Left to right standing: Sam Pullaro, David E. Bertch (KILOD), William L. Quick, Ernest M. Ritchey (KILOD), Sam Clasbey, John C. Steinhagen

Bottom: Elwood L. Bragdon, Alvin N. Rubin (KILOD), Robert B. Johnson, Curtis C. Skidmore

Assigned to the 789th Squadron for deployment to England, the crew were delayed ostensibly to ferry a new replacement B24 via the Southern Atlantic Route. On March 25th 1944 while departing Eknes Field, Dakar, Senegal the crew were involved in a take-off accident, attributed to copilot error and resulting in the loss of four crew and various injuries to others. See Casualties Listing. Pilot Lt. Bragdon, Gunner Sgt. John C. Steinhagen, and Engineer, Sgt. Sam H. Clasbey were returned home, Navigator Robert Johnson,  Bombardier Curtis Skidmore, eventually reached Rackheath during May 44 and were absorbed into Crew#27, the 789th Lt. McGiverin crew as replacements. Both finished their tour of missions in due course later in 1944. Sgt. Sam Pullaro also proceeded to Rackheath and successfully completed  missions too. William L. Quick (pictured) left the crew and was reassigned to the 791st Lt. Baxter Hensley crew and journeyed to England via ship. His replacement Earl Junior Willingham (pictured below) was Killed in Line Of Duty (KILOD) in the accident at Dakar.