bigpigeon.us webpage WWII Roster > Roster Addenda > The Air Dead, © 2023 by Robert A. Christiansen, updated by RAC 30 Sep 2023.
As of 30 Sep 2023, 161 roster members are known to have died in aircraft during WWII.
  • About nine of the dead were passengers, a few were ground crew, the remainder being flight crew members.
  • Nearly half the deaths occurred among Army Air Force B-17 and B-24 heavy bomber crews.
  • I believe over half occurred from accidents - during training, during deployment, and during missions - rather than from enemy action. There were a surprising number of mid-air collisions.
  • The following list is ordered by number of roster fatalities per aircraft.
  • Aviation personnel whose death was not connected to an aircraft are excluded.
  • https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_aircraft_of_the_United_States_during_World_War_II links to information for each of the plane categories listed below.
  • ​Big Pigeon's WWII US > WWII in the Air webpage contains supplemental information on US WWII aircraft.
Consolidated B-24 Liberator - four-engine heavy bomber, 39 dead
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Consolidated_B-24_Liberator#/media/File:Maxwell_B-24_(cropped).jpg ​
  • (new) Andersen, Edwin Pershing
  • ​Bogue, Clifford John, tail gunner
  • (new) Burd, Ross Darwin, gunner
  • Campbell, Wendell Melvin
  • Cargill, Lawrence Elroy, radio operator
  • (new) Evinger, Homer Ralph
  • Fenn, Clifford Warren, ball turret gunner
  • Gallup, Eugene Maxell, gunner
  • Garrean, Elwood Eugene
  • Gettys, Joe Lynam Jr., passenger
  • Grett, Gerald LaVern, waist gunner
  • Holm, Darcy Lee, flight engineer
  • Hoogensen, Earl Andrew, flight engineer
  • Ingalls, Paul Irwin, photographer
  • Janss, Alfred Henry, navigator
  • Johnson, Russell John Victor, crew member
  • Kadel, Lloyd George
  • Kraschel, James Norman
  • Kussman, Edward William, waist gunner
  • Lesch, Joseph Ferdinand, radio operator
  • Mallette, Richard Earl, co-pilot
  • McCord, George Melvin, right waist gunner
  • Nord, Carl William, bombardier
  • Parks, George Harvey, bombardier
  • Pedersen, Roy Marion Jr., navigator
  • Petrus, Richard Marvin, tail gunner
  • Pogge, George Hubert, navigator
  • Rink, Paul Lloyd, navigator
  • Robinson, William Brigham Haight, bombardier
  • Smith, Howard Myron, flight engineer
  • Spedding, Edward William, co-pilot
  • Storm, Donald William, navigator
  • Taylor, Loren Fay, pilot
  • Thies, Melvin Chris, tail gunner
  • Trobough, Jerome Carroll, flight engineer
  • Wentz, William Findley, flight engineer
  • Wigness, Kenneth Eugene, pilot
  • Windle, Fay Richard
  • Yergey, Stanley Allen, bombardier
Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress - ​ four-engine heavy bomber, 35 dead
​https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boeing_B-17_Flying_Fortress#/media/File:B17_-_Chino_Airshow_2014_(framed).jpg
  • Bagley, Charles Phelps, co-pilot
  • Bailey, Edwin Clark, tail gunner
  • Benedict, George Junior
  • Benton, Raymond James, radio operator
  • Blaylock, John Robert Jr., pilot
  • Broman, Floyd Leroy, radio operator or waist gunner
  • Burke, Vernon Clifford Jr., tail gunner
  • Carlson, Roland Linus, waist gunner
  • Cohen, Irving, pilot
  • Converse, Robert Franklin, pilot
  • Dutton, Finley Jake, navigator
  • Emerson, Charles Waldo, tail gunner
  • Evers, Leland Jr., pilot
  • Franklin, Milburn Martin, navigator
  • Friend, James Arthur, co-pilot
  • Gustafson, Dale Elvin, left waist gunner
  • Hale, Donald Max
  • Hartkopf, Paul Otto, waist gunner
  • Kersten, Lloyd Wesley, pilot
  • Knudson, Harold Norman
  • Koebel, Leonard Lavern, bombardier
  • Learned, Bradley Eugene, ball turret gunner
  • Melton, Derald William, bombardier
  • McClurg, Lynn Herrig Jr.
