Salvage of a broken B-24 "WE'REWOLVES", crashed on take-off crash on March 20th, at Panagarh. Upon crash, live bombs were spewed out of the bomb bay. Fortunately the arming pins were still in the fuses. Speculation of some was that the accident was caused by loss of lift due to the negative angle of attack caused by a high speed take-off.
Comments
Cause of accident
Accident date: May 20, 1943. We'rewolves was condemned on July 5, 1943
Overseas Accident Report # 43-3-20-505 Accident Classification Committee statement:
The subject airplane started a normal take-off. Just as flying speed was being attained and with most of the weight on the gear, the engineer placed the landing gear handle in the "retract" position without command of the pilot. The gear functioned in the normal manner with all wheels becoming unlocked but with the nose wheel retracting first. A bump in the runway at this point caused the nose to start down and with no support from the nose wheel it went past the point that ensures a positive angle of attack from the wings. This condition forced the nose still further down out of control. Placing the gear handle in the down position held the main gear practically fully extended but still unlocked. Then the ship ground looped to the right, centrifugal force held the left gear extended but caused the right gear to fold outboard.
Recommendation:
The airplane be salvaged for the following reasons: A) front spar right wing, cut through into places by propeller. B) all longerons it nose section bent and twisted C) fuselage longerons bent and twisted D) bomb rack installations torn away and moved to left approximately 2 feet at forward end. Bomb rack supports torn loose from bomb bay catwalk. Main bulkheads of bomb bay structure twisted and damaged
A June 9, 1943 letter to the from Col. Necrason included in the report reminds 7th Bomb Group pilots that it is the co-pilot's duty to retract landing gear on take-off only when ordered to do so by the pilot.