The Most Mysterious Ghost Plane of WW2

New Faces

In 1943, a new B-24D Liberator joined the 514th Bomb Squadron of the U.S. Air Force, receiving the name “Lady Be Good,” after the popular musical. The bomber was assigned a freshly assembled crew, including Hays, the navigator, who was preparing for his first mission. Only weeks after their arrival in Libya, the crew embarked on their initial operation together.

Mission Departure

On April 4, Lady Be Good was set to be one of 25 B-24s to bomb Naples harbor. The aircraft joined the second wave of 13 B-24s, but a sandstorm forced eight to return to base. Upon reaching Naples, Lady Be Good was met with poor visibility, and the crew was unable to locate their target.

The Final Flight

Returning solo to Libya, pilot William Hatton realized just after midnight that the plane’s automatic direction finder had malfunctioned. Without visual confirmation of their base, the crew continued southward over the Sahara Desert, straying farther from safety. When fuel ran out, the crew bailed out, and the B-24 glided 16 miles on autopilot before landing in the desert.

Eight of the nine airmen safely parachuted to the ground; only Lt. John Woravka, the bombardier, was killed when his parachute malfunctioned. After regrouping using flares, the men decided to head north, mistakenly believing the Mediterranean Sea was nearby.

A Desperate Journey

With only one canteen of water, the eight survivors endured eight days in the desert. Five eventually stayed behind after walking 81 miles, while the remaining three continued north. Sgt. Shelley collapsed after 20 miles, Sgt. Ripslinger succumbed 27 miles further, and Sgt. Moore’s body was never recovered, likely buried beneath the sand.

The Plane’s Condition

When finally discovered, the B-24 was largely intact. Investigations found that one engine was still operational on impact, suggesting the plane had gradually lost altitude before making a controlled belly landing. Inside, investigators found rations, a thermos of tea, working machine guns, and a functional radio—lifesaving resources the crew never reached.

What Went Wrong?

Reports concluded that Hays mistakenly believed they were over the Mediterranean. The faulty direction finder provided a reciprocal signal reading, leading the navigator to miscalculate their position. This tragic error sent the crew into the Sahara rather than back to base.

The mysterious loss of Lady Be Good fueled Air Force legends and inspired pop culture references, including the film The Flight of the Phoenix and the Twilight Zone episode “King Nine Will Not Return.”