See Green Mountain B-24E Liberator Crash Site, San Miguel Island, California

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NOTE: Wreck is scattered, partly burned, and unmarked. Location of site is approx. On July 5, 1943, a Consolidated B-24E Liberator crashed into Green Mountain on San Miguel Island, California, during low overcast conditions. The aircraft impacted the ground at cruising speed and the wreckage was widely dispersed and burned. Twelve airmen died in the crash. The accident site was not located until March 19, 1944. All personnel were members of the 2nd Air Force, 34th Bomb Group, 7th Bomb Squadron stationed at Salinas Army Air Base, Salinas, California. The eight officers and four enlisted men were: First Lieut. Douglas Thornburg of Casa Grande, Ariz. Second Lieut. Floyd P. Hart of Bakersfield, Calif. Second Lieut. Noah H. Yost; wife, Salinas. Second Lieut. Bose Gorman; wife, Salinas. Second Lieut. Justin M. Marshall; wife, Salinas. Flight Officer Vernon C. Stevens; wife, Salinas. Staff Sgt. Bernard Littman, Pittsburgh, Pa. Staff Sgt. Ralph S. Masterson, Voth, Tex. Staff Sgt. Lyle L. Frost, Mountain, Wis. Staff Sgt. Walter B. Eisenbarth, Route 1, Hazelton, N. D. Staff Sgt. Lee E. Salzer, Pittsburgh, Pa. Pvt. Henry L. Blair [sic], LaTrobe, Pa. This site requires special permission from the National Park Service to visit. Nothing can be removed from this W.W.II monument, according to Park Service regulations. The crash of 42-7160 is tragic enough with twelve crewmen killed, but two more lives were lost on 11/2/53 when a U.S Coast Guard Cutter cut a sailboat in two while speeding to San Miguel Island after receiving a call that a plane wreck had been found on the island. The wreck was of course not new, but the already known B-24E. Dynamite became the solution for making 42-7160 less likely to be reported in the future.

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