2nd Lt. Donald Allen MacKellar Crew
Killed in Action: April 6, 1945
Kettering, England
Embedded Files
B-17G 44-6923 | Courtesy of John N. Smith and the 384th Bomb Group Heritage Association research website, 384thBombGroup.com⇗
On April 6, 1945, the 384th Bomb Group flew their 305th combat mission to the railroad marshalling yards in Leipzig, Germany. Of the 42 aircraft assigned to this mission, one would be lost in a tragic explosion just four minutes into the flight, and for which no cause or responsibility was ever determined.
2nd Lt. Donald Allen MacKellar (Pilot) and his crew of the 545th Bomb Squadron were on board B-17G 44-6923⇗. The crew took off in the early morning darkness, and minutes later, witnesses in the control tower and other aircraft flying in formation reported that B-17G 44-6923 started losing altitude immediately after making a right turn and suddenly crashed into a road 4 ½ miles southwest of Kettering. The aircraft exploded immediately on impact, killing the entire crew. Immediately after crashing, the bombs the aircraft was carrying started exploding in frequent intervals.
2nd Lt. Donald MacKellar (Pilot)
Courtesy of Ken Decker and 384thBombGroup.com
F/O Orland Frank McLaughlin (Co-Pilot)
Courtesy of Find a Grave and 384thBombGroup.com
2nd Lt. Leo Carl Cebulski (Navigator)
Courtesy of Quentin Bland and 384thBombGroup.com
Pvt. David Leo Fruit (Radio Operator)
Courtesy of 384thBombGroup.com
Cpl. Harvey Connell (Engineer)
Courtesy of Ken Decker and 384thBombGroup.com
Cpl. Raymond Courtney (Ball Turret Gunner)
Courtesy of Ken Decker and 384thBombGroup.com
Cpl. Warren Bronzetti (Tail Gunner)
Courtesy of Ken Decker and 384thBombGroup.com
One witness to the crash, F/O Alfred D. Hesko ⇗ (Navigator), stated, “We followed aircraft #44-6923 down the runway, and in the climb, I was watching what we believed to be his signal lamp in the tail. It descended gradually until we saw a big explosion, and after that, we realized that the light we followed was too big to be his signal lamp, but in all probability some part of the aircraft was on fire. Didn't circle the scene of the accident for fear of exploding bombs.”
After the accident, the investigating officer, Major Phillip Y. Williams concluded that the fire had started in the aircraft a few minutes prior to the crash. Despite the discovery that all four engines were developing equal power at the moment of impact, the underlying causes as to the fire and ultimate crash remain unknown. Because the flight ended so abruptly, the crew was never granted combat credit.
The loss was felt deeply by the airmen who witnessed the crash, and by the families left behind.
Map showing crash site | Courtesy of Aircraft Accident Report 04-06-523⇗
We honor and remember:
2nd Lt. Donald Allen MacKellar ⇗, Age: 22 (Pilot)
Missions flown: 34
Resting place: Forest Lawn Memorial Park, Glendale, California
F/O Orland Frank McLaughlin ⇗, Age: 20 (Co-Pilot)
Hometown: East Winn, Maine
Missions flown: 0
Resting place: East Millinocket Cemetery, Maine
2nd Lt. Leo Carl Cebulski ⇗, Age: 21 (Navigator)
Hometown: Vermillion County, Illinois
Missions flown: 32
Resting place: Georgetown Cemetery, Illinois
Cpl. Robert Howard Samuels ⇗, Age: 21 (Togglier)
Hometown: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Missions flown: 37
Resting place: Northwood Cemetery, West Oak Lane, Pennsylvania
Pvt. David Leo Fruit ⇗, Age: 19 (Radio Operator)
Hometown: Pittsburg, Kansas
Missions flown: 0
Resting place: Cambridge American Cemetery: Plot E, Row 0, Grave 87
Cpl. Harvey Clarence Connell ⇗, Age: 21 (Engineer/Top Turret Gunner)
Hometown: Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Missions flown: 34
Resting place: Cambridge American Cemetery: Section E, Row 2, Grave 109
Cpl. Raymond F. Courtney ⇗, Age: 19 (Ball Turret Gunner)
Hometown: Atlantic, Pennsylvania
Missions flown: 34
Resting place: Rocky Glen Cemetery, Adamsville, Pennsylvania
Cpl. Warren John Bronzetti ⇗, Age: 20 (Tail Gunner)
Missions flown: 34
Resting place: Long Island National Cemetery
Information courtesy of the 384th Bomb Group Heritage Association research website, 384thBombGroup.com⇗, and Find a Grave
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