USAAF B-24D-53-CO Liberator, #42-40387, "Beautiful Betsy", of the 528th Bomb Squadron of the 380th Bomb Group went missing on 26 February 1945 with the loss of 8 lives (6 American and 2 British service personnel). The Liberator was on a Fat Cat mission from Fenton to Eagle
Farm airfield. A Fat Cat Mission was for getting supplies for the bases, some missions were to
Adelaide too.
The name Beautiful Betsy, painted on the nose, was coined by the original pilot after his wife Betsy Roth. The first combat mission was a raid over enemy-held Timor Island on June 15, 1943.(the day I was born) In the next eight months, she carried out 25 missions
Beautiful Betsy and one of the crews
Aircraft Data Sheet
The wreckage of "Beautiful Betsy" was not discovered until 49 years later on 2 August 1994, when park
ranger, Mark Roe, was checking the results of a controlled burn-off in the
Kroombit Tops National Park, about 80kms from
Gladstone. Standing on an escarpment, he saw something glinting in the sunlight about 800 metres north of his location. He found the wreckage of "Beautiful Betsy" which had crashed on the side of an unnamed hillside
Authorities believe the aircraft was in a shallow descent during adverse weather just before dawn.
Tail Section of Beautiful Betsy at Kroombit Tops Tourist Park
Tourist sign at the crash site
Another Tourist sign at the crash site
The distinctive tail section of the Liberator is intact, appearing to have separated from the fuselage on impact, thereby avoiding further damage. Both wings are also relatively intact, which supports the theory the mid-section of the plane hit first. Shards of aluminium
debris are spread out 100m or more up the
hill from the tail. The four giant engines broke free from the wings and propelled themselves up the
hill, indicating the force of the impact. The Liberator bomber was fitted with four 14-cylinder Pratt and Whitney R-1839-43 twin wasp radial engines, each one rated at 1200hp.
The remains of one of 4 14-cylinder Pratt and Whitney R-1839-43 twin wasp radial engines,
The remains of the Radio
Plaque at the crash site
Those killed were:- 1st Lieutenant William Emmett McDaniel - pilot , 2nd Lieutenant Eugene A. Kilcheski, 2nd Lieutenant Hilary E. Routt, Lieutenant Raymond L. Owen, Technical Sergeant Raymond L. Tucker, Technical Sergeant Harold J. Lemons. Flight Lieutenant Thomas
John Donald
Cook - British Spitfire pilot , and Flying Officer Roy Albert Arthur Cannon British Spitfire pilot
Flying Officer Roy Cannon, a 23-year-old Spitfire pilot
The following items were found in the wreckage:- Dental Prosthesis (bridge), 153 Bone fragments, Personal effects/material evidence, 9 Dog tags, 2 Bracelets, 38 Coins, 4 Gold rings, 1 Aviator's ring, Flare gun with flare, Aviator badge, Bomber Badge, Whistle, 2 Dress Uniform belt buckles, 9 Expended .45 cal rounds , British buttons, American buttons, Razor, Cigarette lighter, 3 Eyeglass frames, Pocket watch and a 1938 Class ring.
Lt. William Emmett McDaniel, pilot of Beautiful Betsy
The pilot, Lt. Bill McDaniel, volunteered to pilot the plane which had suffered combat fatigue and was only used for short runs. It had been retired from combat for some time. It is believe that it was about to be grounded for good. Bill McDaniel was married to Lorene and had one son whom he never got to see. His widow, Lorene, was still living in 2001.
The discovery of the wreckage of a World War II American bomber In rugged terrain near
Rockhampton has brought to light a 49-year-old mystery involving a
young British pilot and his
Brisbane bride-to-be, Flying Officer Roy Cannon, a 23-year-old Spitfire pilot who was a passenger on the doomed flight, was to have married his Aussie sweetheart just four days after he perished In the crash. Also killed was Cannon's intended best man, RAF Flt-Lt TJ.
Cook.
Colin Tigwell, a RAAF historian, had been in touch with Sandra Burns and assisted her with information over a number of years in connection with her uncle Lt. Bill McDaniel,
the pilot of "Beautiful Betsy".. Unfortunately Sandra has now lost contact with Colin Tigwell. Sandra has an audio tape that Colin had sent her several years before "Betsy" was found telling of search efforts and speculation of what may have happened to the aircraft. Colin also contacted Sandra when "Beautiful Betsy" was located.
Bill McDaniel with his niece Sandra, his favourite little person.
When Sandra called Washington DC, she could tell that they were not pleased that she had been told of the findings. The funeral didn't happen for about a year. Some families did not know about the plane being found until just a few short weeks before the funeral. Sandra will always be grateful to Colin Tigwell for his concern and for contacting her family when he did.
Sandra was little when her Uncle, Bill McDaniel, went missing but he was always kept alive for their family by his mother, "Mama Mae". This is the nickname that his son gave to Sandra's grandmother. The family still use that name. Of course, "Mama Mae" is deceased now.
Dropping area on Mt Bundy Station , just off Haynes Rd
The Jeep on Mt Bundy Station for the Experiment
Beautiful Betsy was also used for stati-Chute experiments dropping wooden dummies fitted with Parachutes out of a slide fitted over the bomb bay doors, these experiments were carried our over the flood plain on Mt Bundy Station,
Adelaide River, the tree behind the Jeep is still standing today.
.