Valley – Keflavik

On July 23, 1945 at 12:45 PM, Valley – Keflavik experienced a crash involving Consolidated B-24 Liberator, operated by United States Army Air Forces - USAAF, with the event recorded near Tarskavaig (Isle of Skye) Hebrides Islands.

The flight was categorized as military and the reported phase was flight at a plain, valley crash site.

14 people were known to be on board, 14 fatalities were recorded, 0 survivors were identified or estimated. This corresponds to an estimated fatality rate of 100.0%.

Crew on board: 5, crew fatalities: 5, passengers on board: 9, passenger fatalities: 9, other fatalities: 0.

The listed crash cause is technical failure. The Liberator was one of many aircraft that following the end of the war in Europe was being used to take aircrews back to the United States. The aircraft were typically approaching the end of their useful lives but only had to make it across the Atlantic. The aircraft had taken off from RAF Valley on Anglesey bound for Meeks Field in Keflavik. When the aircraft nearing the southern end of the Isle of Skye, the port outer engine caught fire. It would appear that the fire could not be brought under control, as when the aircraft crossed the coast, the port wing outboard of the number one engine broke away. As the wing fell, it struck the tail section, causing it to separate from the aircraft before the plane dived into a hilltop and exploded. All 14 occupants were killed. Crew: 1st Lt William H. Bell, pilot, 1st Lt Theodore E. Lundell, copilot, 1st Lt Albert L. Harmonay, navigator, T/Sgt Svend E. Hansen, flight engineer, S/Sgt Robert R. Bisbing, radio operator. Passengers: F/O Edward Grzesiek, F/O George W. Baker, F/O Stephen A. Fenwick, F/O Marvin Fleak, 2nd Lt Arthur A. Vogel, F/O Eldon E. Eads, F/O Edward J. Ruszala, F/O Wilbur L. Titus, F/O Newton D. Stanley. Source: http://www.peakdistrictaircrashes.co.uk/pages/scotland/scotland41-29369.htm

Aircraft reference details include registration 41-29369, MSN 468, year of manufacture 1943.