Herschell R. Chappell                                                                               Updated: 03 AUG 2021

Airman: e777175.htm Surname: Chappell Init: H R Rank: 1stLt Service: USAAF Sqdn: 565

P_link: p329.htm Plane: B24 4295144 Operation: Bomb G Crash_site: Langelandsbælt

Crash_d: d200644 Buried_d: e777c C_link: e777c.htm At_Next: NO - CAM

Under formationsflyvning i 20.000 fods højde mellem Ærø og Langeland den 20. juni 1944 fik Liberator B24 42-95144 under et sammenstød med Liberator B24 100351 skåret halen af og styrtede i havet omkring 2 km sydøst for Keldsnor Fyr på Langeland, omkring her. Også det andet fly styrtede ned.

De to fly med 20 flyvere gik ned, meget af tiden i spin, der gjorde det vanskeligt at komme ud. Pilot Powers så kun 3 faldskærme fra eget fly. Romick i et andet fly
så kun 5 faldskærme. Flyverne omkom af udmattelse og det kolde vand, hvis ikke de som Heilich blev reddet efter en halv time. Wagner fra den afskårne halesektion
blev fundet 19 dage senere med faldskærm. 3 af de 20 overlevede.
Se B24 100351 * p328MACR * p328MACRberetninger * p328form + B24 42-95144 * p329MACR * p329MACRforklaring * Wagner rapport om kollisionen og mere.

Pilot, 1st Lt Herschell R. Chappell har ingen kendt grav. Hans navn findes på Tablets of the Missing, Cambridge American Cemetery, England. Han kom i tjeneste fra Georgia. Hæderstegn: Air Medal med Oak Leaf Cluster, Purple Heart. (Kilde: ABMC)

15 SEP 2019: Muligt bombefly fundet ud for Langelands kyst - TV2 * 8 OKT 2019 Mindst 7 bomber fundet ved flyvrag syd for Langeland - TV2FYN
8 OKT 2019: Bomber fra Anden Verdenskrig sprænges i fynsk farvand - TV2FYN * 9 OKT: Jagten på bomber og amerikansk soldat fortsætter ved flyvrag - DR FYN
9 OKT 2019: Forsvarets minedykkere skal sikre flyvrag efter fund af bomber - FKO
Bemærk beretningen fra Romick. Hvilken B-24 blev fundet i SEP 2019? Oversat:
p328 "B24 100351 eksploderede, da det ramte vandet. Det gjorde det andet fly ikke." Så p329 B24 42-95144 uden hale blev fundet med bomber! 10 flyvere.

During a formation flight at an altitude of 20.000 feet between Ærø and Langeland on 20 June, 1944 Liberator B24 42-95144 had its tail cut off in a collision with Liberator B24 100351 and crashed into the sea about 2 km southeast of Keldsnor Lighthouse on Langeland, about here. Also the other plane crashed.

The two planes with 20 airmen went down, most of the time in spin that made it difficult to get out. Pilot Powers only saw 3 parachutes from his own plane.
Romick in another plane only saw 5 parachutes. The airmen perished from exhaustion and the cold water if they were not rescued after half an hour like Heilich.
Wagner from the tail that was cut off was found 19 days later with his parachute. 3 of 20 airmen survived.
See B24 100351 * p328MACR * p328MACRaccounts * p328form + B24 42-95144 * p329MACR * p329MACRstatement * Wagner report about the collision and more.

Pilot, 1st Lt Herschell R. Chappell has no known grave. His name is inscribed on Tablets of the Missing, Cambridge American Cemetery, England. He entered the Service from Georgia. Awards: Air Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster, Purple Heart. (Source: ABMC)

This B-24 Liberator belonged to 565 BS, 389 BG, 2 CBW, 2 BD, 8 AF of the USAAF. See the 389th Bombardment Group at the 8th Air Force Historical Society.
American Air Museum has B24 42-95144 European Clipper and the 10 crew members, crashed after mid-air collision with 42-100351, 565 BS, 389th Bomb Group.
See the 389th Bombardment Group at History of War. It took off from RAF Hethel - USAAF Station 114. See Control Towers - RAF Hethel airfield.
Which B-24 was found in September 2019?
p328 "B24 100351 blew up when it hit the water. The other aircraft did not." (Account by Romick) So p329 B24 42-95144 without tail was found with bombs!
Notice articles and TV items since 15 SEP 2019 in the section in Danish.                                                                                                                10 airmen.