USAAF
5th AF
19th BG
Pilot Col Richard Cobb
Co-pilot Capt James Bruce
Crew Lt E Hoffman
Crew T/Sgt Charles P. Brunson, 6393791 (KIA - Buried Honolulu)
Crew Sgt Harry Cohn
Crew Sgt J Lopez
Crew Cpl John R. Clanton, 7021855 (KIA - Buried Honolulu)
Crew Cpl James Herriotta
Crew PFC Curtis L Childers, 7083882 (KIA - Buried Honolulu)
Passenger Lt. B W Hurst, USN
Passenger Capt Jesn Githerd (Free French Navy liaison officer)
Crashed June 9, 1942
Crew History
Brunson, Clanton and Childers were members of the 5th BG, 31st BS.
Mission History
Shortly after midnight this B-17 crashed on take off from Whenuapsi Airfield on its way to Laverton near Melbourne. The bomber narrowly missed the home of George Sinton, a local farmer. Two bombs of the four on board exploded on impact destroying the bomber that impacted into the ground and damaged Sinton’s home. All eleven on board were KIA.
The cause of the crash was never clearly defined but when taking off from a bright flare-path-lit runway and with landing lights on full on a moonless night, as soon as the aircraft left the runway and turned out its landing lights, the pilot would have been subjected to a short period of visual distortion.
The funeral of the occupants was attended by senior officers in the Auckland area, with Navy and Army honour guard of six officers and six other ranks acting as pall bearers.
References
Thanks to Daniel Leahy for additional crew information.
B-17
