langley Field, near Hampton, Virginia for a mock bombing training flight to Mulberry Island.
The flight was observed at about 4,000 feet, heading in a northerly direction when an explosion was heard and smoke began pouring out of the No 3 and No 4 engines. Witnesses observed wing panels falling to earth. The plane entered a cloud and when it came back into sight, it had turned around and was dropping fast. The B-24 came down into the James River, with wings level, and entered the water about three miles west of Newport News, Virginia.
Two more explosions were heard after the aircraft impacted the water.
All eleven airmen aboard were killed:
2nd Lt. Raymond L Ferriman, Pilot
2nd Lt. Rosario Ferlita, O-838871, FL, Co-Pilot
2nd Lt. Donald E Fisher, O2078760, NY, Navigator
Flt. Off. Frank C. DeMartino, T-134190, NY, Bombardier
1st Lt Charles L Goerke, O-690559, IN, Bombardier Instructor
Flt. Off. William D Showalter, T-138262, WV, Navigator
2nd Lt. Hugh E Leonard, O-930337, CA, Navigator Instructor
S/Sgt. Ralph E Forney, 35167109, IN, Flight Engineer Instructor
Sgt. Walter Brown, 31448500, RI, Radio Operator
Sgt. Keith T. Hansen, 36647118, IL, Flight Engineer
Cpl. Wesley Faulkner, 35464419, KY, Flight Engineer
~
Walter Brown enlisted in the Army at Providence, Rhode Island, February 11, 1944.
Gravesite Details
ISLE OF WIGHT COUNTY, VA. CAUSE OF DEATH - AEROPLANE ACCIDENT. GRAVE #1. died: ISLE OF WIGHT CO, VA
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