The Loss of '74 by Briney
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Description
Broome, Western Australia. On the morning of March 3rd 1942, USAAF B24A Serial no. 40-2374 took off crowded with wounded evacuees, smack into a force of Japanese zeroes sent to destroy Broome's airfield.
Since its Rememberance Day it might be appropriate to mention the names.
Pilot Major Edson E. Kester
Co-Pilot Captain William "Bill" Ragsdale, Jr.
Passengers, Sgt Melvin Donoho (survived), Sgt Willard Beatty, Captain Charles A. Stafford plus fourteen others.
I've read that Liberators were never easy to ditch because of the high-set wing. Sgt Donoho, the sole survivor of the B24A was in the water for about a day before he struggled ashore (though there is some confusion about whether Willard Beatty survived long enough to get ashore, but this could just be wartime misunderstanding or something of that nature).
Thanks for viewing...
Comments (4)
Very good work mate.. Rob
Excellent render...Fitting and timely tribute and Rememberance.....
Nice one! Those poor guys up in the northwest end of Australia are really getting beaten up! ;)
That was a dark time for the allies. Thanks for sharing this history and for remembering these men.