Prestwick – Keflavik

On June 13, 1945 at 12:00 AM, Prestwick – Keflavik experienced a crash involving Consolidated B-24 Liberator, operated by United States Army Air Forces - USAAF, with the event recorded near Gairloch Ross and Cromarty.

The flight was categorized as military and the reported phase was flight at a mountains crash site.

15 people were known to be on board, 15 fatalities were recorded, 0 survivors were identified or estimated. This corresponds to an estimated fatality rate of 100.0%.

Crew on board: 9, crew fatalities: 9, passengers on board: 6, passenger fatalities: 6, other fatalities: 0.

The listed crash cause is technical failure. The aircraft was returning to the US from Prestwick, with an intermediate stop in Keflavik. While overflying Ross and Cromarty, crew encountered unknown technical problems and the aircraft lost height until it struck the slope of Mt Slioch (981 meters) located near Gairloch. All 15 occupants were killed. Crew: T/Sgt Hillburn L. Cheek, S/Sgt Raymond E. Davis, S/Sgt Emil Einarsen, S/Sgt John B. Ellis Jr., S/Sgt Robert J. Francis, S/Sgt Eldon J. Gilles, S/Sgt John H. Hallisey, S/Sgt James D. Harvey, S/Sgt Alexander W. Hastings, 1st Lt Jack B. Ketchum, S/Sgt Albert L. Natkin, S/Sgt Herman Riefen, 2nd Lt Richard J. Robak, 1st Lt Jack H. Spencer, T/Sgt James C. Stammer.

Aircraft reference details include registration 42-95095, MSN 1860.