B-24L - 44-49538 - loss at Goose Bay - 13 Jan 1945

[Leendert]

On 13 Jan 1945 B-24L 44-49538 crashed near Goose Bay, Labrador.
According a newspaper article of pilot Lt Mellion's hometown Belleville, NJ, there was just one survivor.
So far I could find as fatalities: pilot 2nd Lt Roger J. Mellion, CP (?) F/O Albert A. Pfeifer, Cpl Jack Kohnfelder and Cpl John J. Corrigan. Latter three men were also with Mellion in a B-24 accident on 2 October 1944 and all have DOD 13 Jan 1945 with DNB. Cpl Corrigan has 113 AAFBU (Charleston AAF, SC) on his gravestone.

In a personal story by Lt William L. Warner (44th BG/68th BS) who was stranded with his B-24 at Goose Bay, he was part of the burial Honor Guard for the killed men.

Newspaper adds that Lt. Mellion was en route to Europe for B-24 combat duties and was leading a flight of six a/c.

Aviationarchaeology puts the B-24 with AT (Air Transport Command). Joe Baugher has no info other than date of crash.

Assuming a B-24 had a bigger crew (unless on a ferry flight?), are more names known?

Thanks for any info.

Regards,
Leendert

[RSwank]

This appears to be another crewman, Waldo E Robinson:

https://www.newspapers.com/clip/6857...or-daily-news/

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/...ldo-e-robinson

[Leendert]

Thanks for addition. Will try to find more names...
Regards,
Leendert

[RSwank]

This would appear to be another one (although the type of plane listed is a B-17 instead of a B-24). Story starts at the bottom of the first column about Frank G Hedlund:

https://www.newspapers.com/clip/6865...sas-city-star/


https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/...ank-g.-hedlund

[Leendert]

Thanks. A further name is Cpl. Robert A. Mallon, as reported in the Brooklyn Daily Eagle of 7 Feb 1945.

Regards,
Leendert

[RSwank]

Mallon's Obit:
https://www.newspapers.com/clip/6872...bert-a-mallon/

[Laurent Rizzotti]

A stroy related to this aircraft:
https://www.facebook.com/AviationHis...6171723074583/

A search on http://www.usaafdata.com/?q=search with the serial only returns the name of the 2nd Lt Roger J. Mellion.
Pfeifer is there with no details.

Corrigan, Robinson, Mallon, Hedlund and Kohnfelder are not listed. The database is listing both USA and overseas USAAF casualties, but it is not the first time known USAAF casualties are missing.

Maybe you can check RCAF ORB online if there is something on the crash.

[RSwank]

I'll see what the accident report would cost from aviationarchaeology.com. If not too much I may just order it.


UPDATE

I ordered the Accident Report, it may take a few weeks.

[Laurent Rizzotti]

I found the war diary of RCAF detachement Goose Bay for 13 Jan 1945:
https://heritage.canadiana.ca/view/o...8/1078?r=0&s=3

According to it, one survivor was found but he "subsequently died". The report gives no name list or even the number of airmen lost, but displays details and a theory on the cause of the crash.

[Leendert]

Thanks for updates and assistance. Website airforcehistoryindex does not include the 1945 accidents (yet?) to make a name search easier.

The C-109 the Goose Bay Daily Diary refers to most likely 44-49230 on 6 Dec 1944.

Lt. Bill Warner (see my post # 1) writes about 13 Jan 1945: "Unfortunately, while we were at Goose Bay a B-24 crew crashed on the Bay at night. Two Eskimo tribes living on the base retrieved the bodies by dog sled. A graveside service was held at which, dressed in Eskimo parka, I was an honor guard".

Regards,
Leendert