outdoorslover1
Chimney rock tragedy (B26 Marauder aircraft crew 1944)
This is the site of a very sad incident. On the 10th April 1944 five crew members of a B26 Marauder medium bomber aircraft lost their lives during a routine gunnery training exercise. Beginning their return from their daily training routine, they somehow fell back from formation and ran into cloud cover on the Mountains of Mourne. The aircraft was reported missing and found a while later by the U.S. 5th Infantry while on a routine hike at chimney rock mountain.
This aircraft was lost along with its crew of five American crew members. Their names are as follows:-
2nd Lt Howell C Osbourne Jr (Pilot) from Arkansas.
2nd Lt Chester M Turner (Co Pilot) from Cowley County Kansas.
Staff Sgt Roy R Cappe Jr (Aerial Engineer) from Allegheny County Pennsylvania.
Staff Sgt William J Devenney (Radio Gunner) from Carbon County Pennsylvania.
Sgt Jimmie Gyovai (Engineer Gunner) from Boone County West Virginia.
They were just beginning their return towards Toome aerodrome in County Antrim where they would have enjoyed the hospitality of the local pubs and dance halls at Magherafelt the very same evening. But alas it was not to be.
The aircraft was carrying some 1050 rounds of ammunition. 960 Gallons of fuel. And five bombs.
It had completed some 450 hours of flying time in total.
Wreckage was scattered over a wide area upon impact. These reminders of this tragedy can still be spotted on these wild and desolate slopes of Chimney rock mountain. Memorials to these brave young men together with these rusting relics must of course be held with the upmost respect..
I was deeply saddened by this find (I had been wondering about this site for some years now) It really brought home to me just how terrible war is, and how it must never be allowed to happen again.
Chimney rock tragedy (B26 Marauder aircraft crew 1944)
This is the site of a very sad incident. On the 10th April 1944 five crew members of a B26 Marauder medium bomber aircraft lost their lives during a routine gunnery training exercise. Beginning their return from their daily training routine, they somehow fell back from formation and ran into cloud cover on the Mountains of Mourne. The aircraft was reported missing and found a while later by the U.S. 5th Infantry while on a routine hike at chimney rock mountain.
This aircraft was lost along with its crew of five American crew members. Their names are as follows:-
2nd Lt Howell C Osbourne Jr (Pilot) from Arkansas.
2nd Lt Chester M Turner (Co Pilot) from Cowley County Kansas.
Staff Sgt Roy R Cappe Jr (Aerial Engineer) from Allegheny County Pennsylvania.
Staff Sgt William J Devenney (Radio Gunner) from Carbon County Pennsylvania.
Sgt Jimmie Gyovai (Engineer Gunner) from Boone County West Virginia.
They were just beginning their return towards Toome aerodrome in County Antrim where they would have enjoyed the hospitality of the local pubs and dance halls at Magherafelt the very same evening. But alas it was not to be.
The aircraft was carrying some 1050 rounds of ammunition. 960 Gallons of fuel. And five bombs.
It had completed some 450 hours of flying time in total.
Wreckage was scattered over a wide area upon impact. These reminders of this tragedy can still be spotted on these wild and desolate slopes of Chimney rock mountain. Memorials to these brave young men together with these rusting relics must of course be held with the upmost respect..
I was deeply saddened by this find (I had been wondering about this site for some years now) It really brought home to me just how terrible war is, and how it must never be allowed to happen again.