USMC
VMSB-132
Pilot Captain William S. Spang (KIA)
Gunner ?
(survived)
Crashed December 1, 1942
Wartime History
On December 1, 1942 Captain William S. Spang crashed it into trees
attempting a night landing at Henderson Field. Captain Spang was killed, but his gunner survived.
Eyewitness account (via Peter Flahavin):
"We rushed toward the
sound. He landed on the path between the tent area and the galley. About
100 yards separates the two. He had hit a big tree at almost ground level
and had spun around 180 The engine was laying to one side with just
a flicker of fire. Only the
fuselage remained in one piece. The pilot was a Marine Captain [Captain Bill Spang] alive, incoherent
and in bad shape. The next day airfield ordinance arrived to salvage the 1,000 lb bomb
that had jarred loose but didn't explode. I hadn't noticed the aerial
gunner but had heard he was O.K."
Display
Recovered from the crash site, it has been displayed at Betikama
School for decades. Its "Navy
06662" identity stencil
was still visible on the tail into the early 1990's.
References
Thanks to Peter Flahavin for eyewitness account and historical details.
SBD
