Bernard A. Higgins

Ploesti

The aircraft departed Bengasi, Libya at approximately 07:30 AM on August 1, 1943, as part of the low-level mission against the oil refineries at Ploesti, Romania. The plane was from the 93rd Bomb Group, 330th Bomb Squadron. The aircraft crashed at approximately 4:00 PM, approximately 15 miles southwest of Bucharest, Romania. At the time of the crash the plane was entirely in flames, with the exception of part of the tail. The aircraft exploded approximately 30 seconds after striking the ground. No crew members bailed out. The co-pilot (Bassett) reported that the bombardier and navigator were believed killed in the crash as both were in the nose of the plane. The radio operator was killed by enemy fighter action before the crash. The engineer, tail gunner, and top turret gunner were also believed to have died in the crash. Romanian authorities subsequently reported one man died; the method of identification was unknown.

Target unrecorded

On August 1, 1944, the aircraft was hit by fighter attack and flak while on a mission departing from Bengazi at approximately 07:30. Sgt. Milligan was killed by fighter action before the crash. Sgt. Doll and Sgt. Higgins were wounded by flak, and the co-pilot Lt. Beaumont was wounded by fighter action. The plane crash-landed on fire at approximately 15:30, approximately 30 miles west of Bucharest, Romania. The aircraft was a total loss and exploded on striking the ground. No crew members bailed out; all survived or perished in the crash landing. Romanian witnesses reported that crew members not accounted for by survivors were dead, with some bodies described as carbonized. The plane was burning before and after the crash. The aids box was destroyed in the crash, and the crew's purse and escape materials were taken by Romanians. Survivors Lt. Teltser, Lt. Bassett, Sgt. Locky, and Sgt. Doll were confirmed alive after reaching the ground, all wounded. Lt. Beaumont was taken to a hospital with burns and leg wounds. He was eventually repatriated via Bari, Italy, and departed for the UK by air on September 5, 1944, arriving September 6, 1944.