United States for overhauling and updating of equipment.

The following is a transcript from a program for a Memorial Service held on 24 May 2005 at St. Mawgan in Cornwall, England:

A Brief Account of the Crash of “Mucks Mauler” –

A United States Navy PB4Y1, a B-24 “Liberator” aircraft, named “Mucks Mauler” (Bureau No. 32035 B5, call Sign “E”) was stationed at RAF Dunkeswell in Devon with squadron VB103, a part of Fleet Air Wing 7. Its operational role was anti-submarine patrols in the Bay of Biscay. The aircraft had been designated as “war weary” and transferred to Squadron VB113 for the return flight back to the United States. The route back included a stop at RAF St. Mawgen.

On December 28, 1943, at 0200, the aircraft took off with a crew of nine and four passengers. At 0202, the plane crashed into the cliffs at Watergate Bay. All aboard the aircraft were killed. A subsequent investigation listed the cause of the crash as prop governor trouble.

In addition to those lost in the crash, five additional US Navy personnel who had descended the cliffs as part of the rescue efforts were trapped in the rising tide and drowned.

The Crew of “Mucks Mauler”:

Lt. Rance A. Thompson, USNR, Pilot

Ensign Louis T. Perkins, Jr., USNR, Pilot

Ensign Paul M. Lawthian, USNR, Co-Pilot

Ensign Norman Teraut, USNR, Navigator

Edwin H. Rogers, Machianicsman 1st Class, USN, Plane CPT

Thomas J. Zock, Machanicsman 3rd Class, USN, 1st Mechanic

Edward G. Forkel, Radiosman 3rd Class, USN, 1st Radioman

Harry Jetter, Radiosman 3rd Class, USN, 2nd Radioman

Charles Minella, Ordanceman 3rd Class, USN, Ordanceman

Passengers:

Ensign Robert L. Scott, USNR, Pilot

Ensign Harold Rosenberg, USNR, Pilot

Ensign Harold C. Nylund, USNR, Pilot

Lt. Paul Brown, US Army

Rescue Party:

The names of those lost in the recovery efforts have not been discovered.

Roy S Underwood