Consolidated Liberator B-24J 42-51345 577th Bomb Squadron, 392 Bomb Group
Crew List:
Pilot: 2nd Lt. Kenneth L Stoddard.
Co-Pilot: 2nd Lt J A Wilson.
Navigator: 2nd. Lt. D H Koke.
Bomb-Aimer: F/O M P Santoro.
Engineer/Top Turret Gunner: Sgt R F O’Hara,
Radio Operator: Sgt R V Logue.
Right Waist Gunner: Sgt R A Hoffman.
Left Waist Gunner: Sgt G P Hores.
Ball Turret Gunner: Unknown.
Tail Gunner Sgt S M Szews.

Reason for loss:

Aircraft abandoned near the English coast running low on fuel in bad weather returning from raid on German oil refineries. Pilot bailed the crew out at 5,000 feet. He left the aircraft on a 90 degree heading on Auto-Pilot. An aircraft investigation board investigated the circumstances of 2/Lt Stoddard's crash and this was their findings built around Pilot Stoddard’s account.
Their report said, "While coming back over France with formation, the co-pilot picked up VHF message which, in part, instructed Division to land at certain specified fields on the continent. The pilot interpreted this message to mean, 'if low on fuel, land on the continent, if not, land at home base.'

His radio operator tried to contact his home base HF/DF Station to get a weather report. He could not contact this station until they were approximately 50 miles from the field. When contact was finally made he was instructed to proceed to a diversionary field in Northern England. He did not have enough fuel (by his own calculations) to get there. He then tried to get in at his home base but found 0/0 conditions there. He climbed up to 3,000 feet and proceeded to emergency field at Woodbridge but found similar conditions there. During this time his radio operator was attempting to get weather from Air Sea Rescue, Division and other sources but was unsuccessful. His fuel was getting seriously low so he decided to abandon the aircraft as there was no possibility of attempting a landing. He bailed the crew out at 5,000 feet. He left the aircraft on a 90 degree heading on Auto-Pilot."

English witnesses at Fleur De Lys Farm near Dagnall, Berkhamsted, Hertfordshire, later told investigators, "I heard the a/c coming from southeast of our house, very low. The engines seemed to be sputtering, and then heard the crash on the hill."

The Sub Depot at AAF Station 113 later reported that the aircraft crashed in a wooded lot and is completely demolished; oxygen panels, AFCE servo units, tires, wheels, etc, are partially recoverable; Sub-Depot removed a part of the radio equipment, all of which is beyond repair.

Pilot Stoddard was slightly injured but no one else was hurt.

Gallery Photo:

(Left) Pilot: 2nd Lt. Kenneth L Stoddard.
(Right) Display board at the Booker Aircraft Museum in the mid 1980’s with some of the many items recovered from the site. These include the remains of pilots control column (Bottom left). To the right of this can be see 3 fittings from crew headphones, far right second from bottom survival knife from Dinghy. Across the board there are a number of labels, an instrument and instrument faces, control pulley wheels and other items.