On 31st January 1945 this San Diego contract-built Convair Liberator was part of a group of 4030 aircraft taking part in a raid on Brunswick Hallendorf but because of poor weather conditions the whole raid was scrapped after the aircraft had taken off and by the time the force was recalled many were well on their way to the target area. Because of bad weather around their bases in Norfolk and Cambridgeshire many crews were diverted north to land and a number of aircraft suffered damage in Yorkshire trying to land. This aircraft was one of a few from the same unit to be diverted to Leconfield. When the aircraft reached Leconfield the crew found this airfield was blanketed in fog. A number of other aircraft had already attempted landings there in nil-visibility and some crash landed.
B-24 42-95227 was the first to crash at Leconfield, it landed with the left wheel on the runway and the nose and right wheels off the side of the concrete. Between the left and nose wheels a four feet high bank of snow that had been ploughed off the concrete and that was left in a line down the side of the runway. In trying to get the aircraft back onto the concrete the pilot turned the aircraft through the snow and it broke the nose undercarriage leg. The aircraft skidded to halt on the nose and blocked that runway. Leconfield flying control then switched the runway in use. A few minutes later B-24 42-51558 was making a landing on this new runway where the snow had been cleared in the same manner. After touching down the crew of this aircraft noticed that another Liberator was making an approach to land on the former (and now blocked) runway and realised there their paths would converge should this other aircraft land. In taking evasive action to avoid a collision the pilot of 42-51558 turned the aircraft off the runway and through the four feet high snow bank. Again, the nose wheel of the aircraft was broken off and it skidded to halt close to the intersections of the two runways. The other aircraft succesfully made an overshoot and regained the circuit. Both the runways that were suitable for landing on at Leconfield were now blocked so flying control closed the airfield to further landings and diverted crews in their circuit away. East Fortune airfield is the location quoted.
By the time the crew of B-24 42-51193 was diverted away they had already made five unsuccessful attempts to land at Leconfield, possibly initially to find nearby Carnaby airfield because it appears to have been low on fuel. They had flown too far north to locate Carnaby and were too far from any other airfield to land when the fuel level became critical. As the aircraft approached the North Yorkshire Moors two engines cut out, the undercarriage was then lowered ready for a forced landing. The crew were told to brace themselves by the pilot and at 17.00hrs the pilot attempted to land the aircraft in a field near Hutton Buscel but had to pull up to avoid a house, as open ground lay beyond this house the pilot put the aircraft down there. On touching down the tail broke off at the belly turret position. The aircraft continued along the ground and then hit a wide tree. Whilst I have not yet located the crash site I understand from Mr Guthrie of Troutsdale the accident occurred around a half mile up the eastern road up out of Hutton Buscel north and on the left side of the road. The crew in the front of the aircraft stood little chance of survival with all being either killed in the crash or being very badly injured, seven of the nine USAAF crew sadly died as a result of the accident and two others possibly in part of the aircraft which broke away survived with minor injuries. All of the crew are believed to have been taken to Scarborough hospital where the pilot died of his injuries soon after arrival. Former Silpho Brow farmer, Mr Clifford Welburn recalls the men being brought to the hospital that night as he was at the hospital having his appendix removed at the time. The aircraft possibly carried the nose art of either "Lucky Lady Betty II" or "Mah-Ideal". It had suffered minor damage at base in October 1944. I would welcome additional information to give the full names of any of the crew listed below, their exact places of burial and if possible photographs of any of them.
In all 112 B17's and 291 B24's were recalled as were nearly 200 P51 fighters acting as escorts and scouting forces. Other than this loss three other aircraft suffered serious damage, a B17 crashed at base whilst aborting the raid and two B24's, one of which crashed on take off and the other near base after crew had baled out. Six Liberators were damaged in attempted landings on return in Yorkshire on this night, the incidents where information has been located were as follows. One at "Snap, UK" (possibly Shap?) the pilot being Ralph L Wingrove in B24J 42-50713. The location of "Tunstall" is also given. One at Catfoss, the pilot being Howard E Jennings in B24J 44-10494. One at Carnaby airstrip, the pilot being Edmund P Simpson in B24H 42-94971. Nose art of "Fart Sack Time". Left undercarriage collapsed at Carnaby. One at Leconfield, the pilot being Henry F Burkett in B24J 42-51558. One at Leconfield, the pilot being William W Leesburg in B24H 42-95227. One at Catfoss, the pilot being Charles L Leamy in B24H 42-50437. All will be added to the main Yorkshire section to this website in due course.
