Tragic history of US Navy PB4Y-1 Liberator on Dartmoor

On December 28, 1943, the US Navy PB4Y-1 Liberator 63926 from the VB-110 squadron tragically crashed in the West Okement Valley, resulting in the loss of all ten crew members. The aircraft came down between the Slipper Stones and Steng-a-Tor, near the south end of Black-a-Tor Copse.

Despite over 80 years passing since the crash, remnants of the wreckage remain scattered across the landscape from the ridge to the river below. 

Efforts in the 1960s removed much of the wreckage, but significant pieces still remain. 

The Moorlander shares the history of the event. 

The Liberator had departed from Dunkeswell, near Honiton in East Devon, on the morning of December 28, 1943.

The mission, involving 14 other aircraft from Air Wing 7, aimed to locate and engage eleven enemy destroyers in the Bay of Biscay. 

Unfortunately, the mission failed to find the destroyers, and on the return journey, the bomber received a warning from another aircraft about enemy presence. 

Two Dornier 17 long-range fighters engaged with the bomber, but no strikes were recorded on either side.

With poor weather conditions and low cloud cover, navigation relied on dead reckoning.

At 10.15pm, Lieutenant William Parish, the pilot, reported to Dunkeswell an estimated arrival time of 10.20pm.

Minutes later, the aircraft struck the hill above the valley at around 540 metres above sea level. 

It ploughed a furrow for a quarter of a mile before descending down the valley's steep side. Investigations revealed that the aircraft still carried a full bomb load at the time of the crash.

Lieutenant Parish, one of the most experienced pilots in the squadron, likely believed they were closer to the base than they actually were. 

The poor weather conditions near Dartmoor’s highest peak played a significant role in the crash. 

The final radio message from the bomber indicated only minor issues, suggesting the crew was unaware of any immediate danger.

The crew of PB4Y-1 63926 / B-5 E are commemorated on a plaque on the ridge above the valley. 

The ten crew members were:

• Lieutenant William W. Parish (Pilot)
• Ensign Donald M. Lyons (Co-pilot)
• Ensign Roger. W. Lovelace, Jr. (Navigator)
• Aircraft Machinist’s Mate 2nd Class Arthur. J. Stork (Flight Engineer)
• Aircraft Machinist’s Mate 2nd Class John E. Shaffer (Flight Engineer)
• Radioman 2nd Class Leo M. Davenport (Radio operator)
• Radioman 3rd Class John F. Benson (Radio operator)
• Aircraft Machinist’s Mate 3rd Class Alfred J. Roddy, Jr. (Gunner)
• Aircraft Machinist’s Mate 3rd Class Charles. A. Reynard (Ordnance Operator)
• Aircraft Machinist’s Mate 3rd Class Dwight E. Nash (Gunner)

In 1973, the Devon Aircraft Research and Recovery Team further examined the crash site, uncovering additional pieces of the aircraft. 

This incident occurred just three days after another B-17 Flying Fortress bomber crashed nearby at Tigers Marsh. 

These sites continue to serve as places of remembrance and reflection for visitors.