Four men were on the C-109 Liberator tanker when it crashed July 17, 1945.
1st Lt. Allen R. Turner, pilot
2nd Lt. Frederick W. Langhorst, co-pilot
Cpl. Robert L. McAdoo, radio operator
Pvt. Joseph I. Natvik, flight engineer
THE LOST CREW OF HOT AS HELL
Eight men were on the B-24 Liberator bomber when it crashed Jan. 25, 1944.
1st Lt. William A. Swanson, pilot
1st Officer Sheldon L. Chambers, co-pilot
1st Lt. Irwin Zaetz, navigator
1st Lt. Robert E. Oxford, bombardier
Staff Sgt. Charles D. Ginn, engineer
Staff Sgt. Harry B. Queen, radio operator
Sgt. James E. Hinson, gunner
Sgt. Alfred H. Gerrans Jr., gunner
The long trip home. Glad they finally made it back. If they were able to look around I am sure they would wonder what they had given theirs lives for exactly.
One of the men who sponsored my membership in the ANAF Veterans in Canada was one John Harley, one of the many incredibly brave young pilots who laid their lives on the line for freedom by flying over “The Hump”.
In a way I am glad he has long since passed on. Though I miss him and his charming wife Hilda a LOT, I think he would be utterly mortified by what we have become.
Unfortunately there is a missing graveyard. The brave men of the United States Army Air Force and those of the Royal Army Air force are missing with rare exception. Few of their remains exist and were recovered. Perhaps when you look up in the sky on a beautiful summer day in England and see the clouds that is their graveyard.
"There are an estimated 83,000 military personnel still missing from World War II......"
The overwhelming majority of these were lost at sea. In that sense, we know where they are.
The picture of the ceremony show soldiers, not Marines as cited in the article. the video shows a joint color guard with sailors, airmen, soldiers and Marines. Editors used to correct these careless errors.
Thanks for this.
I have a great-great uncle who is still missing. Went down in the S. Pacific theater but there were some islands they could have made it to. Stories give us hope that someday his remains will be found. These men are not forgotten. They are ‘remembered’ by family members who were born long after they were gone through family stories handed down about them. Great and great-great descendants will keep up the vigil.
RIP.