Operation: Combat Training

Date: 18th May 1944 (Thursday)

Unit No: 112th AAF Base Unit, 1st Air Force

Type: B-24E

Serial No: 42-7347

Code: 47

Location: Near Uxbridge, Massachusetts, USA

Base: Westover Field, Chicopee Falls, Massachusetts, USA

Pilot: 2nd Lt. Arnold Moholt O-821416 AAF Age 24. Killed

Co-Pilot: 2nd Lt. John Thomas Goodwin O-827800 Age 25. Killed

Navigator: 2nd Lt. Joseph H. Talbot ASN Unknown AAF Age 24. Safe

Engineer: S/Sgt. Thomas Leroy Cater 12044773 AAF Age 29. Killed

Radio Operator: Sgt. Merle Vincent Massar 19120863 AAF Age 21. Killed

Asst. Radio Operator: Sgt. Anthony J. Pitzulo 35381284 AAF Age 24. Killed

Air Gunner: Cpl. Robert J. Kelly ASN unknown AAF Age 18. Safe

REASON FOR LOSS:

On the 18th May 1944 2nd Lt. Moholt and his crew took off in B-24E #42-7347 from Westover Field, Massachusetts and joined two other B-24s on a combat training exercise.

Westover Field was the Combat Crew Training Station for heavy bombers. The unit was the 112th AAF Base Unit of the 1st Air Force.

The formation descended to 10,000 feet to make a final position change. During the manoeuvre above Uxbridge, Massachusetts B-24E #42-7347 struck the nose and right wing of B-24E #41-28508. The collision sheared off the tail section of 42-7347 and the wreckage spiralled to earth.

Above reporting on the crash of B-24E 42-7347 (Courtesy of The Boston Globe dated 19th May 1944)

2nd Lt. Joseph H. Talbot and Cpl. Robert Kelly successfully baled out and were later treated for cuts and bruises at the Whitinsville hospital. It was reported that two of those that perished baled out of the aircraft but were too low for their parachutes to deploy.

Not much is known about 2nd Lt. Joseph H. Talbot and Cpl. Robert Kelly save to say that they survived the war and return home safely.

B-24E #41-28508 was damaged but successfully recovered to Westover Field. The extent of the damage to the aircraft and any injuries sustained by the crew are unknown.

The wreckage B-24E #42-7347 fell to earth about 5000 ft WSW of Uxbridge and some 48 miles due east of Westover Field. The crash started a forest fire which spread over 40 acres of scrub woodland before it could be extinguished.

Burial details:

A stone memorial stands at the crash site in Uxbridge, listing the names of the five crew members who died in the accident. Each year the town conducts a Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) sponsored solemn ceremony at the site on the Sunday nearest the anniversary of the tragedy. The observance includes Civil Air Patrol cadets unfurling a flag over the monument, a three-volley salute, taps, and accounts by those still alive who witnessed the 1944 event.

Above: 2nd Lt. Arnold Moholt (Courtesy of the Dawson County Review and the Yellowstone Monitor, dated 25th May 1944).

2nd Lt. Arnold Moholt. Laid to rest at the Missoula Cemetery, Montana. Born on the 15th December 1920 in Glendive, Montana. Son of Halvor Claus and Ingborg Christina (née Granmo)(deceased) Moholt of Glendive, Montana, USA

Above 2nd Lt. John Thomas Goodwin (Courtesy of the Chicago Tribune, dated 21st May 1944)

2nd Lt. John Thomas Goodwin. Laid to rest at the Forest Home Cemetery, Cook County, Illinois. Born on the 25th February 1919 in Stoke on Trent, Staffordshire, England. Son of John and Doris Goodwin of Cook County, Illinois, USA.

Above: S/Sgt Thomas Leroy Cater (Courtesy of The Evening Time, dated 2nd June 1944)

S/Sgt. Thomas Leroy Cater. Laid to rest at the Tioga Point Cemetery Bradford County, Pennsylvania. Born on the 10th September 1914 in Sayre, Bradford County, Pennsylvania. Son of Charles L. and May A. Cater of Sayre, Bradford County, Pennsylvania, USA.

Sgt. Merle Vincent Massar. Laid to rest at the Mount Vernon Cemetery, Washington. Born on the 7th June 1922 at Mount Vernon, Washington. Son of Frederick Daniel (deceased) and Marian Maude (née Moore) Massar of Mount Vernon, Skagit, Washington, USA

Sgt. Anthony J. Pitzulo. Burial details unknown. Born on the 14th March 1919 in Lowellville, Ohio. Son of Joseph and Maria (née Aurillo) Pitzulo. Both of his parents predeceased him in 1924 and 1941 respectively. He had three brothers and two sisters who survived him.

Researched by Ralph Snape for Aircrew Remembered and dedicated to the relatives of this crew.

Other sources listed below:

Those who have long enjoyed such privileges as we enjoy forget in time that men have died to win them. Franklin Delano Roosevelt