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The captain, Joseph Harold Wilson, held an airline transport pilot certificate with 850–6300 h.p. multi-engine land and sea ratings. Wilson had been employed as a captain by American Export since April 1, 1942. He had served in the U. S. Army Air Corps for three years, between 1934 and 1937, and had flown for Eastern Airlines, Inc. for about five years, three as a copilot and two as a captain. Wilson had logged approximately 6000 hours of flight time, of which about 400 hours had been accumulated on flying boats. After receiving the curriculum prescribed by American Export, which included about 40 hours of flight training in PBY twin-engined flying boats, and approximately 20 hours in Vought Sikorsky 44A type flying boats, he made two round trips between New York and Foynes, Eire, one as first officer and one as assistant navigator, as a part of his VS-44A flight training. Since that time he had made four round trips as a captain between New York and Foynes and this was his fifth in that capacity. His last physical examination, required by the Civil Air Regulations, was completed on May 9, 1942.
First Officer Robert D. Lindsay held an airline transport pilot certificate with 1050–3150 h.p. multi-engine land and sea ratings. He had accumulated a total of 3350 hours of flying time, about 345 of which were on flying boats. He had been in the employ of American Export approximately six months. As part of his training by American Export, he had received about 45 hours in PBY flying boats and approximately 150 hours in the type of aircraft involved. This was Lindsay's first trip as first officer. His last physical examination, required by the Civil Air Regulations, was completed on May 14, 1942.
Weather
Apparently the weather had no bearing on the accident. The official weather report at Botwood was ceiling and visibility unlimited, sea calm with light ripples, wind N 0–5 m.p.h.
