Doylestown, Pennsylvania.
LOSS OF A TEXAN
Photo Robert Astrella. North American AT-D6 Texan 7th PG Mount Farm, England
Knoxville Tennessee Local Paper June 1944
(No mention of this accident found in the British Press which at the time was preoccupied with post D Day Operations and the arrival of Flying Bombs in England).
On the 14th of June 1944 an AT-D6 Texan 41-34655 crashed near Ryton on Dunsmore, Warwickshire. The aeroplane, which was based with 'A Flight' 8th AF Headquarters Squadron Bovingdon, suffered a structural failure, loosing its port wing and tail assembly. The pilot First Lt Harry Wayland jumped without a parachute some 500 feet to his death while his passenger Lt Mary Chubb died in the wreckage. As far as I can tell the circumstances under which the flight took place are not clear. I have seen it mentioned that it might have been a pleasure flight which is a reasonable bit of speculation. Mary Chubb, thirty-one years old, was a Military Nurse based with the 181st Medical Dispensary (Aviation) at High Wycombe, some thirty minutes drive away from Bovingdon. I believe that she flew on medical evacuation flights and was described by a fellow nurse as being a very happy character.
Extracted from Chester County Hall of Heroes PA.
In England they met only once. Donald Chubb, recently arrived, next to his sister Mary.
The American Cemetery, Cambridge.
Harry Wayland. Photo: American Air Museum in Britain.
At the time of his death Harry Wayland was twenty-five years old, decorated, with 30 Missions completed as a B17 pilot with the 413th BS at Snetterton Heath, Norfolk. Having completed his Tour so to speak, he elected not to return to the USA but took an assignment to the 8th AF Headquarters Signals Section at Bovingdon. It is said that he was involved with the use of 'Radios in Combat' and that he had volunteered to fly missions where special radio equipment would be used. Letters home to his parents mentioned that he was working on a special project. This was very likely 'Project Aphrodite' (See Page 24 # 463 this thread). Harry Wayland is buried at Woodlawn Cemetery, Knoxville, Tennesee.
Donald Chubb and his Crew..........
Source 384th BG.Com.
This Missing Air Crew Report was prepared exactly seventy-nine years ago, today.
Source 384th BG.Com. James Wesley Brown and his Crew.
Newly arrived (April 1944) in England joining the 547th BS - 384BG at Grafton Underwood, Northamptonshire.
Unfortunately no names are given. I can with certainty identify Second Lt James Wesley Brown jnr Pilot (top left) and next to him twenty-two year old Second Lt Donald Vernon Chubb Co-Pilot. I suspect that next to Chubb is the Navigator, Second Lt Kenneth Myron Jones and next to him possibly the Bombadier, Second Lt Carl William Kuba but I cannot be sure. Other crew members were Staff Sgt Joseph John Kozar Radio Op/Gunner. Staff Sgt Merle Ernest Ingmire EO/Top Gunner. Staff Sgt James Augustine Hatton Ball Turret Gunner. Staff Sgt George Hallow Yeager jnr Tail Gunner. Staff Sgt Donald Edward Reis Flex Gunner and Staff Sgt Julius Eugene McClintick Flex Gunner.
Only Carl Kuba would survive the War and continue to serve in the USAF before dying in 1970 aged 53.
James Wesley Brown's ill-fated B17 42-97081 was lost on May 8th 1944. Seen here (nearest camera) on March 28th 1944 bombing Dijon-Longvic Airfield.
May 8th 1944 'Crossbow' Mission to V2 Bunker under construction at Sottevast near Cherbourg.
Source Wikipedia.
This was a return mission to Sottevast for James Wesley Brown's crew who only had in total two or three previous missions under their belt.
Source 384th BG.Com
Carl Kuba and George Yeager survived. Donald Reis succumbed to Hypothermia - he is buried at Oakland Cemetery, Sandusky Ohio. George Yeager continued on operations as a Tail Gunner and Togglier until flak removed the nose of his B17 "back to the Instrument Panel' near Munich on 16th July 1944. He was one of four crew members to die (remainder captured) and is buried at The Ardennes American Cemetery Belgium. James Wesley Brown jnr 's name is on The Wall of The Missing at the same Cemetery. The remainder of his crew with the exception of Donald Chubb are remembered on the Wall of The Missing at The Cambridge American Cemetery, England.
Donald Chubb's name is on The Wall of The Missing at the Normandy American Cemetery at Colville-sur- Mer, France.
Fountainville Chapel Cemetery, Doylestown PA. Photo: Gail Kelly.