Pilot - 2Lt Clifton Frank Lambert USAAF (O-824144), of Lancaster County, Nebraska, USA. Initially buried Cambridge Madingley Cemetery. Since buried in Lincoln Memorial Park, Nebraska, USA. Wife of Lincoln, Nebraska. Died of injuries on 3rd February 1945.
Co-Pilot - F/O Willard Woods McCord USAAF (T-003078), of San Jose, Santa Clara County, California, USA. Buried Cambridge Madingley Cemetery (B/4/11).
Navigator - 2Lt Robert Abbott Peabody USAAF (O-2070454), of Schenectady, New York, USA. Initially buried Cambridge Madingley Cemetery. Since buried in Oakdale Cemetery, Missleton, Essex Co., Massachusetts, USA.
Radio Operator - T/Sgt Paul Norman Hoover USAAF (39128872), of San Jose, Santa Clara County, California, USA. Initially buried Cambridge Madingley Cemetery. Since buried at Golden Gate National Cemetery, San Bruno, California, USA.
Left Waist Gunner - S/Sgt Benny Martin Chmiel USAAF, of Washington, Washington County, Pennsylvania, USA. Initially buried Cambridge Madingley Cemetery. Since buried in Holy Trinity Polish National Catholic Church Cemetery, Washington, Pennsylvania, USA.
Right Waist Gunner - S/Sgt Glenn Max Whitaker USAAF (37619020), of Nevada, Vernon County, Missouri. Initially buried Cambridge Madingley Cemetery. Since buried in Newton Burial Park, Nevada, Vernon Co, Missouri, USA.
Nose Gunner - S/Sgt Fain Laver Hickerson USAAF (39916877), of Payette County, Oregon. Buried Cambridge Madingley Cemetery (B/5/11). Mother of Smelterville, Idaho, USA.
Top Turret Gunner - T/Sgt Harry Walter Storicks USAAF (32757654), of Bridgeport, New Jersey, USA. Minor injuries.
Tail Gunner - S/Sgt Phillip Wayne Corliss USAAF (16139615), of Hart, Michigan, USA. Minor injuries.
Clifton Lambert was the eldest son of Frank and Clara Lambert and was born on 17th December 1921. In the 1940 census he was living with his family in the Yankee Hill Election Precinct, Lancaster County. He was working as a clerk and waiter in his father's grocery and cafe.
Willard McCord was born on 25th May 1924. In the 1940 US Census he is listed as being the youngest son of Charles and Bertha McCord of San Jose, Santa Clara County, California. His father Charles was born in Illinois and working as a plasterer, his mother was born in Ohio. The photograph of his grave was found on the internet and posted by Geoffrey Roecker.
Paul Hoover was born on 18th May 1914. He is now buried in Golden Gate Cemetery, San Bruno, California. The photograph of his gravestone was found on the internet and posted by Tom Brocher.
Robert Peabody and his grave.
Benny Chmiel's entry in the 1940 US census is an assumed one, his entry is probably one for him being 14 years old, living in Canton Township, Washington County, Pennsylvania
with his mother Pauline Chmiel and four siblings. His mother was born in Poland.
Glenn Whitaker was born on 22nd July 1923. He attended Poplar Bluff High School, where he graduated in 1942. He was married to Armeta M. Whitaker who was living in Sioux Falls, South Dakota in August 1945 and left a young child.
Fain Hickerson was born in 1925, he was the son of Rita Hickerson and in the 1940 US Census he was living in Payette, Payette County, Idaho. He was born in Oregon. He enlisted for military service on 16th June 1943 in Boise, Idaho and was working as a farmhand at the time.
Phillip Corliss was born on 6th November 1925.
Harry Storicks was born on 23rd November 1924 to Walter and Ella Storicks, he died in Pemberton, Burlington, New Jersey on 18th February 1997.