Images of Official Crash Report

EYEWITNESS ACCOUNT OF THE HOOKEM COW ACCIDENT

 E-Mail from Peter Moran to Trevor Hewitt dated August 1, 2005

 Dear Trevor---Once again you have brought back memories even though some are rather dim after 60 years.  I was flying co-pilot on April 14 when HOOKEM COW went down and I remember the burning glow as we passed over the crash site.  We had only about 100 ft. ceiling and it was strickly an instrument take off.  We were flying LARRUPING LINDA that day and the target at Pointe de Grave, France.  Our bomb load consisted of 8 fighter drop tanks, which were shortened to fit the bomb bay.  The were filled with napalm and triggered by two white phosphorus grenades armed with 50 ft. arming wires.  They were leaking all over the place and we were afraid to use any electrical equipment located in the bomb bay.  I personally did not know any of the crew since they were in the 754th Squadron and I was the 753rd Squadron.

 NOTE:     Peter Moran arrived as a member of a replacement crew in England just before Christmas 1944 and was assigned to the 458th Bombardment Group.  He was a member of one of the last Liberator crews to leave for the States on June 14, 1945.  LARRUPING LINDA took off minutes after the HOOKEM COW from Horsham St. Faith on April 14, 1945.