1st Lt. Edward J Pearce of Flint, MI., was the Co-Pilot of a B-24 (B-24-H SN#42-52108) that took off from Marrakesh, French Morocco at 11:55 p.m. GMT on November 22, 1943 on a ferrying mission to St. Mawgan, United Kingdom. On board were ten crew and 4 passengers. Do to a range of hills to the west, the pilot was advised to circle the field once before taking up the proper heading to his destination. The cause of the crash remains undetermined but the accident committee believed that the pilot was too far from the field while climbing to altitude and flew the bomber into the mountains at full power. According to the report, "It seems probable that death to all on board was instantaneous, due to the burned condition of the bodies." For more information on this tragedy see crew member page for Ernest E. Jones grave #17562756
On 3 November 1943, his bomb group left Sioux City with their bombers en-route to Herington Field, Herington, Kansas. This was the start of their ferry run on the southern ferry route via Puerto Rico, Trinidad, Belem, Dakar and Marrakesh that would end in St. Mawgan, England. Ernest departed Marrakesh Air Base, Marrakesh, French Morocco, North Africa for their flight on 22 November 1943 on B-24H #42-52108 at 2355 hours (11:55pm) for the final leg to England, there was a total of 14 men aboard.
She was the 14th bomber to leave the ground of 26 that night and the pilot was informed to circle the field once before taking up his course of 333 degrees at 9,000 feet. The cause of the crash still remains undetermined, but the accident committee surmised that for navigational purposes the pilot, while circling the field did not realize he was too far away from the field and in the proximity of high mountains. He flew the bomber straight into the Altas Mountains at full power, killing all 14.
Nine of the crew could not be identified and all 14 were interred in the Casablanca European Cemetery, Casablanca, French Morocco in Plot 24, Row 7, Graves 321 & 322 and Row 8, Graves 325, 326 & 327. After the war those nine were disinterred and re-interred at the Santa Fe National Cemetery, Santa Fe, New Mexico in Section N, Site 276 under one grave marker.
Contributor: Cheryl Speaker (49057279)
On 3 November 1943, his bomb group left Sioux City with their bombers en-route to Herington Field, Herington, Kansas. This was the start of their ferry run on the southern ferry route via Puerto Rico, Trinidad, Belem, Dakar and Marrakesh that would end in St. Mawgan, England. Ernest departed Marrakesh Air Base, Marrakesh, French Morocco, North Africa for their flight on 22 November 1943 on B-24H #42-52108 at 2355 hours (11:55pm) for the final leg to England, there was a total of 14 men aboard.
She was the 14th bomber to leave the ground of 26 that night and the pilot was informed to circle the field once before taking up his course of 333 degrees at 9,000 feet. The cause of the crash still remains undetermined, but the accident committee surmised that for navigational purposes the pilot, while circling the field did not realize he was too far away from the field and in the proximity of high mountains. He flew the bomber straight into the Altas Mountains at full power, killing all 14.
Nine of the crew could not be identified and all 14 were interred in the Casablanca European Cemetery, Casablanca, French Morocco in Plot 24, Row 7, Graves 321 & 322 and Row 8, Graves 325, 326 & 327. After the war those nine were disinterred and re-interred at the Santa Fe National Cemetery, Santa Fe, New Mexico in Section N, Site 276 under one grave marker.
Contributor: Cheryl Speaker (49057279)
1st Lt. Edward J Pearce of Flint, MI., was the Co-Pilot of a B-24 (B-24-H SN#42-52108) that took off from Marrakesh, French Morocco at 11:55 p.m. GMT on November 22, 1943 on a ferrying mission to St. Mawgan, United Kingdom. On board were ten crew and 4 passengers. Do to a range of hills to the west, the pilot was advised to circle the field once before taking up the proper heading to his destination. The cause of the crash remains undetermined but the accident committee believed that the pilot was too far from the field while climbing to altitude and flew the bomber into the mountains at full power. According to the report, "It seems probable that death to all on board was instantaneous, due to the burned condition of the bodies." For more information on this tragedy see crew member page for Ernest E. Jones grave #17562756
On 3 November 1943, his bomb group left Sioux City with their bombers en-route to Herington Field, Herington, Kansas. This was the start of their ferry run on the southern ferry route via Puerto Rico, Trinidad, Belem, Dakar and Marrakesh that would end in St. Mawgan, England. Ernest departed Marrakesh Air Base, Marrakesh, French Morocco, North Africa for their flight on 22 November 1943 on B-24H #42-52108 at 2355 hours (11:55pm) for the final leg to England, there was a total of 14 men aboard.
She was the 14th bomber to leave the ground of 26 that night and the pilot was informed to circle the field once before taking up his course of 333 degrees at 9,000 feet. The cause of the crash still remains undetermined, but the accident committee surmised that for navigational purposes the pilot, while circling the field did not realize he was too far away from the field and in the proximity of high mountains. He flew the bomber straight into the Altas Mountains at full power, killing all 14.
Nine of the crew could not be identified and all 14 were interred in the Casablanca European Cemetery, Casablanca, French Morocco in Plot 24, Row 7, Graves 321 & 322 and Row 8, Graves 325, 326 & 327. After the war those nine were disinterred and re-interred at the Santa Fe National Cemetery, Santa Fe, New Mexico in Section N, Site 276 under one grave marker.
Contributor: Cheryl Speaker (49057279)
On 3 November 1943, his bomb group left Sioux City with their bombers en-route to Herington Field, Herington, Kansas. This was the start of their ferry run on the southern ferry route via Puerto Rico, Trinidad, Belem, Dakar and Marrakesh that would end in St. Mawgan, England. Ernest departed Marrakesh Air Base, Marrakesh, French Morocco, North Africa for their flight on 22 November 1943 on B-24H #42-52108 at 2355 hours (11:55pm) for the final leg to England, there was a total of 14 men aboard.
She was the 14th bomber to leave the ground of 26 that night and the pilot was informed to circle the field once before taking up his course of 333 degrees at 9,000 feet. The cause of the crash still remains undetermined, but the accident committee surmised that for navigational purposes the pilot, while circling the field did not realize he was too far away from the field and in the proximity of high mountains. He flew the bomber straight into the Altas Mountains at full power, killing all 14.
Nine of the crew could not be identified and all 14 were interred in the Casablanca European Cemetery, Casablanca, French Morocco in Plot 24, Row 7, Graves 321 & 322 and Row 8, Graves 325, 326 & 327. After the war those nine were disinterred and re-interred at the Santa Fe National Cemetery, Santa Fe, New Mexico in Section N, Site 276 under one grave marker.
Contributor: Cheryl Speaker (49057279)
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1LT, US ARMY AIR FORCES WORLD WAR II
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