13 September 1942
B-25B; Serial#: 40-2239; 378BS; 309BG
Home Base: Columbia AAB, SC;
KSSPCR = KSSP Killed, Stall/SPin Crash
Pilot: Sparks, Francis W
Location of Crash: 2 mi E of Columbia AAB, SC

THE CREW:
Pilot: 2Lt. Francis W. Sparks; Columbia, SC
2Lt. Donald V. Urquhart, St. Louis, MO
2Lt. Martin O. Vangsness, Carpio, ND
2Lt. James Francis Attridge, Jr, Salem, MA
Sgt. Leon O. Gallie, Ingomar, PA
SSgt. Charles O. Frame, Richwood, WV
Pvt. Roland G. Braun, Beaver Dam, WI

Lt. Urquhart and Lt. Vangsness were aboard this B-25, for a training mission, but were assigned to the 321st Bomb Group; 447th Bomb Squadron; which was also based at the Columbia Army Air Field, SC.

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447th Bombardment Squadron Special Account: August 28, 1942 (Actually occurred on 13 Sep 42, according to the Death Certificates): This date we had our first and only casualties of the training period. Going along as co-pilots with a 309th Bombardment Group plane and pilot, Lts. Urquhart and Vangsness were killed instantly when their plane crashed one quarter mile from the runway at 5:30 in the morning. Fog had a great deal to do with the accident.

309th BG A/C B-25B; Serial No. 40-2239
crashed 13 Sep 42 - entire crew killed.
P Attridge, James F., Jr., 1Lt, 309th BG
CP Urquhart, Donald V., 2Lt, 447th BS
CP Vangsness, Martin O., 2Lt, 447th BS
N Sparks, Francis W., 2Lt, 309th BG
E Braun, Roland G., Pvt, 309th BG
R Frame, Charles O., Sgt, 309th BG
G Gallie, Leon O., Pvt, 309th BG
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The Kane Republican
Kane, Pennsylvania
Wednesday, 16 September 1942

Services for 2nd Lieut. Donald V. Urquhart, a member of the U.S. Army Air Corps, who was killed in a crash of a bomber at an army air base at Columbia, SC, Sunday Morning, will be held from Trinity Methodist Church in Ridgway Thursday afternoon at 3:30 o'clock. Rev. Bruce L. Middaugh, the Pastor, will officiate. Burial in the American Legion Plot in Thayer Memorial Cemetery.

The body will arrive in Ridgway this afternoon and will be taken to the home of his parents, Mr. and Mrs. John D. Urquhart, 321 Allenhurst Avenue, where it will remain until 2 o'clock Thursday afternoon, when it will be taken to the Methodist Church to lie in state until the time of the funeral. Ledden-Young Post American Legion will accord Military Honors at the grave.

Lieut. Urquhart was aboard a U.S. Bomber which crashed a mile from the Columbia Air Base Sunday, claiming the lives of seven fliers, including the Pilot, 2nd Lieut. Francis sparks, of Columbia (SC).

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Thayer Cemetery
Ridgway, Elk County, Pennsylvania
USA

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NOTE: Newspaper Accounts and the Aviation Archaeology Accident Report lists the Pilot as 2nd Lt. Francis W. Sparks

ALSO: Lt. Urquhart's SC Death Cert lists his place of Burial as Ridgway, PA

Donald V Urquhart