Served with the 804 Bomb Squadron, 471 Bomb Group from Westover Field, Mass. B-24H Liberator #42-7525 on a two-ship training flight from Westover Field, the crew departed at 1440 EWT.

The aircraft was on a high altitude mission which was to take them to Montauk Gunnery Range area. At 1645 the airplane reported to it's sister ship that it was suffering engine trouble and was breaking off. His airplane was last seen about 70 miles south of Montauk Point, Long Island, heading north.

After all contact with the subject aircraft was lost, a search was undertaken. Despite an extensive search by aircraft and ships, no trace of the missing B-24 and it's eleven-man crew was ever found.

The B-24 was believed to have crashed into the sea due to an in-flight explosion or failure of a wing due to on board fires.

The lost aircrew were:

Martin J Kew Instr./Nav.
Rufus Ronald Nelson Nav.
Frederick G Rhodes Bomb.
Gene W Sloan Co-pilot
Edward J Clancy Radio op.
Joseph Albert Jachim gunner
Robert G McLaughlin Engr.
Joseph L Hartzel Radio op.
Chester Webb Radio op.
George W Wilson, Jr gunner

Served with the 804 Bomb Squadron, 471 Bomb Group from Westover Field, Mass. B-24H Liberator #42-7525 on a two-ship training flight from Westover Field, the crew departed at 1440 EWT.

The aircraft was on a high altitude mission which was to take them to Montauk Gunnery Range area. At 1645 the airplane reported to it's sister ship that it was suffering engine trouble and was breaking off. His airplane was last seen about 70 miles south of Montauk Point, Long Island, heading north.

After all contact with the subject aircraft was lost, a search was undertaken. Despite an extensive search by aircraft and ships, no trace of the missing B-24 and it's eleven-man crew was ever found.

The B-24 was believed to have crashed into the sea due to an in-flight explosion or failure of a wing due to on board fires.

The lost aircrew were:

Martin J Kew Instr./Nav.
Rufus Ronald Nelson Nav.
Frederick G Rhodes Bomb.
Gene W Sloan Co-pilot
Edward J Clancy Radio op.
Joseph Albert Jachim gunner
Robert G McLaughlin Engr.
Joseph L Hartzel Radio op.
Chester Webb Radio op.
George W Wilson, Jr gunner