MACR #8173,.Microfiche #3002 - A/C#42 9762

This crew and that of A. S. Spear were involved in a mid air collision over the North sea on returning from the mission Lt John Goethel was flying with the crew of J. E. David on 3/9/44 when that ship crashed into the sea . He was replaced on this mission by T/Sgt Richard D. Hawkins who was KIA. (Goethel and two other crewmen were saved from the David collision - the members of his old crew were not so fortunate.

EYEWITNESS:
At 1231 hours near 5238N and 1057E while the formation was flying just above undercast at 9000 feet. A/C #009 was flying #7 in the low squadron. It pulled up climbing and struck A/C #621 with it's vertical stabilizer. A/C #009 broke in half at the waist and fell through the undercast. Two bodies were seen to come from #009 but no open chutes were seen. A/C #621 had it's left aileron torn off and the aircraft went into a steep dive, disappearing into the undercast with pieces of wreckage falling off. No chutes were seen to come from this A/C. Aircraft #903 was sent back to patrol the area and assist Air-Sea Rescue. However, observers on that aircraft failed to find any trace of the crew members." The dead of Stansbury's crew are all commemorated on the Wall Of The Missing at Cambridge.