Crashlanding at A-78 B-26 42-107615 386BG september 23 1944

[Alain57]

Hello ,

On september 23 1944 at Charleroi A-87 Belgium a B-26 42-107615 from 386BG made a crashlanding , overshot the runway. The pilot was Harnest Earl M pilot 0-693774 - 12/09/1921-17/03/1992.On off the crewmembers who was killed in this incident was SSgt Louis Joseph Cubba 8 Oct 1918 BURIAL
Henri-Chapelle American Cemetery and Memorial Henri-Chapelle, Arrondissement de Verviers, Liège Belgium.

Who has some more info on this event ?

Regards
Alain57

[Luc Vervoort]

Hello Alain,

Sgt.Louis J.Cubba was the tailgunner of 41-31622 and got fatally injured by flak, which pierced his flak suit. Also aboard the plane were : 1Lt.J.W.Kerr (pilot), T/Sgt.L.P.Patras, 2Lt.K.W.Huckaby, S/Sgt.Cherkeney, 1Lt.R.L.Nobb (injured by flak) and 1Lt.C.F.Smith.

The Interrogation Form also mentions :
After tail gunner was wounded severely by flak on bomb run, a/c called Sweepstake for Chievres A/D. Sweepstake sent a/c to Charleroi (Benjamin). Ceiling 300 feet. 3600 ft runway of slippery grass. Pilot couldn’t see end of runway, and brakes wouldn’t stop a/c. When pilot saw there was danger of overrunning, he hit landing gear release, pulled up wheels and slid a/c on belly. A/C hit revetment, and crashed into 9 000 gals of gasoline in 5-gal cans, which were stacked at end of runway. A/C and gasoline dump caught fire. Crew jumped out, but there was no crash truck, and only one ambulance. Part of crew got in ambulance. Patras fell on ground 50 ft from a/c. Kerr ran around to pick him up. Ammunition and bombs started going off. Got everybody into the ambulance except Cubba, whose fate is unknown, but it is presumed that he burned with a/c. A/C completely destroyed, along with another plane from 391st Group which also had crashed on end of runway, several trucks and houses.
(source: Reel B0399A p.16 and 17)

Best regards

Luc

[Alain57]

Goodevening ,

Thanks Luc for the help

Alain57