Second Lieutenant Gessinger was the Navigator aboard U.S. Army Air Corps B-24D Liberator #42-40139, serving with the 530th Bomb Squadron, 380th Bomb Group, World War II.
Killed in crash, 15 miles north of Biggs Field, El Paso, Texas.
1st Lt. Oscar Lee Cantrell, Jr also perished.
~~~
B-24D #42-40139, with the 530th Bomb Squadron, 380th Bomb Group, experienced a failure of the number 3 engine propeller governor while on a navigational training flight. While attempting to return to the airfield, control of the aircraft became difficult, and the order was given for the crew to bail out. Six airmen successfully bailed out and parachuted to ground unhurt. The pilot and navigator were fatally injured when the aircraft nose- dived into the ground. Investigation speculated the pilots may have failed to reduce power to the port engines, resulting in a loss of control.
~
Entered the service from Michigan; ASN O-735994
Killed in crash, 15 miles north of Biggs Field, El Paso, Texas.
1st Lt. Oscar Lee Cantrell, Jr also perished.
~~~
B-24D #42-40139, with the 530th Bomb Squadron, 380th Bomb Group, experienced a failure of the number 3 engine propeller governor while on a navigational training flight. While attempting to return to the airfield, control of the aircraft became difficult, and the order was given for the crew to bail out. Six airmen successfully bailed out and parachuted to ground unhurt. The pilot and navigator were fatally injured when the aircraft nose- dived into the ground. Investigation speculated the pilots may have failed to reduce power to the port engines, resulting in a loss of control.
~
Entered the service from Michigan; ASN O-735994
Second Lieutenant Gessinger was the Navigator aboard U.S. Army Air Corps B-24D Liberator #42-40139, serving with the 530th Bomb Squadron, 380th Bomb Group, World War II.
Killed in crash, 15 miles north of Biggs Field, El Paso, Texas.
1st Lt. Oscar Lee Cantrell, Jr also perished.
~~~
B-24D #42-40139, with the 530th Bomb Squadron, 380th Bomb Group, experienced a failure of the number 3 engine propeller governor while on a navigational training flight. While attempting to return to the airfield, control of the aircraft became difficult, and the order was given for the crew to bail out. Six airmen successfully bailed out and parachuted to ground unhurt. The pilot and navigator were fatally injured when the aircraft nose- dived into the ground. Investigation speculated the pilots may have failed to reduce power to the port engines, resulting in a loss of control.
~
Entered the service from Michigan; ASN O-735994
Killed in crash, 15 miles north of Biggs Field, El Paso, Texas.
1st Lt. Oscar Lee Cantrell, Jr also perished.
~~~
B-24D #42-40139, with the 530th Bomb Squadron, 380th Bomb Group, experienced a failure of the number 3 engine propeller governor while on a navigational training flight. While attempting to return to the airfield, control of the aircraft became difficult, and the order was given for the crew to bail out. Six airmen successfully bailed out and parachuted to ground unhurt. The pilot and navigator were fatally injured when the aircraft nose- dived into the ground. Investigation speculated the pilots may have failed to reduce power to the port engines, resulting in a loss of control.
~
Entered the service from Michigan; ASN O-735994
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