Thursday 13 August 1942 the loss of Liberator IIIA LV341 Z/120.

Discussion in 'The War In The Air' started by Peter Clare, Aug 12, 2009.

  1. Deacs

    Deacs Well i am from Cumbria.

    Remembering :poppy:
     
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  2. Deacs

    Deacs Well i am from Cumbria.

    Some pages from F/S. Alfred Burton Craig R/50369 RCAF. Navigator service records.
    42127_83024005506_0496-00003.jpg 42127_83024005506_0496-00005.jpg 42127_83024005506_0496-00006.jpg 42127_83024005506_0496-00008.jpg
     
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  3. Deacs

    Deacs Well i am from Cumbria.

    RCAF.jpg 42127_83024005506_0496-00031.jpg
     
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  4. Peter Clare

    Peter Clare Very Senior Member

    I have the court of inquiry report re the loss of my fathers aircraft. It does state that Archer 'inadvertently! Operated the master ignition switches. The problem being that LV341 was an American lend lease aircraft and the switch position was opposite to UK built aircraft - up was on down was off Archer probably got confused over the switch position. When the surviving crew returned to the Squadron after survivors leave no one on the station (Ballykelly) would fly with Archer. He was transferred and was shot down over the Bay of Biscay the following year, losing his life.
     
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  5. KevinBattle

    KevinBattle Senior Member

    I notice that Craig showed his date of birth as 26 July 1918 when enlisting in 1938 with the New Brunswick Rangers, and his true date of birth as 26 July 1920 when enlisting in RCAF in 1940.

    Accidents do happen, and there are many instances of air accidents caused by switches in one model of the same aircraft operating in the reverse way on a later or different batch. Some were even positioned behind the pilot, so could only be found by touch, through flying gloves. (Blenheims?) or for example, French aircraft taken over having throttles that worked in the opposite direction to British ordered aircraft. We all make mistakes, but this was a catastrophic one, being able to instantly cut power to all 4 engines.... why would anyone NEED a master switch to do that when flying?
     
  6. Peter Clare

    Peter Clare Very Senior Member

    The engine master switch on a Liberator was made up of four individual switches, one for each engine. A bar was positioned above these switches which when 'thrown' would operate all switches at the same time. After the loss of LV341 it was recommended that a guard be fixed over the switches to avoid a repeat of the incident. These switches were positioned alongside the second pilots seat and it was possible that they could be knocked accidentally. One report that I have suggests that the second pilot was exiting his seat to relieve himself when he did just that, we will never know what did actually happen.
     
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  7. Peter Clare

    Peter Clare Very Senior Member

    Remembering, today, 13th August 1942



    The following four airmen lost their lives on this day when B-24 Liberator IIIA LV341 Z/120

    ditched into the North Atlantic.


    P/O. Victor Dennis James 40976 RNZAF. Captain.

    http://www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_details.aspx?casualty=1801085


    F/S. Alfred Burton Craig R/50369 RCAF. Navigator.

    http://www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_details.aspx?casualty=1085169


    Sgt. Seymour Clare 652303 RAF. Flight Engineer.

    http://www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_details.aspx?casualty=1084448


    F/S. Kenneth Henry Watson 749427 RAFVR Wireless Operator Air Gunner.

    http://www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_details.aspx?casualty=1809768

    Thursday 13 August 1942 the loss of Liberator IIIA LV341 Z/120.
     
    Last edited: Aug 13, 2017
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  8. CL1

    CL1 116th LAA and 92nd (Loyals) LAA,Royal Artillery

    [​IMG]


    CLARE, SEYMOUR
    Rank:
    Sergeant
    Service No:
    652303
    Date of Death:
    13/08/1942
    Age:
    28
    Regiment/Service:
    Royal Air Force
    120 Sqdn.
    Panel Reference:
    Panel 80.
    Memorial:
    RUNNYMEDE MEMORIAL
    Additional Information:
    Son of Thomas and Elizabeth Clare, of Etruria, Staffordshire; husband of Nellie Clare, of Etruria.
     
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  9. Peter Clare

    Peter Clare Very Senior Member

    Thank you Clive.

    I was at the Air Forces Runnymede Memorial this morning to pay my respects.
     
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  10. Pat Atkins

    Pat Atkins Well-Known Member

    Thanks for the link, and for the timely remembrance of your father's sacrifice. RIP.

    Pat.
     
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  11. Peter Clare

    Peter Clare Very Senior Member

    Remembering, today, 13th August 1942

    The following four airmen lost their lives on this day when B-24 Liberator IIIA LV341 Z/120 ditched into the North Atlantic.


    P/O. Victor Dennis James 40976 RNZAF. Captain.

    F/S. Alfred Burton Craig R/50369 RCAF. Navigator.

    Sgt. Seymour Clare 652303 RAF. Flight Engineer.

    F/S. Kenneth Henry Watson 749427 RAFVR Wireless Operator Air Gunner.
     
    Last edited: Aug 13, 2018
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  12. dbf

    dbf Moderatrix MOD

    :poppy:
    RIP
     
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  13. dp_burke

    dp_burke Junior Member

    You helped me put this together if you recall.

    ww2irishaviation.com/lv341.htm
     
    Last edited: Aug 13, 2018
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  14. Lindele

    Lindele formerly HA96

    RIP
    Stefan.
     
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  15. vitellino

    vitellino Senior Member

    Vitellino

    Sorry, should have been in War at Sea. I have moved it there.
     
  16. Peter Clare

    Peter Clare Very Senior Member

    Remembering, yesterday, 13th August 1942



    The following four airmen lost their lives on this day when B-24 Liberator IIIA LV341 Z/120

    ditched into the North Atlantic.



    P/O. Victor Dennis James 40976 RNZAF. Captain.

    http://www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_details.aspx?casualty=1801085



    F/S. Alfred Burton Craig R/50369 RCAF. Navigator.

    http://www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_details.aspx?casualty=1085169



    Sgt. Seymour Clare 652303 RAF. Flight Engineer.

    http://www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_details.aspx?casualty=1084448



    F/S. Kenneth Henry Watson 749427 RAFVR Wireless Operator Air Gunner.

    http://www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_details.aspx?casualty=1809768
     
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  17. CL1

    CL1 116th LAA and 92nd (Loyals) LAA,Royal Artillery

  18. CL1

    CL1 116th LAA and 92nd (Loyals) LAA,Royal Artillery

  19. dbf

    dbf Moderatrix MOD

    :poppy:
     
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  20. Deacs

    Deacs Well i am from Cumbria.

    Remembering :poppy:
     

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