Eniwetok, site of The Navy’s Worst Ever Aircraft Accident (1 Viewer)

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There were many tragic accidents with great loss of life and aircraft during World War Two. One accident in particular stands out from the rest due to the greatest number of aircraft destroyed and damaged due to one accident. Eniwetok Island was the site of the Navy's worst ever aircraft accident. Read enclosed pdf file to learn the full story of this tragic event. This accident has been researched using the official Navy accident report. I welcome your comments.
V/R
DaveT
 
My dad, LTJG Bucklew, flew in VB-116 from it's formation in late 1943, to Dec 25, 1944. The squadron went to Kaneohe on 5 June 1944 for forward training, and then on to Eniwetok. During the training in Hawaii, he starting flying one B-24, BN38766, rather than whatever aircraft was assigned to him for the day. He flew this plane until 5 August 1944, when he and his crew apparently had several days off for rest. The plane must have been reassigned to another pilot and crew for the evening of 9 August 1944 and this was the plane that did not make it off the runway. He never talked about this, or any other war event, especially since the accident involved a crew he must have known and it was with his plane. I reconstructed a little of the history through internet, navy records, and his logbook to try to see what happened to the squadron during deployment and found the above information.
 
My dad, LTJG Bucklew, flew in VB-116 from it's formation in late 1943, to Dec 25, 1944. The squadron went to Kaneohe on 5 June 1944 for forward training, and then on to Eniwetok. During the training in Hawaii, he starting flying one B-24, BN38766, rather than whatever aircraft was assigned to him for the day. He flew this plane until 5 August 1944, when he and his crew apparently had several days off for rest. The plane must have been reassigned to another pilot and crew for the evening of 9 August 1944 and this was the plane that did not make it off the runway. He never talked about this, or any other war event, especially since the accident involved a crew he must have known and it was with his plane. I reconstructed a little of the history through internet, navy records, and his logbook to try to see what happened to the squadron during deployment and found the above information.
Do you have any photos and /or documents related to VB-116
 
daveT,
Looks like I'm a little late to this PB4Y-1-38766 study

Great contribution to this Eniwetok disaster story. A few considerations related to crew member names. The following and attached are results from my search for these crew members, in the order you have listed them:

Lt Romane Camerson Anderson, https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/63055598

Ens Thomas M Pettit https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/146618023/thomas-m-pettit

Ens Orville Bias Tully https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/24076676/orville-bias-tully

AMM 1c L. Johnson, no findagrave memorial, or other data found

S 1c Arthur. A. Heper, Jr. [5 common] https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/19420442/arthur-a-heper

ARM 1c John Wilbur Chalmers, Jr. [5 common] https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/19420285/john-w-chalmers cenotaph (w/photo) https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/105894578/john-wilbur-chalmers

ARM 3c Al Burkhartzmeyer "Still flying!"

AOM 2c John D Rothwell [5 common] https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/19420336/john-d-rothwell

S 1c Arthur Alexander Van Winkle, Jr [5 common] https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/19420392/arthur-alexander-van_winkle

S 1c Earl Victor Petri The War Department Files confirmed ancestry.com; headstone app. attached (Born 7 Sep 1921, KIA 9 Aug 1944), and newspaper article. No findagrave memorial found.

AOM 3c Donald Arthur Ehinger https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/19420358/donald-arthur-ehinger

Hope this helps with full crew accountability.
 

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daveT,
Looks like I'm a little late to this PB4Y-1-38766 study

Great contribution to this Eniwetok disaster story. A few considerations related to crew member names. The following and attached are results from my search for these crew members, in the order you have listed them:

Lt Romane Camerson Anderson, https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/63055598

Ens Thomas M Pettit https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/146618023/thomas-m-pettit

Ens Orville Bias Tully https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/24076676/orville-bias-tully

AMM 1c L. Johnson, no findagrave memorial, or other data found

S 1c Arthur. A. Heper, Jr. [5 common] https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/19420442/arthur-a-heper

ARM 1c John Wilbur Chalmers, Jr. [5 common] https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/19420285/john-w-chalmers cenotaph (w/photo) https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/105894578/john-wilbur-chalmers

ARM 3c Al Burkhartzmeyer "Still flying!"

AOM 2c John D Rothwell [5 common] https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/19420336/john-d-rothwell

S 1c Arthur Alexander Van Winkle, Jr [5 common] https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/19420392/arthur-alexander-van_winkle

S 1c Earl Victor Petri The War Department Files confirmed ancestry.com; headstone app. attached (Born 7 Sep 1921, KIA 9 Aug 1944), and newspaper article. No findagrave memorial found.