  • Reed, Lawrence Elmo, ball turret gunner
  • Santillan, Paul J., ball turret gunner
  • Schaupp, Dale John, flight engineer
  • Seeger, LeRoy Ernest, flight engineer
  • Spicer, Robert Francis, co-pilot
  • Stockman, Kenneth Herman, radio operator
  • Sunberg, John Linder, radio operator
  • Sweeny, Duane Grant Henry, pilot
  • Wilcox, Blaine Bertrand, bombardier
  • Wilcox, Stewart La Val, co-pilot
  • Zaiger, Roy Jensen, waist gunner
Douglas C-47 Skytrain/Dakota
​ two-engine cargo & transport, derived from Douglas DC-3 commercial transport, 16 dead
​https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Douglas_C-47_Skytrain#/media/File:C47_Skytrain_-_Duxford_D-Day_Show_2014_(cropped).jpg
  • Anderson, Virgil Wendell, co-pilot
  • Brazzle, Delbert Sherman, passenger
  • Copeland, Donald Walter, pilot
  • Downs, Thomas George, pilot
  • Flack, David Albert
  • (new) Heberlee, Henry Leroy, crew chief
  • Hutchison, Irwin Campbell, co-pilot
  • Jensen, Arthur Orville, radio operator
  • Jones, Donald Eugene, radio operator
  • Jones, Homer Ernest Jr.
  • Kelley, Oren H., radio operator
  • Malick, William Burton, radio operator
  • Rockwell, Harold Ralph, passenger
  • Sundberg, Clark Gustaf
  • Walker, Hayden Leonard, passenger
  • (new) Wenstrand, Robert Darwin, navigator
Martin B-26 Marauder
​ two-engine medium bomber, ten dead
​https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Martin_B-26_Marauder#/media/File:B_26.jpg
  • Braden, Grant Nathaniel, pilot
  • Decker, Richard Charles, nose gunner
  • Howard, Charles Joseph, co-pilot
  • Hunter, Gail Ray, flight engineer
  • Jensen, Waldo Chris, ground crew chief
  • Larsen, Lester M.
  • Linn, Charles Leroy
  • Smith, Henry Clayton, tail gunner
  • Stith, George Noel, pilot
  • Thompson, Kenneth Boyd, pilot
North American B-25 Mitchell
​ two-engine medium bomber, ten dead
​https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/North_American_B-25_Mitchell#/media/File:B25_Mitchell_-_Chino_Airshow_2014_(14033501440).jpg
  • Cadwell, Newell Lewis, radio operator
  • Cox, Kenneth A., cameraman passenger
  • Hetrick, Jacob Alvin, co-pilot
  • Lawton, Kenneth Burdette, co-pilot
  • Miller, Oliver Oscar, tail gunner
  • Mueller, Eugene Clyde, navigator-bombardier
  • Peterson, Harlan Howard Luther, pilot
  • (new) Prather, Max Armond
  • Reestman, Milton Herman, navigator
  • Tague, Harold Fremont, flight engineer
Boeing B-29 Superfortress
​ four-engine very heavy bomber, seven dead
​https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boeing_B-29_Superfortress#/media/File:B-29_in_flight.jpg
  • Anderson, James Marshall Jr., bombardier
  • Davenport, William Thomas Jr., right gunner
  • Davis, August William Jr., tail gunner
  • Gidley, Robert Allan, flight engineer
  • Hansen, Elvin E., bombardier
  • Rannells, Robert Vance, radio operator
  • Widows, Harry James Jr., co-pilot
Douglas A-20 Boston/Havoc
​ two-engine ground attack & light bomber. six dead
​https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Douglas_A-20_Havoc#/media/File:Douglas_A-20G_Havoc.jpg
  • Holiday, Albert Henry, gunner
  • (new) Gunsolley, Max Gerald
  • Iverson, Elmer F. Jr., pilot
  • Kimball, William George, pilot
  • Knapp, Clyde Alfred, pilot
  • Olsen/Olson, Clarence Harley, pilot
Consolidated PBY Catalina 
​two-engine navy amphibious patrol bomber, five dead
