Bombardier aboard B-24D Liberator # 41-24273.
Departing Smoky Hill Army Airfield in Kansas, for a nighttime flight to DeRidder, Louisiana, before continuing on to an overseas assignment, the aircraft only gained about 75 feet in elevation before a wing dipped and struck the runway, causing the bomber to crash and burst into flames. Lt. Riley and four other airmen were killed. Five were rescued but with serious injuries.
The other fatalities were:
1st Lt. Robert I Van Horn, Navigator
S/Sgt. Francis H Ayers, Gunner
S/Sgt. Dale V Brown, Asst. Engineer
S/Sgt. Robert L Grace, Radio Operator
~
Father: William J. Riley, of Hollis, New York.
Departing Smoky Hill Army Airfield in Kansas, for a nighttime flight to DeRidder, Louisiana, before continuing on to an overseas assignment, the aircraft only gained about 75 feet in elevation before a wing dipped and struck the runway, causing the bomber to crash and burst into flames. Lt. Riley and four other airmen were killed. Five were rescued but with serious injuries.
The other fatalities were:
1st Lt. Robert I Van Horn, Navigator
S/Sgt. Francis H Ayers, Gunner
S/Sgt. Dale V Brown, Asst. Engineer
S/Sgt. Robert L Grace, Radio Operator
~
Father: William J. Riley, of Hollis, New York.
Bombardier aboard B-24D Liberator # 41-24273.
Departing Smoky Hill Army Airfield in Kansas, for a nighttime flight to DeRidder, Louisiana, before continuing on to an overseas assignment, the aircraft only gained about 75 feet in elevation before a wing dipped and struck the runway, causing the bomber to crash and burst into flames. Lt. Riley and four other airmen were killed. Five were rescued but with serious injuries.
The other fatalities were:
1st Lt. Robert I Van Horn, Navigator
S/Sgt. Francis H Ayers, Gunner
S/Sgt. Dale V Brown, Asst. Engineer
S/Sgt. Robert L Grace, Radio Operator
~
Father: William J. Riley, of Hollis, New York.
Departing Smoky Hill Army Airfield in Kansas, for a nighttime flight to DeRidder, Louisiana, before continuing on to an overseas assignment, the aircraft only gained about 75 feet in elevation before a wing dipped and struck the runway, causing the bomber to crash and burst into flames. Lt. Riley and four other airmen were killed. Five were rescued but with serious injuries.
The other fatalities were:
1st Lt. Robert I Van Horn, Navigator
S/Sgt. Francis H Ayers, Gunner
S/Sgt. Dale V Brown, Asst. Engineer
S/Sgt. Robert L Grace, Radio Operator
~
Father: William J. Riley, of Hollis, New York.
Inscription
1LT, US ARMY AIR FORCES WORLD WAR II
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