What happened
During an approach to Balikpapan, a heavy bomber operating under the command of the 24th Squadron came under attack. The aircraft was struck by Japanese antiaircraft fire while flying over enemy territory. The impact of the gunfire caused the plane to crash, leading to the loss of all personnel on board.
The incident resulted in 14 fatalities. The crew consisted of a pilot, a copilot, a flight engineer, two navigators, four air gunners who also served as wireless operators or held other technical roles, and additional support staff. All members of the 24th Squadron team were killed in the crash.
Findings
The official investigation concluded that the accident was caused by Japanese antiaircraft fire. The aircraft was destroyed while attempting to reach its destination, and no survivors were reported from the crew.