This incident is well detailed on a number of websites and I do not simple wish to copy what the people behind the websites have researched. Alan Clark's and Nick Wotherspoon's websites give the details plus the newer "www.rvremembrance.info" is now a fantasic resource for the flying accidents in this area of the world. This incident occurred in what was the old West Riding of Yorkshire, since the 1970s it has been in Lancashire.
On 2nd January 1945 the crew of this aircraft took off from Seething airfield to fly to Warton airfield. The B-24 they were flying to Warton was a well used and old aircraft and was to be exchanged for a much newer one for the unit, 714th Bomber Squadron. Also on board was a second crew who were to collect another newer aircraft for use by their squadron and also other passengers heading on leave who had grabbed a ride. The high ground of the Forest of Bowland was covered in low cloud on this date and after the aircraft entered cloud the crew became lost, at 14.45hrs the aircraft descended and struck the top of Burn Moor. The aircraft caught fire on impact and came to rest across a wall across the summit ridge. Sadly four in the aircraft died but remarkably fifteen survived.
Passenger (Bombardier) - 1st Lt James Ernest Fields USAAF. Aged 25. Buried Memorial Park Cemetery, Bartesville, Oklahoma, USA.
Passenger (Flight Engineer) - T/Sgt Phillip Mazzagatti USAAF (38420922). Aged 26. Buried Magnolia Cemetery, Beaumont, Texas, USA.
Passenger (Navigator) - 2nd Lt Orvie Odell Casto USAAF (O-722444). Aged 21. Buried East Lawn Memorial Park, Reno, Ohio, USA.
Passenger (ground crew?) - S/Sgt Edgar Eugene Lyon USAAF (16033854). Aged 25. Buried Cambridge Madingley Cemetery, UK (F/6/140).
Pilot - 1st Lt Carl H Holt USAAF (O-821282). Injured.
Co-Pilot - 2nd Lt Allen H Carey USAAF (O-829162). Injured.
Navigator - 2nd Lt Marshall K Dan USAAF (O-206599). Injured.
Flight Engineer - T/Sgt Donald Zeldin USAAF (33582669). Injured.
Radio Operator - Sgt Oscar W Olson USAAF (15134212). Injured.
Passenger (Pilot) - 2nd Lt Cortland C Crandall USAAF. Injured.
Passenger (Flight Engineer) - Sgt John J Madden USAAF (32440676). Injured.
Passenger (Pilot) - 2nd Lt Joseph B Brown USAAF (O-709384). Injured.
Passenger (Pilot) - 2nd Lt Richard G Seymour USAAF (O-772233). Injured.
Passenger (Radio Operator) - T/Sgt Francis N Louthan USAAF (6294369). Injured.
Passenger (Air Gunner) - S/Sgt Michael J Hill USAAF. Injured.
Passenger (Air Gunner) - S/Sgt Bertram O Chernow USAAF (32693364). Injured.
Passenger - Sgt John C Jacobs USAAF (16161986). Injured.
Passenger - Sgt Robert M Brandon USAAF (14151730). Injured.
Passenger - Sgt Mack S Thomas USAAF (18202672). Injured.
Edgar Lyon's grave at Madingley Cemetery near Cambridge.
I visited the crash site in May 2009 where a large burnt area still remains at one side of the wall whilst other remains are scattered on the other side of the wall.
