Donald M. Fuller     Photo: AS 25 MAY 2015   Updated: 03 AUG 2021                     1948 -           Ardennes, BELGIUM            

Airman: u047006.htm Surname: Fuller Init: D M Rank: 2ndLt Service: USAAF Sqdn: 565

P_link: p329.htm Plane: B24 42-95144 Operation: Bomb G Crash_site: Langelandsbælt

Crash_d: d200644 Buried_d: b210644 C_link: c047.htm At_Next: Korsør

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.

Co-Pilot 2nd Lt Donald M. Fuller blev fundet i Store Bælt. Han blev begravet i Korsør den
21. juni 1944. Den 29. april 1948 blev han gravet op og taget til
Ardennes American Cemetery i Belgien. Der er ikke noget mindesmærke for ham i Korsør.
Se kortet USAAF med alle amerikanske flyvere begravet i Danmark. (Hovedkilder: FAF og AOD) Han er dog stadig begravet i Belgien på Ardennes American Cemetery Plot B Row 39 Grave 18.
Han kom i tjenesten fra Idaho. Hæderstegn: Air Medal, 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.

Co-Pilot 2nd Lt Donald M. Fuller was found in the Store Bælt. He was buried in Korsør on 21 June 1944. On 29 April 1948 he and 2 other American airmen buried in Korsør were disinterred to be taken home. There is no memorial to him in Korsør. See the map USAAF with all American airmen buried in Denmark. (Main sources:
FAF and AOD) However, he still rests in Ardennes American Cemetery in BELGIUM. Buried at: Plot B Row 39 Grave 18.
He entered the Service from: Idaho. Awards: Air Medal, 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.