Canton Island - Honiara

On July 26, 1944 at 08:30 PM, Canton Island - Honiara experienced a crash involving Consolidated C-87 Liberator Express, operated by United States Army Air Forces - USAAF, with the event recorded near Florida Island All Solomon Islands.

The flight was categorized as military and the reported phase was landing (descent or approach) at a mountains crash site.

27 people were known to be on board, 27 fatalities were recorded, 0 survivors were identified or estimated. This corresponds to an estimated fatality rate of 100.0%.

Crew on board: 6, crew fatalities: 6, passengers on board: 21, passenger fatalities: 21, other fatalities: 0.

The aircraft left Canton Island (Kiribati) at 1100LT bound for Honiara Airport, on Guadalcanal Island, Solomon Islands, with an ETA at 2100LT. While on approach by night, the four engine aircraft hit a mountain slope (2,000 feet high) located on the Florida Island, north of Honiara. The wreckage was spotted two days later, on July 28. Debris were found some 200 feet from the summit and all 27 occupants were killed. Crew: Hugh W. Prince, pilot, Frederick F. Gundrum Jr., copilot, Willard L. Churchill, flight engineer, Eddie B. Hult, navigator, J. Arthur Strumph, radio operator, William A. Staley, traffic clerk. Passengers: Air Commodore Isaac John Fitch, Lt Col John C. Pearson, Maj R. R. Barton-Tates, Lt Col Paul H. Berkowitz, Lt Col Euliss L. Duggan, Col Charles P. Burnett Jr., 1st Lt Stephen J. Maliszewski, 2nd Lt William P. Foil, Cpt Herbert R. Gore, Cpt John S. Ingraham, Maj Morton L. Talley Jr. 10 Source, photo and more info on http://www.archaehistoria.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=123:site-flor5-aircraft-top-secret-cargo-consairway-c-87-liberator-express-41-11706&catid=21&Itemid=102

Aircraft reference details include registration 41-11706, MSN 202, year of manufacture 1941.