Never Forgotten: The Badin Bomber

Abstract

Set on the backdrop of World War II, the tragic events surrounding the B-25 known as the “Badin Bomber,” occurred during a period of notable change for rural North Carolina. Not only did the accident leave a deep psychological scar on the people of this usually placid corner of Stanly County, but it also served as an early application of scuba recovery operations and a localized tale of loss many families would face during the war. This thesis tells the story of the B-25’s crash into Badin Lake and the people it affected. It investigates what the United States military did in the aftermath of the crash and attempts to explain the reason the aircraft crashed. It relays how the people of Badin continue to commemorate the memory of the two pilots who lost their lives that day, one of whom grew up on the shores of the lake. Through implementing a combination of data including oral histories, military records, recovery attempts and an archaeological survey this thesis seeks to be an academic source surrounding the Badin Bomber, its fate, and the aftermath. The goal of the thesis is to contribute to the application of Community Archaeology and a pathway for recovery of the two servicemen still resting at the bottom of Badin Lake.