Mission History
Took off from Iron Range to bomb Buna Mission. The aircraft became lost over the Gulf of Carpenteria and ran out of fuel. The pilot ordered a bail out and the crew to meet at the crash site to regroup. The aircraft, flying on its own, performed an almost perfect belly landing near Moonlight Creek. Crosson and Wilson were the only two to reach the crash site - they headed east and were rescued. Grimes, Dyer, Speltic and Gaston landed close to each other, headed to the west. In the end, only three crew members survived.

Fates of the Crew
The fate of the crew of "Little Eva" is a sad legacy. Lt McKeon, Lt Hilton & CPL Gurdas - Did not bail out, believed to have been helping free the paracute of Lt. Workman. The three were killed in the crash on December 3, 1942. Lt. Workman's, parachute caught on framework of door, killing him when aircraft hit the ground. Lt. Grimes survived, but was swept into the ocean after getting caught in Robinson River around December 25, 1942. His body found on beach a few days later. Lt. Speltz died on February 24, 1943.

Only three of the crew members survived: Lt. N R Crosson (Pilot) & Lt. Wilson we both found walking across Escott Station (15 km West of Burketown) (15 DEC 42). Grady Gaston was rescued at a paper bark hut on Seven Emu Station (23 MAR 43). He had gray hair and only weighed about 80lbs from his ordeal in the outback. He went on to return home and worked for the USPS, and retired in Alabama. He passed away in 1998.

Wreckage
In 1974 Syd Beck of The Beck Museumrecovered a number of pieces - ball turret, an engine with propeller and main landing gear leg. All of these items are now on display at his museum.

References
Legacy of the 90th Bombardment Group page 24 - 26
The Searchers
Flightpath Vol 12 No 3, pg 66-71

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Last Updated
November 2, 2009

B-24

Liberator Wreck at Moonlight Creek