Second Lieutenant Ballard was the pilot of U.S. Army Air Corps B-24D Liberator #41-24255, serving with the 539th Bomb Squadron, 382nd Bomber Group, from the Pocatello Army Air Base, during World War II.
While on a flight from Pocatello, Idaho to Hamilton Field in Northern California, an in-flight fire caused the bomber to explode and crash, one mile northeast of Nubieber, in Lassen County, California.
A fire in the starboard wing's № 3 motor quickly spread to the № 4 motor, causing an explosion and the motor and wingtip broke away, striking the tail section and the bomber went into a violent spin and struck the ground and burst into flames upon impact. Wreckage, bodies and bombs were spread over a wide area.
Investigators speculated the fire spread so rapidly that the pilots didn't have time to call for a crew bailout before disaster struck at near midnight on August 4, 1943.
Nine crewmembers were killed:
2nd Lt. John H Ballard, O-742825, CA, Pilot
2nd Lt. Burton C Hermann, O-736707, PA, Navigator
2nd Lt. Bruce E Wright, O-805721, IL, Co- Pilot
S/Sgt. Elvin L Griffith, 37215010, MO, Asst. Radio Operator
Sgt. Joseph F Caccavale, 32496805, NY, Flight Engineer
Sgt. Joseph P DeFrancisci, 12127419, NY, Radar Operator
Sgt Robert G Larsen, 39190508, WA, Gunner
Sgt. Kenneth J Lovelace, 38280215, TX, Asst. Engineer
Sgt. Louis J Marzie, 32364074, DE, Gunner
~
Mother: Pierce
Entered the service from California; Service ID: O-742825.
Enlisted at Los Angeles, California, April 16, 1942
Second Lieutenant Ballard was the pilot of U.S. Army Air Corps B-24D Liberator #41-24255, serving with the 539th Bomb Squadron, 382nd Bomber Group, from the Pocatello Army Air Base, during World War II.
While on a flight from Pocatello, Idaho to Hamilton Field in Northern California, an in-flight fire caused the bomber to explode and crash, one mile northeast of Nubieber, in Lassen County, California.
A fire in the starboard wing's № 3 motor quickly spread to the № 4 motor, causing an explosion and the motor and wingtip broke away, striking the tail section and the bomber went into a violent spin and struck the ground and burst into flames upon impact. Wreckage, bodies and bombs were spread over a wide area.
Investigators speculated the fire spread so rapidly that the pilots didn't have time to call for a crew bailout before disaster struck at near midnight on August 4, 1943.
Nine crewmembers were killed:
2nd Lt. John H Ballard, O-742825, CA, Pilot
2nd Lt. Burton C Hermann, O-736707, PA, Navigator
2nd Lt. Bruce E Wright, O-805721, IL, Co- Pilot
S/Sgt. Elvin L Griffith, 37215010, MO, Asst. Radio Operator
Sgt. Joseph F Caccavale, 32496805, NY, Flight Engineer
Sgt. Joseph P DeFrancisci, 12127419, NY, Radar Operator
Sgt Robert G Larsen, 39190508, WA, Gunner
Sgt. Kenneth J Lovelace, 38280215, TX, Asst. Engineer
Sgt. Louis J Marzie, 32364074, DE, Gunner
~
Mother: Pierce
Entered the service from California; Service ID: O-742825.
Enlisted at Los Angeles, California, April 16, 1942
Inscription
2LT, US ARMY AIR FORCES WORLD WAR II
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