Info April 12th 1943. Twin bomber crash on the island of St Vincent, British West Indies

[Martin Gleeson]

Hallo Duncan,

Cannot help you much here. You may well be correct in believing a 4th (US) person died in the crash. Such tragedies did happen. Most US personnel who died abroad during WW2 and whose bodies were recovered and identified were returned to the USA after the end of the war.

I have a book titled 'ALAE SUPRA CANALEM' by Dan Hagedorn. It deals with the activities of the USAAC/USAAF in the Central American and Caribbean regions and mostly covers the WW2 period. There is a listing of air accident fatalities (American) but nothing for 12 April 1943. Indeed the author stressed that the list is not complete.

I believe St. Vincent and The Grenadines is an independent nation now. Does it have a US Embassy ? Or was there a US Consular Office or similar there in 1943 ? Also what office in St. Vincent (during WW2) issued Death Certificates ? There must have been police and coroner's reports ? Try any local undertakers whose business has been around for a long time ! This worked once for me. Just suggestions.

Barring the above the best indicator may come from the Australian Archives.

Hope this helps.

Martin.