Consolidated B-24D Liberator - Bukovec, Czech Republic - Plane Crash Sites on Waymarking.com

About Consolidated B-24 Liberator
The Consolidated B-24 Liberator is an American heavy bomber, designed by Consolidated Aircraft of San Diego, California. Early RAF Liberators were the first aircraft to cross the Atlantic Ocean as a matter of routine. However, the type was difficult to fly and had poor low speed performance. It also had a lower ceiling and was less robust than the Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress.
The B-24 was used extensively in World War II. It served in every branch of the American armed forces, as well as several Allied air forces and navies, and saw use in every theater of operations. Along with the B-17, the B-24 was the mainstay of the US strategic bombing campaign in the Western European theater.
The B-24 was produced on a very large scale, with almost 19,000 units being produced across a number of versions. The B-24D was first model produced on a large scale; ordered from 1940 to 1942.


About crash - Plaque Inscription:
CZ
Poblíž Bukovce se 22.února 1944 zrítil americký bombardér B-24 Liberator
ze svazku 343. Bombardement Squadron 98. Bombardement Group (H) 15. Air Force.
Stal se obetí palby nemeckých stíhacích letcu nedlouho poté, co útocil na leteckou továrnu
Messerschmidt v Regensburgu. Americký letoun explodoval ješte ve vzduchu.

V jeho troskách zemreli
1.pilot 2./Lt.Joseph Merkle, 2. pilot 2./Lt. William H Mills Jr.,
navigátor 2./Lt. Howard S. Robinson, bombometcík 2./Lt. Edward A. Goodman,
palubní mechanik S/Sgt. Santiago A. Gomez, radiooperátor S/Sgt. Johnna L. Wooten,
strelec Sgt. Robert D. Smith, strelec Sgt. Rudolph A. Meyer,
zadní strelec Sgt. Edward Koscielecky a strelec prední veže Sgt. Floyd R. Kriegbaum.

Katastrofu Merklova Liberatoru, který byl prvním americkým strojem
zniceným za 2. svetové války nad územím predmnichovského Ceskoslovenska,
prežil pouze strelec Sgt. James M. Doolittle.

EN
Near Bukovec village on 22 February 1944 crashed American plane B-24 Liberator
from 343. Bombardement Squadron 98. Bombardement Group (H) 15. Air Force.
It was a victim barrage of German fighter pilots shortly after it attacked an aircraft factory
Messerschmidt in Regensburg. American aircraft exploded in midair.

In the wreckage died
1.pilot 2./Lt.Joseph Merkle, 2nd pilot 2./Lt. William H Mills Jr.,
2./Lt navigator. Howard S. Robinson, bombardier 2./Lt. Edward A. Goodman
flight mechanic S / Sgt. Santiago A. Gomez, Radio Operator S / Sgt. Johnna L. Wooten,
Gunner Sgt. Robert D. Smith, gunner Sgt. Rudolph A. Meyer,
rear gunner Sgt. Edward Koscielecka and gunner Sgt front of the tower. Floyd R. Kriegbaum.

This Liberator was the first American machine
destroyed during WW2 over the territory of former Czechoslovakia,
only survived gunner Sgt. James M. Doolittle.

Web Address for Related Web Sites: [Web Link] Date of Crash: 02/22/1944 Aircraft Model: Consolidated B-24D Liberator Military or Civilian: Military Cause of Crash: a victim barrage of German fighter pilots Tail Number: Not listed

Visit Instructions:
Only log waymarks if you have visited the site personally.

Recent Visits/Logs:

There are no logs for this waymark yet.