14 Flyboys Lost in Palm Beach County’s Deadliest Air Crash
A tragic tale of 14 servicemen who perished in a 1943 air crash, their story finally told after decades of silence
Palm Beach County, World War II, Air Crash, The Forgotten 14, Eliot Kleinberg
These guys, known as The Forgotten 14, had dreams and families waiting for them. Their story remained largely untold until a reporter from the Palm Beach Post dug it up 70 years later. It was during World War II, a time when every life mattered, and these men were ready to serve.
On December 22, 1943, they boarded a bomber at Morrison Field, which is now Palm Beach International Airport. They were flying in a cargo bomber, the 29H, but there were concerns about being overloaded. One of the servicemen, Bert Sauls, even called home worried they wouldn’t make it.
Sadly, he was right. The plane took off but soon crashed into a cow pasture after clipping some trees. The fuel tanks exploded, and the scene was chaotic. People rushed to help but were met with flames. Only two survived, Howard Sewell and Radamés E. Cáceres, but they too faced their own struggles afterward.
The oldest of the group was pilot Samuel Gerald Dean, who was just 27. He had a wife who was pregnant at the time of his death. Each of the 14 had their own stories, dreams, and families. They were young men who wanted to serve their country, and their loss was felt deeply.
It wasn’t until Eliot Kleinberg, a reporter, stumbled upon their story that they finally got the recognition they deserved. He found a report listing all 14 names, each marked as fatal. It shocked him, as he thought he knew all the significant events from that era.
Kleinberg spent months gathering information, reaching out to families, and piecing together their stories. He wanted to ensure that these brave men were remembered, and he did just that. Their legacy lives on, reminding us of the sacrifices made during those tumultuous times.