Camel’s Hump Mountain, Vermont- October 16, 1944
B-24 Liberator
U.S. Air Force Photo
On October 16, 1944, a U. S. Army B-24J Liberator (#42-51067) crashed into Camel’s Hump Mountain killing all but one crewman aboard. The sole survivor was Aerial Gunner James W. Wilson who was found by members of the Civil Air Patrol a short distance from the wreck. Investigators found the wreckage near the top of the 4,083 mountain, covering more than an acre of land.
Other members of the crew included:
Pilot: 1st Lt. David E. Potter, age 30. To see a photo of Lt. Potter, click here: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/54537510/david-edgar-potter
Co-pilot: Flight Officer John J. Ramasocky, age 23. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/114692750/john-j-ramasocky
F.O. Ramasocky’s brother was killed in a military plane crash on August 12, 1947. Click here for info.
Navigator: 2nd Lt. Robert W. Geoffrey, age 22.To see a photo of Lt. Geoffrey, click here: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/99670033/robert-w-geoffroy
Bombardier: 1st Lt. David C. McNary, age 25. To see a photo of Lt. McNary click here: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/61504687/david-capp-mcnary
Engineer: Corporal Luther N. Hagler, age 21. To see a photo of Cpl. Hagler, click here: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/15323357/luther-napoleon-hagler
Radio Operator: Corporal James Perry, age 19. To see a photo of Cpl. Perry’s grave, click here: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/146382962/james-perry
Ball Turret Gunner: Corporal Robert E. Denton, age 22 or 23. To see a photo of his grave click here: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/78505722/robert-e-denton
Tail Gunner: PFC Richard C. Wynne, age 18. To see a photo of PFC Wynne’s grave, click here: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/79231128/richard-carlton-wynne
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/65615194/richard-c-wynne
Nose Gunner: PFC Casper Zacher, age 19. To see a photo of PFC Zacher’s grave, click here: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/3518436/casper-zacher
A memorial plaque and a wing section of the aircraft can be found at the crash site.
Sources:
Woonsocket Call, “Single Member Of Crashed Bomber’s Crew Found Alive Near Vermont Mountain Debris”, October 18, 1944, pg. 1
Aircraft Info supplied by Lawrence Webster – Aviation Historian
New York Times, “Bomber Wreck Found On Vermont Mountain”, October 18, 1944
www.findagrave.com
Unknown Newspaper, “Wreckage Of Missing Westover Plane Found”, October 18, 1944
