The Scottish War Memorials Project

spoons · Posted: Fri Oct 05, 2007 7:31 pm Post subject: Carsphairn American Air Crash

Not listed on UKNIWM

Location is in a Dyke running away from the road (A713) near to Brockloch Tower at OS Map Ref NX 539 959.

This was originally posted on the Carsphairn memorial thread by Jamie McGinlay.

As this is not especially easy to find, here is a photo of Brockloch Tower taken from the memorial, so if you get this view, you should be very close.

And Jamie McGinlay’s original pic.

DerekR · Posted: Fri Oct 05, 2007 8:15 pm Post subject:

Any ideas what the aircraft was?
Eleven dead suggests that it was a large bomber but how many WW2 bombers carried 11?
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Adam Brown · Posted: Fri Oct 05, 2007 8:30 pm Post subject:

spoons · Posted: Fri Oct 05, 2007 9:59 pm Post subject:

I am still trying to find out, but there are at least 2 Liberator (B24) crash sites in the area so that is a possibility as well. Don't assume that the 11 were all crew. The Liberator for example had removable canvas seats that could be put into the bomb bay for carrying extra passengers and many wounded were flown back from the continent this way in the later stages of the war - but this is less likely because the crash was in 1951.

I should have mentioned that the pieces of metal below the plaque are remains of the aircraft.

\Paul

dhubthaigh · Posted: Sat Oct 06, 2007 11:34 am Post subject:

JOHN B. SIMPSON, 24, Cpl. 18091568, Radio Operator, Married, U.S. Res. - Savannah, Georgia.
JOSEPH ALOYSIUS O'LEARY, 33, 1st Lieut A.O. 732056, Plane Commander (Pilot), Married, U.S. Res. - Pullman, Washington.
GEORGE JACQUES HAYDEN, 31, 1st Lieut. A.O. 434850, Navigator, Married, U.S. Res. - Athens, Alabama.
REGINALD Y. RUSSELL, 25, Cpl. 14154155, Boom Operator, Married, U.S. Res. - Atlanta, Georgia.
JOHN R. FINNEGAN, 34, Cpl. 6979895, Scanner, Married, U.S. Res. - New York City.
JACK WILFRED KERN, 27, 1st Lieut. A.O. 678818, Acting Boom Operator (Instructor), Married, U.S. Res. - Savannah, Georgia.
GEORGE MERRIL FOOTE, 31, 1st Lieut., A.O. 678818, Second Pilot, Married, U.S. Res. - North Long Beach, California
TENNANT APPLETON METZ, 30, Captain A.O. 692422, Boom Operator, Married, U.S. Res. - Louisville, Kentucky.
HENRY H. HILL, 26, Tech. Sergt. 1402800, Boom Operator, Married, U.S. Res. - Ochlocknee, Georgia.
WALLACE L. SCOTT, 26, Staff Sergt. 34823844, Boom Operator, Married, U.S. Res. - Tomaston, Georgia.
NOEL MARION POPPOFF, 22, Staff Sergt. 17217973, Flight Engineer, Married, U.S. Res. - Port Wentworth, Texas.

dhubthaigh · Posted: Sat Oct 06, 2007 11:37 am Post subject:

In the USAF the position of boom operator is a position held by an enlisted aviator, (rank Airman Basic through Chief Master Sergeant) who is responsible for safely and effectively refueling other aircraft while in flight. The official Air Force title for boom operators is "In-Flight Refueling Technician" but this title is usually reserved for formal paperwork such as Air Medals. The name boom operator implies that one "operates a boom" which in the case of a tanker aircraft is a long extendable metal arm that connects two aircraft for fuel transfer.

dhubthaigh · Posted: Sat Oct 06, 2007 11:38 am Post subject:

For anyone really keen to find out exactly what happened;
http://www.accident-report.com/index.html

spoons · Posted: Sat Oct 06, 2007 12:57 pm Post subject:

Found the info at last

http://home.att.net/%7Ejbaugher/1944_6.html

Serial 44-83950 Bell-Atlanta B-29B-45-BA Superfortress
Converted to KB-29P. Crashed near Kirkcudbright, Scotland
Jul 7, 1951. 11 on board killed.

(the K in the description denotes tanker so that fits in with boom operators.)

\Paul

DerekR · Posted: Sat Oct 06, 2007 4:03 pm Post subject:

Well done folks.
_________________
Help Save Our Red Squirrels
4 wheels move the body, 2 wheels move the soul!

spoons · Posted: Fri Jan 16, 2009 10:22 pm Post subject:

Details and photos sent to UKNIWM today.

\Paul