Consolidated Liberator B Mk.VI "V-Victor": Accident Over Monfalcone

     British bomber crews, like their American counterparts, faced a multitude of dangers. Enemy fighters and fighter-bombers, anti-aircraft fire, and even mechanical issues all posed hazards. But another danger was “friendly fire” accidents and this photograph is evidence of that. On March 16, 1945, the Consolidated Liberator B Mk.VI (the British designation for the B-24H) “V-Victor” (code KK320) of No. 37 Squadron RAF (Royal Air Force) was part of a bombing raid on the ship and marshaling yards in Monfalcone, Italy. “V-Victor” was piloted by Squadron Leader Lionel C. Saxby while other members of the eleven man crew included Pilot Officer (P/O) G.T. Barker (navigator), K.H. Westrope (tail gunner), Wally Lewis (top turret gunner), and Cliff Hurst (radio operator). Included in the raid were bombers from No.70 Squadron RAF of which one of the aircraft was another Liberator B Mk.VI, “R-Roger”. Both squadrons were part of No.231 Wing RAF which itself was part of No. 205 Group RAF, flying out of Tortorella Airfield in Italy. As the bombers reached their targets over Monfalcone, at 12,000ft., they began to release their payloads that consisted of 1,000lb GP (General Purpose) bombs. It isn't exactly known if “R-Roger” or “V-Victor” drifted from formation but the pilot of “R-Roger” was not aware “V-Victor” was now almost directly underneath them.

     Two bombs from “R-Roger” struck “V-Victor”. The first bomb hit directly on the top turret, shattering it while crumpling the upper fuselage, and then passed through the fuselage, creating a significant tear in the aluminum skinning. Fortunately for Wally Lewis, he had not been manning the turret at the time but was actually struck by the bomb as it passed through the fuselage, the glancing blow enough to render him unconscious. Cliff Hurst, whose radio station was located near the turret, suffered numerous small injuries from the shards of metal that whipped through his compartment, helped by the buffeting winds howling through the shredded fuselage. The second bomb struck the port, inner engine, buckling the cowling to the point the winds ripped away several pieces. The bomb also skidded off the cowling and knocked the propeller off in addition to causing the engine to trail smoke. Immediately after the hits, “V-Victor” quickly lost altitude and entered into a dive. Some of the crew made ready to abandon the stricken plane but Squadron Leader Saxby was able to recover from the dive and piloted “V-Victor” back the 300 miles to Tortorella Airfield, landing the bomber without incident. The photograph shows “V-Victor” after landing, the crew and maintenance men examining the damage. Baxby can be seen in the fuselage gash while the navigator, P/O Barker, is looking over the wrecked turret from a hatch while a mechanic assesses the extent of the engine damage.

     Although the damage was significant, it wasn't too severe that it could not be repaired. However, “V-Victor” was written off on April 26, 1945. In part, the decision to not repair the Liberator could have been due to the fact that the squadron was relocating to Aqir, Palestine beginning on October 2, 1945 and not long after, in December 1945, moved to Shallufa, Egypt where No.37 Squadron was eventually stood down on March 31, 1946.