75TH Anniversary Salute

In keeping with not forgetting, the Santa Cruz Island Foundation (SCIF) presented a 75^th Anniversary Salute to San Miguel Island’s Lost Liberator in collaboration with the Santa Barbara Maritime Museum (SBMM) and the Pierre Claeyssens Veterans Foundation. It was held outside on the terrace by the SBMM.

The heavy bomber, a B24 Liberator, was lost on July 5, 1943, after being dispatched from Salinas Army Air Base to search for the “Eddie Rickenbacker,” a B-24 bomber that had gone missing a day earlier from a nighttime training mission off the coast of Santa Barbara. The search plane was probably flying in fog at a 500-foot altitude when it crashed into Green Mountain, an 817-foot peak on San Miguel Island. The remains of the 12 airmen and their wreckage were not found until eight months later. The Eddie Rickenbacker was eventually found inland, 10 miles north of Santa Barbara. There had been a fuel shortage. Eight of the crew survived by parachuting prior to the crash.

President of the SCIF Maria Daily stated, “San Miguel Island became the graveyard of twelve men who gave their lives in service to our country, and who until now have never been recognized. It is an honor to bring their stories to life 75 years later.

Some of those participating in the program were Col. Philip Conran, U.S. Air Force; Brig. Gen. Fredrick Lopez, USMC; David Gonzales, Sgt. Peter Bie, US Army; Bob Burtness; Brig, Gen. Fredrick Lopez, USMC; Kris Young, petty officer, U.S. Coast Guard; Lt. John Blankenship, U.S. Navy; Gertrude Hager and Howard Hudson. Emily Duncan and Jaimie Jenks were the event coordinators.