Page 1 of 1

B-24D 41-23762

Posted: Wed Oct 03, 2012 2:14 am
by Boba
I am currently compiling a list of all Allied military personnel who were killed or died on active service in the NWA (Northern Territory, Western Australia and the Gulf of Carpentaria) during WWII. The project to compile the complete listing is for the NT government and its desire to erect a memorial wall to them all.

One crew I'm having problems with is that of the B-24D #41-23762 Little Eva of the 321st Sqn 90th BG which crashed at Moonlight Creek near Escott Station in far western Queensland on 3 December 1942. On the Pacific Wrecks general search site it has the names and ranks of the crew, but these differ markedly with those on a memorial plaque comemmorating those who died - one name in fact is that of one of the survivors...

There is nothing I can find on the internet as regards the crew other than vague references and the survival epic of Sgt Grady Gaston.

Does anyone have the crew details of this aircraft please? Any assistance greatly appreciated.

Cheers,

Bob Alford
Lampang Thailand

Re: B-24D 41-23762

Posted: Thu Oct 04, 2012 10:45 pm
by davidf
Bob,

This is the crew list I have for 41-23762:
Lt (later Capt) CROSSON, Norman R. Pilot [Survived. Rescued 14 Dec 42]
2nd Lt SPELTZ, Arthur N. Co-pilot [Survived crash. Died 24 Feb 43]
S/Sgt WORKMAN, Charles B. Jr Gunner [Killed in crash]
S/Sgt HILTON, James B. Gunner [Killed in crash]
Cpl GEYDOS, John Jr Gunner [Killed in crash]
S/Sgt GASTON, Grady S. Gunner [Survived. Rescued 23 March 43]
Sgt McKEON, Edward J. Gunner [Killed in crash]
Sgt (later Lt?) WILSON, Loy L. Radio, Gunner [Survived. Rescued 14 Dec 42]
Lt GRIMES, Dale V. Crewman [Survived crash. Drowned 26/27 Dec 42]
2nd Lt DYER, John D. Crewman [Survived crash. Died 9 Feb 43]

More information on the crash and aftermath is on:
Peter Dunn's Oz at War site http://home.st.net.au/~dunn/ozcrashes/qld206.htm
(this includes an account by S/Sgt Grady Gaston on his survival and rescue http://home.st.net.au/~dunn/ozcrashes/qld206-01.pdf)
Jolly Roger's web http://www.jollyrogersweb.com/ and
WWII memorial (search registry for crew names) http://wwiimemorial.com/default.asp?pag ... age=search

Cheers,
David Forrester.

Re: B-24D 41-23762

Posted: Fri Oct 05, 2012 3:09 am
by Boba
David - many thanks for that, but also for the link to the wwii memorial site - that's the one I've been after.

The ranks and names you provided tie in with the plaque at the memorial in Queensland so the Pacific Wrecks page on the aircraft in the Search site will need updating.

Many thanks again.

Cheers,

Bob Alford

Re: B-24D 41-23762

Posted: Thu Nov 22, 2012 2:48 pm
by Daniel Leahy
Hi Bob,

I'll see if we can get this updated ASAP.

Sounds like a very interesting project - Would love to hear more about it. Keep us posted!

Cheers,

Daniel

Re: B-24D 41-23762

Posted: Sun Nov 25, 2012 7:39 pm
by Boba
Yep, will do. The official opening of the Memorial Wall is 18 February 2013. There are around 2,000 names currently being produced for installation.

Cheers,

Bob Alford
Lampang Thailand