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Consolidated_PBY_Catalina#/media/File:Consolidated_PBV-1A_Catalina_'433915'_Miss_Pick_Up_(G-PBYA).jpg
  • Alter, Earl Carlton, co-pilot
  • Edmundson, William Thomas
  • Garafalo, James Lester, passenger
  • Ripley, William Louis
  • Ross, William Thomas, radio operator
Lockheed P-38 Lightning
​two-engine fighter, five dead
​https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lockheed_P-38_Lightning#/media/File:P38_Lightning.jpg
  • Baker, John Llewellyn, pilot
  • Garrett, Elmer Earl, pilot
  • (new) Gee, Richard Arthur, pilot
  • Napier, Lloyd Hugh, pilot
  • Wunder, Frank Grant Jr., pilot
Curtiss C-46 Commando
two-engine cargo & transport, three dead
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Curtiss_C-46_Commando#/media/File:C-46_Commando.jpg
  • (new) Chickering, Herbert R., pilot
  • Finley, Clyde Clem Jr., co-pilot
  • Munchrath, Francis F., co-pilot
Grumman/Eastern TBF/TBM Avenger
navy torpedo bomber, crew of three, three dead
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grumman_TBF_Avenger#/media/File:TBM3_Avenger_-_Chino_Airshow_2014_(14344070442).jpg
  • (new) Anderson, Robert Arthur, gunner
  • Hough, Robert Charles, radio operator
  • Sander, Merle Edward, pilot
Vultee BT-13/15 Valiant
basic trainer, three dead
​​https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vultee_BT-13_Valiant#/media/File:Vultee_BT-13A-VU_Valiant_‘018_-_41-21178’_(N27003)_(50905401288).jpg
  • Chambers, Stanley Glen, pilot trainee
  • (new) Dryer, William Ernest, pilot
  • Glassburn, Hugh Stuart, passenger
Grumman/Eastern F4F/FM Wildcat
navy fighter, two dead
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grumman_F4F_Wildcat#/media/File:F4F-3_new_pitot_tube_of_later_model.jpg​
  • Fisher, Harlan Ray, pilot
  • Wagner, Egbert Vernon, pilot
North American P-51 Mustang
 fighter, two dead
​https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/North_American_P-51_Mustang#/media/File:375th_Fighter_Squadron_North_American_P-51D-5-NA_Mustang_44-13926_(cropped).jpg
  • Chancellor, Elmer Lee, pilot
  • Narvis, Charles William, pilot
Republic P-47 Thunderbolt, fighter, two dead
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Republic_P-47_Thunderbolt#/media/File:P47_Thunderbolt_-_Chino_2014_(cropped).jpg
  • Bolton, Wayne Arnold, pilot
  • (new) Kuhl, Robert L., pilot
There was one known Pottawattamie area fatality in each of the following aircraft
​​Bell P-39 Airacobra, main fighter sent to the Soviet Union under lend-lease, one dead
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bell_P-39_Airacobra#/media/File:P-39N_Airacobra_of_the_357th_Fighter_Group_at_Hamilton_Field_in_July_1943.jpg​
  • Kraschel, Richard Nelson, civilian test pilot
​Cessna AT-8/17 & UC-78 Bobcat, two-engine advanced trainer, one dead
​https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cessna_AT-17_Bobcat#/media/File:Cessna_AT-17_(cropped).jpg
  • Trowbridge, Marion Duane, passenger
Consolidated B-32 Dominator, four-engine very heavy bomber, one dead
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Consolidated_B-32_Dominator#/media/File:B32.jpg
  • Maule, Kenneth C., gunnery officer
Consolidated C-87 Liberator Express, four-engine cargo & transport; one dead
variant of Consolidated B-24 Liberator, see previous link for photo
  •  McCue, Dudley Van, crew chief
Curtis P-40 Warhawk, main US Army Air Force fighter at beginning of war, one dead
