### The Strange Disappearance of the Lady Be Good
**April 1943**: During World War II, a B24D Liberator aircraft, named Lady Be Good, took off from Soluch Airfield near Benghazi, Libya, on a mission to bomb Naples, Italy. Piloted by William Hatton, the aircraft was one of 28 U.S. military aircraft involved in the bombing campaign.
#### Military Networks and Difficult Conditions
The Lady Be Good, with a crew of nine, encountered poor weather conditions due to dust from a sandstorm, which reduced visibility and affected engine performance. Several aircraft returned to Soluch because of unsafe conditions, but the Lady Be Good continued its flight.
After the aircraft was 30 minutes from Naples, Hatton decided to return to Soluch due to engine instability. The problem was compounded when the plane’s automatic navigation system failed, leaving the crew unable to determine which way to fly.
#### The Disappearance and Search
When the plane failed to make contact and search efforts were unsuccessful, the US military assumed that the Lady Be Good had crashed into the Mediterranean Sea and the crew were presumed dead. The case was considered solved until 1958.
#### Discovery and Recovery
When British geologists on an oil search flight discovered the wreckage, the military authorities’ interest was piqued. By May 1959, military investigators confirmed that the wreckage was from the Lady Be Good. Surprisingly, the plane was not badly damaged and there was no sign of an explosion or fire.
#### Investigation and Tragic Discovery
The examination revealed that the plane had landed safely but was out of fuel. The crew ejected and were exposed to the harsh conditions of the desert. Lieutenant Robert Toner’s notebook provides a clear view of what happened after the crash landing. The crew was divided, and while some died of thirst and starvation, others continued on but were unable to find rescue.
#### Findings and Final Discovery
By 1960, five more bodies had been recovered. However, Vernon Moore, one of the crew, was still missing despite a massive search.
#### Aftermath and Lessons
The final discovery revealed that the crew’s failure to survive was due to a combination of navigational errors, poor weather conditions, and inadequate search and rescue operations. This led to important lessons for the military in improving procedures and equipment to avoid similar incidents in the future.
