A Consolidated B-24M Liberator, 44-50468, from the 740th Bombardment Squadron, 455th Bombardment Group which crashed on takeoff at San Giovanni, Italy on 12 April 1945, killing 6 crew members.
<blockquote class="templatequote language"><p>Take off began in the normal manner. Airplane took off. Pilot used brakes to stop rotation of main gear. Airplane settled back to the runway with brakes on. Nose wheel hit the runway hard and collapsed. Airplane slid forward on nose section and main gear. Marks on runway indicate this. Airplane slid off the end of the runway and through a field for about 150 yards until it hit a low dirt embankment on the side of a small road. Airplane upended into a vertical position on the nose section. The entire nose section was demolished but investigation revealed that the throttles were full forward, turbos were set properly, trim tabs were set properly, half flaps were down. Application of brakes before the aircraft was definitely airborne is considered to be the cause of the accident.<sup id="cite_ref-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-1">[1]</a></sup></p></blockquote>
<p><b>Killed</b>
</p>
<ul><li>Lt. James T. Harris – Pilot</li>
<li>2nd Lt. Wilbur D. Blackwell – Co-Pilot</li>
<li>2nd Lt. Samuel H. Slawett – Navigator</li>
<li>F/O Charles R. Shelton – Bombardier</li>
<li>Cpl. Delker L. Krumey – Engineer/Gunner</li>
<li>Cpl. William C. Edghill – Radio Operator</li></ul><p><b>Survivors</b>
</p>
<ul><li>Cpl. Peter W. Armato</li>
<li>Cpl. Donald F. Behkamp</li>
<li>Cpl. Robert Smith</li>
<li>Cpl. Thomas C. Roberts</li></ul><h2><span class="mw-headline" id="References">References</span></h2>
<div class="reflist" style="list-style-type: decimal;">
<ol class="references"><li id="cite_note-1"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><a href="#cite_ref-1">↑</a></span> <span class="reference-text"> <cite>[USAAF Accident Report]</cite><sup><a rel="nofollow" class="external autonumber" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/dougsheley/4214129713">[1]</a></sup>, <span style="color: #777777;">(Please provide a date or year)</span>, <small>46502</small></span>
</li>
</ol></div>
April 1945
USAAF Aircraft Accident Reports Microfilm Call # 46502, 12 April 1945, Accident # 504.