The Story of the WWII Plane That Never Returned Found in Sahara Desert

Discovery in the Desert

On November 9, 1958, a British Petroleum survey team flying over the Libyan Sahara noticed the wreckage of an aircraft on the desert floor. From the air, it was clear there were no survivors. They reported the find to American authorities at Wheelus Air Base, but since no missing U.S. aircraft were on record, nothing more was done.

Despite this, the location sparked interest among the survey team. Months later, in March 1959, British Petroleum sent an expedition to investigate the wreck. What they found was a well-preserved World War II bomber—a B-24 Liberator with the name “Lady Be Good” still visible on the fuselage. It had disappeared in 1943 and had been presumed lost over the Mediterranean.

A Plane Frozen in Time

Though the aircraft was broken into two parts, much of it remained intact. The guns still worked. The radio was functional. Canteens of water and survival rations were still inside. Even a thermos of tea was found and drinkable. But there were no crew members in sight.

The absence of parachutes suggested the men had bailed out before the crash. The U.S. military launched a search and soon found evidence 15 miles from the site—parachutes, gear, and directional markers made from parachute cloth. These signs, left to show their path, had remained unnoticed for nearly twenty years.

Signs of a Struggle for Survival

Despite weeks of searching, no remains were found. Then, in February 1960, another group of geologists stumbled upon the bodies of five crew members—Lieutenants Hatton, Toner, Hayes, and Sergeants Adams and LaMotte—90 miles northwest of the crash. They had walked much farther than rescuers believed possible.

Further searches found Sergeant Riplinger another 27 miles away. Finally, Sergeant Shelley was found even farther, having walked over 110 miles. These distances show just how far they had pushed themselves in an unforgiving environment.

The Mission That Went Wrong

With help from Lieutenant Toner’s diary and military records, the crew’s final hours were reconstructed. On April 4, 1943, the Lady Be Good had taken off from Soluch Airfield for a bombing run on Naples, Italy. A sandstorm forced most planes to turn back. Only a few reached Naples, but due to cloud cover, they couldn’t see the target and returned.

During the return, the Lady Be Good’s navigation equipment failed. They radioed for help but received no reply. Flying blind in heavy clouds, the crew didn’t realize they had passed over the base and continued inland. Believing they were still over the sea, they bailed out when the plane ran low on fuel.

A Final March Across the Sand Sea

The plane glided on for 15 miles and crashed in the desert. The crew expected to land in water but hit sand instead. Reuniting by flares and gunfire, eight of the nine crew regrouped. Lieutenant John Woravka, the bombardier, was missing.

The others decided to walk northwest, thinking the coast was about 80 miles away. But they had landed at the edge of the Calanscio Sand Sea—a remote, deadly part of the Sahara. With barely any water, the men walked into 130°F heat with almost no hope. Lieutenant Toner’s diary recorded their efforts, ending as their strength ran out.