CRASH OF A B-24 LIBERATOR
NEAR BLACK SAND PLAIN NEAR DALY RIVER, NT
ON 29 JULY 1943

 

B-24D-53-CO #42-40491 "Poochie" 528th Bomb Squadron of the 380th Bomb Group based at Fenton Airfield in the Northern Territory, crashed near Black Sand Plain near the Daly River in the Northern Territory on 29 July 1943 on return from a Fat Cat Mission. The aircraft became lost and the pilot, Maj Everett, Commanding Officer of the 530th Bomb Squadron decided to put the aircraft down whilst it was still under controlled flight. He managed to do so with light injuries to passengers and crew.

The Aircraft was found by another from 530th Bomb Squadron aircraft, after the crew of "Poochie" fired flares. The same flares that saved the crew started a bush fire which burnt out the centre section of the bomber.

Craig Busby thought that the centre section would have been useable as the fuselage centre section was burnt out. Craig believes that they recovered numerous smaller parts (engine bearers, cowls etc) for their rebuild. Craig remembered seeing these items in storage at RAAF Tindal awaiting shipment to Point Cook

Scott Betteridge believes that the wreck of B-24 Liberator "Poochie" had its centre wing section salvaged for its use in the restoration of a RAAF Liberator down south. 

"Poochie" had earlier arrived via an overseas flight at Amberley Airfield on 1 May 1942

Tim Huse contacted me on 27 April 2022 and advised that his father's cousin was Frank Huse, the Bombardier on "Poochie". Its first mission was on 23 June 1943 to Macassar in the Celebes. It was Struck off Charge on 4 August 1943.

NOTE:- I did some searching on the 380th Bomb Group web site and could not find anyone called Everett in the crew lists and I found the following crew list in the 529th Bomb Squadron (not the 528th) for "Poochie which places some possible doubt on the above information though another page on that site does confirm it was with the 528th Bomb Squadron when it crashed. It also suggests that it crashed on 31 July 1943 and not 29 July 1943:-

Aircraft Commander - Reynold C. Craddock O-663862
Pilot - Cecil F. Wells O-736433
Navigator - George R. Fisher O-735988
Bombardier - Frank P. Huse, Jr. O-732928
Flight Engineer - Leonard H. Berlin 13041015
Flight Engineer - Henry C. Blazer 37217156
Radio Operator - Eugene R. Smith 12056354
Assistant Flight Engineer - James Herndon 6554506
Gunner - Donald E. Davis 18117514
Gunner William R. Jackson 12010968
Gunner Richard G. Yates 17059002

Another search of my research files came up with a file titled "USAAF Aircraft 1941 Accidents" which has the following entry:-

Date Aircraft Type  Serial Number Sqdn Group  AF Action D Pilot Country Location
430731  B-24D  42-40491 530BS 380BG 5 FLoG 3 Ware, Everett H. AST [APO 921]

Note:- There is that name Everett, but it is a Christian name. Also states the date of the crash was 31 July 1943 and states it was with the 30th Bomb Squadron!!

Has anyone got a copy of the "Report of Aircraft Accident" A.A.F. Form No. 14  file?

 

Photo of "Poochie" taken in about 1997

 

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

I'd like to thank Tim Huse, Craig Busby and Scott Beveridge for their assistance with this web page.

 

Can anyone help me with more information on this crash?

 

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This page first produced 23 November 1999

This page last updated 27 April 2022