On February 18, 1944, a B-24 Liberator bomber named “Getaway Gertie” went down in Lake Ontario during a blinding snowstorm. The bomber was on a routine training flight from the Army Air Base at Syracuse when it ran dangerously low on fuel and was unable to land due to poor visibility. The crew of eight was ordered to bail out, but neither the plane nor the crew were ever found.
Despite numerous search efforts over the years, including high-tech searches by the U.S. Navy and the Oswego Maritime Foundation’s submerged cultural resources program, the wreckage of “Getaway Gertie” has remained elusive. Several divers’ groups have attempted to locate the plane, but their searches have been unsuccessful.
The American B-24 bomber, officially known as the Consolidated B-24 Liberator, was a heavy bomber aircraft used by the United States during World War II. It was one of the most produced bombers in history, with over 18,000 units built between 1939 and 1945. Here is a description of the B-24 bomber:
- Design and Appearance:
The B-24 had a distinctive appearance with its high-mounted wing, twin tail fins, and large fuselage. It had a sleek, streamlined design to maximize its speed and efficiency. The aircraft had a length of approximately 67 feet, a wingspan of about 110 feet, and a height of around 18 feet. Its overall size and shape contributed to its significant payload capacity and long-range capabilities. - Crew and Capacity:
The B-24 had a crew of typically 10 members, including pilots, co-pilots, navigators, bombardiers, gunners, and radio operators. The crew operated in various compartments within the aircraft, such as the cockpit, bomb bay, waist, nose, and tail gunner positions. The bomber had the capacity to carry a considerable bomb load, usually around 8,000 to 10,000 pounds, or even more in some variants. - Performance:
The B-24 was powered by four large radial engines, such as the Pratt & Whitney R-1830 Twin Wasp, which provided significant thrust and allowed the aircraft to achieve a maximum speed of approximately 290 miles per hour (467 kilometers per hour). It had a cruising speed of around 215 miles per hour (346 kilometers per hour). The bomber had a maximum range of up to 2,850 miles (4,586 kilometers) and a service ceiling of about 28,000 feet (8,534 meters). - Armament:
The B-24 was equipped with a variety of defensive armament to protect itself from enemy attacks. It typically had multiple .50 caliber machine guns positioned in the nose, top turret, belly turret, waist, and tail gunner positions. The aircraft could also carry bombs in its internal bomb bay, which could be dropped on targets below. - Role and Contributions:
The B-24 played a crucial role in strategic bombing campaigns during World War II. It was primarily used for long-range bombing missions against targets in Europe and the Pacific, including industrial facilities, military installations, and enemy infrastructure. The bomber’s large payload capacity and extended range made it suitable for carrying out precision bombing and strategic attacks.
Overall, the B-24 Liberator was a versatile and influential aircraft that made significant contributions to Allied air operations during World War II. Its production numbers, range, and bombing capabilities made it a key asset in the war effort, and it remains an iconic symbol of American aviation history.
To commemorate the lost crew of “Getaway Gertie” and other airmen who perished in training accidents during World War II, a public tribute event called the “Getaway Gertie” commemoration was held on June 24, 2023, at Breitbeck Park in Oswego. The event featured an opening ceremony conducted by the New York State Air National Guard’s 174th Attack Wing Honor Guard and a fly-over by the last remaining B-24 bomber in the world. The event was sponsored by Oswego County, the city of Oswego, and the proposed Lake Ontario National Marine Sanctuary Advisory Council. Family members of one of the lost airmen, Wendell Keith Ponder, also attended the event.
