B 24J 42   100351 - Langelandsbælt                        Marstal 2021                              Updated: 28 MAR 2025

Airman Surname Init Rank Service Sqdn P_link Plane Operation Crash_site Crash_d Buried_d C_link At_Next
e777300.htm Baker B W T/Sgt USAAF 565 p328.htm B24 100351 Bomb G Langelandsbælt d200644 e777c e777c.htm NO - CAM
o888363.htm Boudreaux O J 2ndLt USAAF 565 p328.htm B24 100351 Bomb G Langelandsbælt d200644 o888 o888.htm POW
e777301.htm Danis Jr. J T/Sgt USAAF 565 p328.htm B24 100351 Bomb G Langelandsbælt d200644 e777c e777c.htm NO - CAM
e777306.htm Danneker J H S/Sgt USAAF 565 p328.htm B24 100351 Bomb G Langelandsbælt d200644 e777c e777c.htm NO - CAM
e777303.htm Gordon R P S/Sgt USAAF 565 p328.htm B24 100351 Bomb G Langelandsbælt d200644 e777c e777c.htm NO - CAM
e777305.htm Holly R W S/Sgt USAAF 565 p328.htm B24 100351 Bomb G Langelandsbælt d200644 e777c e777c.htm NO - CAM
e777304.htm Hymes Jr. M L 2ndLt USAAF 565 p328.htm B24 100351 Bomb G Langelandsbælt d200644 e777c e777c.htm NO - CAM
e777302.htm McCollum R T 2ndLt USAAF 565 p328.htm B24 100351 Bomb G Langelandsbælt d200644 e777c e777c.htm NO recov.
o888362.htm Powers W 1stLt USAAF 565 p328.htm B24 100351 Bomb G Langelandsbælt d200644 o888 o888.htm POW
e777307.htm Vancil J C S/Sgt USAAF 565 p328.htm B24 100351 Bomb G Langelandsbælt d200644 e777c e777c.htm 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     C
B24 100351 skåret halen af og styrtede i havet omkring 2 km sydøst for Keldsnor Fyr (foto) på Langeland, omkring her.Også det andet fly styrtede ned ikke langt borte.

 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.

Flyvehistorisk Tidsskrift: "20. juni 1944 (kl. 0850) Storebælt mellem Keldsnor og Lolland. Convair B-24J, 42-100351 (EE- ) 565 BS, 389 BG, 2 CBW og 2 BD (Politz).
2 POW og 8 MIA.
På udturen blev den amerikanske formation beskudt af flak fra Keldsnor fyr. Piloten mistede kontrollen over flyet og kolliderede med et andet fly i formationen.
En propel blev revet løs, og flyet gik ind i et svagt dyk. Fem besætningsmedlemmer blev set forlade flyet, før det ramte havet og eksploderede.
De to piloter, 1st Lt William Powers og 2nd Lt. Oscar J. Bordreaux, blev samlet op af danske fiskere, medens resten omkom." (FT 85-79-35)   
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.
Nyt 23 MAR 2025 fra en ven: Berlingske har video Dykkere fandt liget af bombeskytte, 2nd Lt R. T. McCollum, 22 år, fra Liberator B24 100351 p328 i AirmenDK.
ABMC has this with Memorial Certificate. Missing Status: Recovered (Identied in February 2025 from his dental records and DNA)

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 SE of Keldsnor Lighthouse (photo) on Langeland, about here. Also the other plane crashed not far away.

 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.

(Danish) Aviation Historical Review writes: "20 June 1944 (08.50 hrs) Storebælt between Keldsnor and Lolland. Convair B-24J, 42-100351 (EE- ) 565 BS, 389 BG,
2 CBW and 2 BD (Politz). 2 POW og 8 MIA.
On the outward flight the American formation was shot at by flak from Keldsnor Lighthouse. The Pilot lost control over the plane and collided with another plane in the formation. A propeller was torn loose, and the plane went into a slight dive. Five crew members were seen leaving the plane, before it hit the sea and exploded.
The two Pilots, 1st Lt William Powers and 2nd Lt. Oscar J. Bordreaux, were picked up by Danish fishermen, while the remaining airmen perished." (FT 85-79-35)

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 42-100351 and the 10 crew members, crashed after mid-air collision with B24 42-95144 European Clipper, 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.