www.scottflies.blogspot.com
Sheridan's team on the survey consisted of the following people:
John Martin, 26, a geologist who had already seen the wrecked B-24 from the air. He was somewhat acquainted with B-24's having seen them flying over his home in England during World War Two.
Gordon Bowerman, 26, who was so experienced as a surveyor, that he was able calculate the party's position within a few feet of its actual location. Before the party was to set out for its survey of Application 121, Bowerman had no knowledge of the B-24's existence.
Martin, on the other hand, was very enthusiastic about Sheridan's planned "moonlight" expedition. For Martin owned a sailboat that needed a compass, and a compass from a B-24 Liberator would be just fine.
Wednesday, March 12, 2014
Monday, March 10, 2014
Death In The Desert: Lady Be Good...
www.scottflies.blogspot.com
In as much as Sheridan's employer- D'Arcy Exploration-would not be keen on his using company time and resources to check out a wrecked bomber, it should be noted that Sheridan's superior, Ronald MacLean was one of the first to spot the wreck. Therefore, it would not be unreasonable to assume that MacLean unofficially approved of Sheridan's search efforts, so long as Sheridan didn't stray from his duties and survey territory to do so.
Obviously, Sheridan would have to be discreet with regard to his "side project". Still, he would need help from other employees in order to carry out the ground search for the B-24.
In as much as Sheridan's employer- D'Arcy Exploration-would not be keen on his using company time and resources to check out a wrecked bomber, it should be noted that Sheridan's superior, Ronald MacLean was one of the first to spot the wreck. Therefore, it would not be unreasonable to assume that MacLean unofficially approved of Sheridan's search efforts, so long as Sheridan didn't stray from his duties and survey territory to do so.
Obviously, Sheridan would have to be discreet with regard to his "side project". Still, he would need help from other employees in order to carry out the ground search for the B-24.
Thursday, March 6, 2014
Liberator Down: Lady Be Good..
www.scottflies.blogspot.com
Lady Be Good was just an unidentified wreck, in February of 1959. She had come to rest some 440 miles south east of Benghazi, and 180 miles north east of Kufra Oasis. Neither the U.S. nor the British air force had pursued any investigations of the wreck. The latter, and the B-24's remote location rendered it fair game for anyone who found it.
Still, Don Sheridan would have to take a low-key approach to investigating the wreck. After all, he was being paid to look for oil. Using company supplies, resources, and time to check out a wrecked World War Two aircraft (especially an American aircraft) would not be viewed kindly by his employer, D'Arcy Exploration.
Lady Be Good was just an unidentified wreck, in February of 1959. She had come to rest some 440 miles south east of Benghazi, and 180 miles north east of Kufra Oasis. Neither the U.S. nor the British air force had pursued any investigations of the wreck. The latter, and the B-24's remote location rendered it fair game for anyone who found it.
Still, Don Sheridan would have to take a low-key approach to investigating the wreck. After all, he was being paid to look for oil. Using company supplies, resources, and time to check out a wrecked World War Two aircraft (especially an American aircraft) would not be viewed kindly by his employer, D'Arcy Exploration.
Tuesday, March 4, 2014
Death in the Desert: Lady Be Good...
www.scottflies.blogspot.com
As the DC-3 carrying Sheridan flew away from the wrecked B-24, Sheridan resolved to see the old bomber up close-on the ground. He and the others aboard the DC-3 wondered what happened to the crew of the broken bomber. Were they entombed inside? Did any of them make it out of the desert?
It is tempting to dismiss Don Sheridan as a self-centered adventurer. But, his motives may have something to do with the demise of the HMS Kelly, which went down near Crete in 1941. Sheridan's brother, 27 year old Vincent Sheridan, went down with that ship.
As the DC-3 carrying Sheridan flew away from the wrecked B-24, Sheridan resolved to see the old bomber up close-on the ground. He and the others aboard the DC-3 wondered what happened to the crew of the broken bomber. Were they entombed inside? Did any of them make it out of the desert?
It is tempting to dismiss Don Sheridan as a self-centered adventurer. But, his motives may have something to do with the demise of the HMS Kelly, which went down near Crete in 1941. Sheridan's brother, 27 year old Vincent Sheridan, went down with that ship.
