At approximately 05.30 on Thursday 13th July 1944 USAAF Liberator No: ? , with a full crew, bomb load and full tanks, took off from ? airfield ?, Norfolk,  to take part in a Group attack on Saarbrucken, Germany. Visibility was very poor due to heavy rain and misty, overcast conditions.  At approximately 06.25 an aircraft was heard and seen, by a ground observer, to be having difficulty maintaining flight, but it appeared to recover.  Shortly after this time an aircraft was heard falling out-of-control and striking the ground heavily in an area of Wrangle Lowground. The impact was such that the aircraft was totally destroyed and most of the crew killed.  Although the bomb load did not immediately explode, fire from the fuel on board broke out causing risk to the rescue and recovery crews attending and requiring nearby residents to be evacuated.  There was one survivor from a crew of nine.  The bombs were recovered over the next three to four weeks by the Bomb Disposal organisation.

The following is the official report of the surviving crew member:-

 

Date:  13th July 1944.                                                                 Target:  Saarbrucken.

Crew Aboard:- 

    Pilot:                            N. J. Hunt.

    Co-Pilot:                      P. R. Roetzel.

    Bombardier:                W. J. Hession.

    Engineer:                    W. L. McKinzie.

    Radar Operator:          H. C. Wilkinson.

    Nose Gunner:             W. E. Caurington.

    Right Waist Gunner:   M. Osment.

    Left Waist Gunner:     D. L. McEwan.

    Tail Gunner:                L. A. Jackson.

 

Take off at 05.30 a.m. in rain and heavy overcast.  We had icing conditions for a while but the ice soon left and the aircraft resumed normal flight.  A few minutes later the ice re-appeared - this time the aircraft, including the propellers, was covered with very heavy ice and the propellers "ran away" and the aircraft was out of control. 

At this time I attempted to leave through the waist window but was caught half-in and half-out and was semi-conscious from striking the side of the aircraft.  A few seconds later I was thrown clear, pulled the ripcord and then lost consciousness.

I regained consciousness on the ground.  I remember talking to two children and members of the British Home Guard.  I was placed on an ironing board and transported to an RAF Hospital.

I later learned that no one else survived the crash.