Missing Air Crew Report: Pontedera, Italy - 414th N.F.S. - Course: 350° - Target or intended destination: Ghedi A/D; Type of mission: Intruder bombing; 11 04 1945 - Time: 2056 - Aircraft P-61 B - 6 Ser. Nr. 42-39515; Crew position: Pilot 2nd Lt. Cheely, Lael M. - Radar Observer 2nd Lt. McGirr, Peter J. - Radar Observer 2nd Lt. Beam, Lucien M.
2ND LT. LAEL M. CHEELY, 0-774023! (PILOT), 2ND LT. PETER J. MC 3IRR, 0-872259, (RADAR OBSERVER) AND 2ND LT. LUCIEN V. BEAM, 0-1695591, (RADAR OBSERVER), WERE AIRBORNE AT 2056 HOURS 11 APRIL 1945 FROM PONTEDERA AIRDROME, ITALY, IN P-6I-B TYPE AIRCRAFT, NUMBER 42-39515 ON AN INTRUDER-BOMBING MISSION TO GHEDI AIRDROME IN THE PO VALLEY. HE CALLED IN AIRBORNE TO BLUE FIGHTER CONTROL AT 2056 HOURS. THIS WAS THE LAST INFORMATION RECEIVED AS TO THE AIRCRAFTS LOCATION. AT 2347 HOURS BLUE FIGHTER CONTROL BEGAN TO CALL FRONTDOOR 50, WHITE FIGHTER CONTROL WAS ALSO ASKED TO CALL FRONTDOOR 50 AND IN ADDITION WHITE REQUESTED SEVERAL AIRCRAFT IN THE TARGET AREA TO DO THE SAME. RHUBARB CALLED FRONTDOOR 50 AT 2355 HOURS ON CHANNELS "E", "C" AND "A" AND THEY REPORT THAT FRONT-DOOR 9 DID NOT CHECK IN OR OUT WITH THEM AT ANY TIME. THESE CALLS WERE CONTINUED UNTIL THE AIRCRAFTS FLYING TIME WAS KNOWN TO BE EXHAUSTED. NO FURTHER INFORMATION HAS BEEN RECEIVED.
Individual Deceased Personnel File Lt. Lael M. Cheely: Report of disinterment - Civilian Cemetery of Fontanella, Grasioli. Bodies originally buried at the scene of crash - Seven days later they were disinterred (...) and buried at Civilian Cemetery at Fontanella.
Individual Deceased Personnel File Lt. Lael M. Cheely: Information obtained from civilians at the scene of crash – At 1015 hrs on 11 april 45 civilians saw plane coming down low. The plane hit two trees – Then it hit wires. Part of the plane was ripped off and the plane crashed in flames.
In base alle testimonianze raccolte dalla commissione americana incaricata di fare luce sulla sorte dell’equipaggio, risulta plausibile che l’aereo sia precipitato durante un passaggio troppo radente al suolo. Il P-61 urtò dapprima alcuni alberi, poi i cavi di una linea elettrica e cadde al suolo in fiamme, presso la località di Fontanella Grazioli. Nessun aviatore sopravvisse all’incidente.