WARTIME B-24(?) Crash - Melbourne or Eau Gallie, Florida
Tue May 06, 2008 4:50 pm
Hello,
Does anyone have any records or info concerning a B-24 that supposedly crashed or had an emergency landing in Melbourne, FL? It would likely be listed as having happened in Eau Gallie, as that area was officially known at the time, or possibly in unincorporated Brevard County. I've been told there was once a B-24 crash along Aurora Road in Melbourne and that there's a marker near the site, but I've never been able to find out if it's true. I live nearby and am curious to know if this is true.
The supposed location would have been about 2-3 miles north of Melbourne NAS (now Melbourne International Airport) and about 7-8 miles south of the Banana River NAS (now Patrick AFB). If anyone can find info on this I'll be happy to check out the location and report back on what I find.
It's quite possible the plane type is wrong, I remember being told about this by someone a while back... I took note because it was someone who knew aviation enough that it seemed unlikely that he was pulling my leg or didn't know what he was talking about. I never was able to get more info, though. I'm interested even if it's a completely different aircraft, but with all the WW2 training flights that went on around here (a lot of Hellcat training occurred at Melbourne NAS, and I think Banana River NAS had a good deal of large seaplane activity) it wouldn't surprise me a bit if something big once crashed around here.
Thanks,
Mike
Does anyone have any records or info concerning a B-24 that supposedly crashed or had an emergency landing in Melbourne, FL? It would likely be listed as having happened in Eau Gallie, as that area was officially known at the time, or possibly in unincorporated Brevard County. I've been told there was once a B-24 crash along Aurora Road in Melbourne and that there's a marker near the site, but I've never been able to find out if it's true. I live nearby and am curious to know if this is true.
The supposed location would have been about 2-3 miles north of Melbourne NAS (now Melbourne International Airport) and about 7-8 miles south of the Banana River NAS (now Patrick AFB). If anyone can find info on this I'll be happy to check out the location and report back on what I find.
It's quite possible the plane type is wrong, I remember being told about this by someone a while back... I took note because it was someone who knew aviation enough that it seemed unlikely that he was pulling my leg or didn't know what he was talking about. I never was able to get more info, though. I'm interested even if it's a completely different aircraft, but with all the WW2 training flights that went on around here (a lot of Hellcat training occurred at Melbourne NAS, and I think Banana River NAS had a good deal of large seaplane activity) it wouldn't surprise me a bit if something big once crashed around here.
Thanks,
Mike
Tue May 06, 2008 6:33 pm
Nevermind-it's been fixed........
Last edited by Rod Schneider on Fri May 09, 2008 1:14 am, edited 1 time in total.
Tue May 06, 2008 7:26 pm
A small museum was opened just recently at Melbourne Airport.
There is a link trainer and some artifacts from Melbourne NAS and
it's auxillary fields Malabar and Valkaria.
Across from the museum is a gift shop. There I was able to purchase a
book about Melbourne NAS by Cmdr. Wm. Barnett. He trained in Hellcats
at Melbourne during the war. He does mention the crash in this book.
Interesting and might be worth your while.
I will look for that marker next time near Aurora Rd.
There is a link trainer and some artifacts from Melbourne NAS and
it's auxillary fields Malabar and Valkaria.
Across from the museum is a gift shop. There I was able to purchase a
book about Melbourne NAS by Cmdr. Wm. Barnett. He trained in Hellcats
at Melbourne during the war. He does mention the crash in this book.
Interesting and might be worth your while.
I will look for that marker next time near Aurora Rd.
Last edited by wls3 on Mon May 12, 2008 11:19 am, edited 2 times in total.
Wed May 07, 2008 2:28 pm
Mike,
Took a ride today and found the marker you mentioned.
It is not on Aurora but located on West Eau Gallie Blvd between the Fire Station and RR tracks. Picture below.
Best I could come up with is that it was RB-24E, 41-28525 from 302BG.
Took a ride today and found the marker you mentioned.
It is not on Aurora but located on West Eau Gallie Blvd between the Fire Station and RR tracks. Picture below.
Best I could come up with is that it was RB-24E, 41-28525 from 302BG.
Thu May 08, 2008 2:25 am
Er..Rod old buddy, doesn't the header for the original question start "WARTIME B-24 CRASH.." I might not be the sharpest knife in the drawer, but I'm fairly certain we ain't using B-24's in the mid East at this time! In an earlier conflict yes, but that was.........60+ years ago.
Do a flame check before you pour water over the wall - Thanx
Do a flame check before you pour water over the wall - Thanx
Thu May 08, 2008 5:59 am
An investigation determined that the plane had been sabotaged.