Thursday, February 27, 2014
Liberator Down: Lady Be Good..
September of 1958 saw Sheridan gathering a complete survey team at the Kufra Oasis. Sheridan based his operation there, relying supplies flown in by Silver City Airways every six weeks. Another purpose of these flights was to ferry personnel back to civilization for their much-needed breaks from field work.
It was on one of these flights, that Sheridan asked the pilot-one Captain McMurchy (Honey was navigating, and Colvin was handling the radio)-to fly to the coordinates provided to Sheridan by Hellewell. McMurchy obliged, and the crashed Liberator appeared again. This was the second time that Sheridan had seen the B-24 (as it was Honey's; Colvin had seen it three times), and he resolved to find a way to reach it on the ground.
It was on one of these flights, that Sheridan asked the pilot-one Captain McMurchy (Honey was navigating, and Colvin was handling the radio)-to fly to the coordinates provided to Sheridan by Hellewell. McMurchy obliged, and the crashed Liberator appeared again. This was the second time that Sheridan had seen the B-24 (as it was Honey's; Colvin had seen it three times), and he resolved to find a way to reach it on the ground.
Wednesday, February 26, 2014
Death In the Desert: Lady Be Good...
www.scottflies.com
D'Arcy's chief geologist, Ronald MacLean planned to reconnoiter Application 121's southern territory-on the ground. This was after completion of the June 15, 1958 aerial survey. The idea was to evaluate the area that MacLean wanted to give back to Libya.
So, at the end of June, 1958, MacLean, Sheridan, and a surveyor by the name of Richard M. "Slinger" Woods set out by truck, to inspect the region. At this point, whatever plans Sheridan may have had for making a detour to the crashed Liberator, were derailed early on. The whole survey had to be abandoned almost immediately, because Sheridan's truck broke down in the extreme heat.
D'Arcy's chief geologist, Ronald MacLean planned to reconnoiter Application 121's southern territory-on the ground. This was after completion of the June 15, 1958 aerial survey. The idea was to evaluate the area that MacLean wanted to give back to Libya.
So, at the end of June, 1958, MacLean, Sheridan, and a surveyor by the name of Richard M. "Slinger" Woods set out by truck, to inspect the region. At this point, whatever plans Sheridan may have had for making a detour to the crashed Liberator, were derailed early on. The whole survey had to be abandoned almost immediately, because Sheridan's truck broke down in the extreme heat.
Tuesday, February 25, 2014
Death in the Libyan Desert: Lady Be Good...
www.scottflies.blogspot.com
Hellewell, Sheridan, and the rest of the party flew the scheduled aerial survey mission on June 15, 1958. During the flight, Hellewell flew over the crashed B-24, giving everyone a much closer look at the wreck.
Aside from being broken in half, the Liberator appeared to be intact, and the survey crew began to believe that at least some of the American airmen survived the crash. Plus, skid-marks were visible, which indicated that the B-24 crash-landed relatively softly.
On the following day, another Silver City Airways employee made a second report of the crashed B-24 to the authorities. This time, it was First Officer Honey reporting the the wreck to the Royal Air Force (RAF). He too, was rebuffed, being told that the desert was splattered with lost airplanes (which was true of British aircraft, but not so much of American bombers- specifically since this wreck was very far from most of the American large-scale bombing areas). The RAF refused to even note the crashed Liberator's position.
Hellewell, Sheridan, and the rest of the party flew the scheduled aerial survey mission on June 15, 1958. During the flight, Hellewell flew over the crashed B-24, giving everyone a much closer look at the wreck.
Aside from being broken in half, the Liberator appeared to be intact, and the survey crew began to believe that at least some of the American airmen survived the crash. Plus, skid-marks were visible, which indicated that the B-24 crash-landed relatively softly.
On the following day, another Silver City Airways employee made a second report of the crashed B-24 to the authorities. This time, it was First Officer Honey reporting the the wreck to the Royal Air Force (RAF). He too, was rebuffed, being told that the desert was splattered with lost airplanes (which was true of British aircraft, but not so much of American bombers- specifically since this wreck was very far from most of the American large-scale bombing areas). The RAF refused to even note the crashed Liberator's position.
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