Lost at sea over the Atlantic Ocean aboard B-24D Liberator #41-23914 while on an anti-submarine patrol flight out of Langley Field, Virginia.
Sometime after 20:52 hours Eastern War Time, April 21, 1943, about 210 miles east of Virginia Beach, Virginia, SOS signals ceased and a merchant ship and two airplanes in the vicinity were notified. A U.S. Navy destroyer was dispatched to assist in the search. No verbal communication was ever received from the distressed bomber. Around 05:00 hours the following morning, eight aircraft from the 22nd Anti-Submarine Squadron were launched from Langley Field to search for the missing Liberator. Despite extensive searching, no evidence of the airplane and the missing crew were ever found.
One year and one day after the event, a Finding Of Death (FOD) was declared.
The ten crewmembers missing were:
1LT Fred M Speake Jr, O-431056, AL, Pilot
FLT O Charles L Barbour, T-060249, KS, Co-Pilot
1LT Charles H Dingus, O-724297, NM, Navigator
2LT James W Milliken, O-733074, NE, Bombardier
SSGT Harold G Danley, 17011830, NE, Radio Operator
TSGT Willard G Garrett, 17023751, MO, Flight Engineer
SSGT Titus E Hearn, 34078231, LA, Asst. Engineer
SGT Sheldon J Underdahl, 37173934, ND, Asst. Radio Operator
CPL Eugene T Bragg, 34287373, TN, Gunner
CPL Howard F Prestidge, 34078189, MS, Gunner
Lost at sea over the Atlantic Ocean aboard B-24D Liberator #41-23914 while on an anti-submarine patrol flight out of Langley Field, Virginia.
Sometime after 20:52 hours Eastern War Time, April 21, 1943, about 210 miles east of Virginia Beach, Virginia, SOS signals ceased and a merchant ship and two airplanes in the vicinity were notified. A U.S. Navy destroyer was dispatched to assist in the search. No verbal communication was ever received from the distressed bomber. Around 05:00 hours the following morning, eight aircraft from the 22nd Anti-Submarine Squadron were launched from Langley Field to search for the missing Liberator. Despite extensive searching, no evidence of the airplane and the missing crew were ever found.
One year and one day after the event, a Finding Of Death (FOD) was declared.
The ten crewmembers missing were:
1LT Fred M Speake Jr, O-431056, AL, Pilot
FLT O Charles L Barbour, T-060249, KS, Co-Pilot
1LT Charles H Dingus, O-724297, NM, Navigator
2LT James W Milliken, O-733074, NE, Bombardier
SSGT Harold G Danley, 17011830, NE, Radio Operator
TSGT Willard G Garrett, 17023751, MO, Flight Engineer
SSGT Titus E Hearn, 34078231, LA, Asst. Engineer
SGT Sheldon J Underdahl, 37173934, ND, Asst. Radio Operator
CPL Eugene T Bragg, 34287373, TN, Gunner
CPL Howard F Prestidge, 34078189, MS, Gunner
Inscription
Pilot U. S. Air Corps -- He gave his life in behalf of his country over the Atlantic
Gravesite Details
non-combat death
Family Members
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