Was anyone caught and convicted for this? I haven't heard much about fifth column activities here in the USA during the war.
Thu May 08, 2008 7:43 am
The Inspector wrote:Er..Rod old buddy, doesn't the header for the original question start "WARTIME B-24 CRASH.." I might not be the sharpest knife in the drawer, but I'm fairly certain we ain't using B-24's in the mid East at this time! In an earlier conflict yes, but that was.........60+ years ago.
Do a flame check before you pour water over the wall - Thanx
When this thread was started, the word "WARTIME" did not appear in the title. The originator added it later, after being admonished by Rod.
D.
Thu May 08, 2008 8:50 am
WARTIME added by Moderator.... 
Thu May 08, 2008 9:02 am
Chris Brame wrote:An investigation determined that the plane had been sabotaged.
Was anyone caught and convicted for this? I haven't heard much about fifth column activities here in the USA during the war.
I doubt it was active 'sabotage'. I've read numerous accounts of W.W.II crashes which have been recorded as 'sabotage' by participants or informal investigators, then and now, yet there are few documented cases of fact, and only some where there is adequate suspicion to make a good case, such as the General Sikorski B-24 crash. Even there, there was no proof of sabotage.
Sabotage reads much better than human error, poor maintenance or inadequate training, which is much more likely a cause and too unpalatable a scenario in many cases.
Regards.
Thu May 08, 2008 11:07 pm
Man, step away for a day or two and look what a mess I started...
Bill, thanks so much for the info... as I suspected, what I heard originally was *almost* correct, but not quite. I'll go check out the site soon.
What's weird is that I had to run an errand today and was literally ACROSS THE STREET from it today, but hadn't checked into this thread in time so I didn't even think to go look! From what I can tell from the descriptions though, I might have been a bit closer to the actual crash site than the sign is. Maybe. Wonder if there are any photos of it in say the Florida Today archives (back then it would have been just the "Today" newspaper, or maybe an earlier predecessor...)
Everyone else, sorry for any scares I may have caused with a bad title, I oughta know better...
-Mike
Bill, thanks so much for the info... as I suspected, what I heard originally was *almost* correct, but not quite. I'll go check out the site soon.
What's weird is that I had to run an errand today and was literally ACROSS THE STREET from it today, but hadn't checked into this thread in time so I didn't even think to go look! From what I can tell from the descriptions though, I might have been a bit closer to the actual crash site than the sign is. Maybe. Wonder if there are any photos of it in say the Florida Today archives (back then it would have been just the "Today" newspaper, or maybe an earlier predecessor...)
Everyone else, sorry for any scares I may have caused with a bad title, I oughta know better...
-Mike
Fri May 09, 2008 2:10 am
Sorry Rod, my bad on the previous posting- 
Fri May 09, 2008 2:32 am
Not a problem at all! 
Sat May 10, 2008 1:56 am
Hi all,
Long time lurker, first time poster.
I grew up in the Eau Gallie/Melbourne, living a few miles east of the crash site for 21yrs. and parents having lived there from 1961-1995, before moving to the Orlando area, and I have never heard anything of the kind. I will certainly check it out next time I am over that way, and will ask my father if he had any idea. I believe I know exactly where that sign is located. Any idea when it was posted?
Mike "Merlin_FAC", how long have you resided in this area? Perhaps we have acquaintances in common. I graduated from EGHS in 1985, and I have (4) brothers and (1) Sister that are EGHS Alumni as well, graduating between 1974 and 1989. My youngest brother works at Harris Corp. I also know some people from MHS. Alot of roots in the area. Enough of my hum drum bio already. I would be interested to hear something about you.
Fascinating hometown connection!
Tom Carter
Long time lurker, first time poster.
I grew up in the Eau Gallie/Melbourne, living a few miles east of the crash site for 21yrs. and parents having lived there from 1961-1995, before moving to the Orlando area, and I have never heard anything of the kind. I will certainly check it out next time I am over that way, and will ask my father if he had any idea. I believe I know exactly where that sign is located. Any idea when it was posted?
Mike "Merlin_FAC", how long have you resided in this area? Perhaps we have acquaintances in common. I graduated from EGHS in 1985, and I have (4) brothers and (1) Sister that are EGHS Alumni as well, graduating between 1974 and 1989. My youngest brother works at Harris Corp. I also know some people from MHS. Alot of roots in the area. Enough of my hum drum bio already. I would be interested to hear something about you.
Fascinating hometown connection!
Tom Carter