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Curtiss_P-40_Warhawk#/media/File:Curtiss_P-40M_Warhawk_'2104590_-_44'_(G-KITT)_(26830598751).jpg
  • Springer, Lynn Irwin, aviation cadet pilot
de Havilland DH.98 Mosquito, English two-engine night fighter with crew of two, one dead
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/De_Havilland_Mosquito#/media/File:Air-to-air_opname_van_een_De_Havilland_DH.98_Mosquito_B_Mk_IV_Series_2_bommenwerper_van_105_Squadron_van_de_Royal_Air_Force_in_de_vlucht_(2157-103-001).jpg
  • Jensen, Wayne Eugene, pilot
Douglas TP-70 Nighthawk, two-engine night fighter trainer, one dead
variant of Douglas A-20 Boston/Havoc - see a previous link for photo
  • Harper, Paul Maurice
Grumman F6F Hellcat, navy fighter, one dead
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grumman_F6F_Hellcat#/media/File:Hellcats_F6F-3,_May_1943.jpg
  • Welty, Robert L., pilot
Grumman F7F Tigercat, two-engine navy fighter, one dead
​https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grumman_F7F_Tigercat#/media/File:F7F-3P_Tigercat.jpg
  • Dworak, Lloyd Arthur, pilot
Lockheed B-34/PV1 Ventura/Lexington, two-engine advanced trainer, one dead
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lockheed_Ventura#/media/File:Lockheed_Ventura.jpg​
  • Brown, Bernard Christian, radio operator
Lockheed F-5 Photo Lightning, two-engine photo reconnaissance, one dead
​variant of Lockheed P-38 Lightning, see a previous link for photo
  • Berrenger, Merroll Jackson, pilot
Lockheed PV-2 Harpoon, two-engine navy patrol bomber, derived from Lockheed Ventura, one dead
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lockheed_Ventura#/media/File:PV-2_NAN9-2-45.jpg​
  • Porter, Harry Edward, radio operator
Martin PBM Mariner, two-engine navy amphibious patrol bomber, one dead
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Martin_PBM_Mariner#/media/File:Martin_PBM-5_Mariner_in_flight_c1945.jpeg
  • Dea, James Richard
Stinson L-5 Sentinel
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stinson_L-5_Sentinel
  •  ​(new) Tipton, John M., pilot
Supermarine PR Mk XI Spitfire, English fighter & reconnaissance, one dead
​https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Supermarine_Spitfire#/media/File:Spitfire_-_Season_Premiere_Airshow_2018_(cropped).jpg
  • Dideriksen, Robert Warren, pilot  
​Vought F4U Corsair, navy & Marine Corps fighter, one dead
​​​https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vought_F4U_Corsair#/media/File:Vought_F4U_Corsair_(USMC).jpg
  • Garner, William Fredrick, pilot
Vought OS2U/OS2N Kingfisher, short-range navy scout seaplane with crew of two, one dead
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vought_OS2U_Kingfisher#/media/File:OS2U-2_Kingfisher_in_flight_1942.jpg
  • Halladay, Robert Monroe, pilot
Roster members who died on unknown aircraft, eight dead
​Most died while in training in the United States.
  • Branstiter, Daniel Starr, US Naval Aviation
  • Buffington, Charles Rollin III, US Army
  • Enochson, Kenneth Duane Jr., US Marine Corps Aviation
  • Faurot, Owen Hugh, passenger, US Naval Aviation; died while returning to Europe.
  • Gill, Carl Edward, US Naval Aviation; died in Mexico after WWII ended.
  • Ivy, Dorsie Eugene, US Naval Aviation
  • (new) Nelson, Robert Johns, US Marine Corps Aviation, instructor
  • Wagner, Richard Paul, US Marine Corps Aviation, pilot