C-54B - 43-17176 - ATC - Ascension Island - 10 May 1945

[Leendert]

On 10 May 1945 an ATC C-54B (43-17176) crashed while landing at Wideawake Field, Ascension Island, South Atlantic.

Reportedly 18 people on board, of whom 12 were killed. Pilot was (Lt) Hugh L. Garnett, who survived.

Of passengers who died I found one name: Capt. Joseph J. Moidel (O-569440) who was with the ATC Africa-Middle East Wing and was returning home.

Any more names of those involved welcome, thanks.

Regards,

Leendert

[Alex Smart]

Hello,
Try Craig on the AAIR site, he has it listed so must have the accident report available.
Could find no losses in CWGC re the ATA man or any other possible RAF or Commonwealth forces.
Fold3 has him as DNB, Los Angeles County, California.
Alex

[dp_burke]

airforcehistoryindex.org

Crew and pax list ought to be in there

[Leendert]

Date of accident not covered in airforcehistoryindex.

Another fatality was Cpl. Donald L. Shannon (36580117), buried at Arlington National Cemetery.

Landing gear of C-54 failed, fuel tank exploded. Was on its way from Dakar to Brazil.

Regards,

Leendert

[dp_burke]

Dang it, at least I found that link, I'd lost it.

Have you the Form 14 from the AFHSO or the other USAF historical office, I can never remember which is which. They always send out the Form 14 FOC.

[dp_burke]

Looked up Shannon and Moidel, on the "U.S. Rosters of World War II Dead, 1939-1945" database on ancestry.com and their place of burial is listed as

7925- Fort Buchanan Cemetery, San Juan, Puerto Rico

it's a shame that column of the document was never transcribed so cannot search for it in the database!!!!

[dp_burke]

Various newspapers in the US reported deaths of the following around that time in an Ascension Island accident


T/Sgt Andrew L McBride

Unfortunately, that very week a USO boxer had returned from a tour of the troops, and the island name shows up in many hits as it was on his route home!

[Leendert]

Thanks, Dennis.

Next to T/Sgt Andrew L. McBride (16035562) of the 8th Air Depot Group, Accra, two more names

PFC William H. Wimmer (33489302), 1152 AAFBU, Natal

Capt John R. Siddall (O-407607), US Army, 67th Station Hospital, Acrra.

Regards,

Leendert

[Alex Smart]

http://airforcehistoryindex.org/data/000/877/168.xml

[dp_burke]

Hi Leendert,

have you requested the crash report from Craig or from AFHRA?