About four years ago I managed to trace and talk to the 2nd pilot and navigator of the Liberator that landed safely. Given the long passage of time since the accident it’s not surprising their stories differed slightly, but both were consistent in describing their landing as very frightening – so much so the navigator had even made a comment to that effect in his logbook.

The reason the two crews decided to try and get in was that one of the crewmembers of the aircraft that didn’t make it was to marry two days later.