AOM 3c Donald Arthur Ehinger https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/19420358/donald-arthur-ehinger

Hope this helps with full crew accountability.
 
25Kingman49 you are not too late. Thank you for the crew information.
I'm still looking for photos and more information about the accident.

I am currently editing my father's autobiography. He was on Eniwetok at the time of the accident. He mentions it but not with much detail. This is what he said:
"Aircraft and bombs were exploding for several hours. One piece of bomb was lodged in a coconut tree in front of our tent. When the accident occurred some of us started down towards the scene but soon retreated as flying missiles were everywhere."

He said that it was probably due to engine failure. Apparently he didn't hear the true cause. He was in a different squadron "VJ-17A". He flew B-26s (Navy JM-1) primarily towing targets for battleship gunnery training. On January 16, 1945 he lost his right wheel on a flight due to a battery explosion in the wheel well. He landed the JM-1 successfully but the PB4Y accident later made him aware of what could have happened. They did have time to burn off fuel and clear aircraft off one side of the landing strip.

I have some photos of his squadron on Eniwetok but they might not be of interest regarding the accident.

He also mentioned that he played basketball in high school against John Rothwell, one of those killed in the crash. He grew up in Moore, Idaho, a tiny town in SE Idaho, where John was born.
 
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I am currently editing my father's autobiography. He was on Eniwetok at the time of the accident. He mentions it but not with much detail. This is what he said:
"Aircraft and bombs were exploding for several hours. One piece of bomb was lodged in a coconut tree in front of our tent. When the accident occurred some of us started down towards the scene but soon retreated as flying missiles were everywhere."

He said that it was probably due to engine failure. Apparently he didn't hear the true cause. He was in a different squadron "VJ-17A". He flew B-26s (Navy JM-1) primarily towing targets for battleship gunnery training. On January 16, 1945 he lost his right wheel on a flight due to a battery explosion in the wheel well. He landed the JM-1 successfully but the PB4Y accident later made him aware of what could have happened. They did have time to burn off fuel and clear aircraft off one side of the landing strip.

I have some photos of his squadron on Eniwetok but they might not be of interest regarding the accident.

He also mentioned that he played basketball in high school against John Rothwell, one of those killed in the crash. He grew up in Moore, Idaho, a tiny town in SE Idaho, where John was born.
WHat is your fathers Name so that I can credit him with the quote. Also I would be interested in the photos you have if they show crowded conditions on the island
 
My father-in-law was a Seabee stationed on Eniwetok. I'm trying to find info about him, and I came across a link to the following yearbook:
1945 WW2 NAVY SEABEE CBMU 592 YEARBOOK EVERY DAY A YEAR ENIWETOK PHOTOS

Unfortunately the copy of this book that was up for auction is no longer available. Does anyone have a copy they would be willing to scan or sell?

Also, my Dad was a flight chief in the 445th Fighter Squadron, 412th Fighter Group, stationed in Bakersfield, Santa Maria, Oxnard, and March Field. I have a few pictures of him working on a P-59 and standing next to a P-80. I'm willing to share his info with anyone interested.
 
Hello gentlemen.
My father served in the Seabees on Eniwetok in CBMU 592. He told several stories of his time there. I have pictures that were sent to me of the CBMU 592 cruisebook. I noticed in the book from the scans that it mentions the airplane accident. There are also other pics of the island. Would you like for me to share these pics to this page? Is this possible? I'm new here. Not sure how this all works yet. Thanks.
Because of Christ,
Daniel
 
Okay great! I hope these will be a help to someone! ;)
The first page describes what happened during the airplane wreck, towards the bottom of the page under "August, 1944."
The second page has a picture of the airstrip, looking from the east.
The third page is a drawing of the island.
The fourth page are pictures of the plane crash. It says, "Explosion of water still in the marine area. Three views of the plane
crash and fire on the marston matting parking area."

Let me know what you all think! Thanks,
Daniel
 

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Daniel, if you, or anyone else, has scans of the entire cruisebook, I would appreciate it if you would send them to me. Also, if anyone has the CBMU 592 cruisebook and wants to sell it, I would be willing to buy it.

Thanks,
Rich
 
Hello Rich,
Do you facebook? A guy just uploaded the whole book on facebook!!! I've been looking for this for about 4 years. Please let me know.
Thanks,
Daniel
 

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