1942 — April 12, two US Navy PBY-5A bombers fly into Mt. 7M E of Livermore, CA– 14
Compiled by Wayne Blanchard; last edit 6-23-2024 for upload to: http://www.usdeadlyevents.com/
–14 Adrian Daily Telegram, MI. “Two Bombers Crash: 14 Die.” 4-13-1942, p. 1.
–14 Baugher. US Navy and US Marine Corps BuNos Second Series (5030 to 7303). 8-17-2009.
–14 Edwardsville Intelligencer (IL). “Chronology of the Year 1942,” 12-31-1942, p. 8.
–14 North Adams Transcript, MA. “Chronology of the Year 1942.” 1-1-1943, p. 2.
Narrative Information
Baugher: “7266 (VP-84) hit side of mountain in bad weather during flight from NAS Alameda to NAS Norva 4/12/1942. 6 killed, one injured.
“7269 (VP-84) hit side of mountain in bad weather during flight from NAS Alameda to NAS Norva 4/12/1942. 7 miles east of Livermore. 8 killed.” (Baugher. US Navy and US Marine Corps BuNos Second Series (5030 to 7303). 8-17-2009.)
Newspaper
April 13: “By the Associated Press. Livermore, Calif., April 13 — Fourteen U. S. Navy fliers perished yesterday when two big PBY-5A patrol bombers crashed and burned near each other in the Livermore hills. A fifteenth man survived, without serious injury.
“The crack-ups occurred in foggy weather as the giant land-and-sea ships were flying on an undisclosed mission at a point about 30 miles southeast of their base at the Alameda naval air station.
“The 12th naval district headquarters in San Francisco released this list of the dead:
Plane No. l —
Lieut. Frank S. Fernald;
Lieut. Edward F. Denney;
James M. Wagner, aviation machinists’ mate, 1st class;
Henry T. Morgan, aviation machinists’ mate, 2nd class;
Roscoe E. Rambo, aviation radioman, 1st class;
Robert A. Frank, radioman, 2nd class;
Olliff P. Flynt, aviation chief machinists’ mate.
Plane No. 2 —
Lieut. Com. Loren A. Morris;
Charles J. Herriott, radioman, 1st class;
Algie Belcher, aviation machinists’ mate, 2nd class;
Robert W. Hastings, aviation chief radioman;
Benjamin F. Johnson, aviation radioman, 3rd class.
“The navy withheld the names of the other two dead, one man from each plane, until the next of kin could be notified.
“The sole survivor was Earl Patrick, 29, aviation machinist mate, 1st class. He was flung clear when plane No. 2 struck, and was found walking about dazedly, but suffering only from cuts and
bruises, by rescue crews reaching the scene. After emergency treatment, he was transferred to the
naval hospital at Mare Island. Naval officers said Patrick evidently was in the rear of the plane and was flung through a break in the fuselage when the crash occurred.
“Plane No. 1 carried eight men to their deaths when it struck a fence and plowed up a furrow on a cattle ranch 10 miles outside of Livermore. Plane No. 2 crashed near the top of a hill some three miles away from the scene of the other crack-up. Witnesses said the ship missed clearing the hill by only 20 feet. The plane dug a furrow 60 feet long and burst into flames. The planes were equipped with retractable landing gear and could come down on land as well as water.” (Adrian Daily Telegram, MI. “Two Bombers Crash: 14 Die.” 4-13-1942, p. 1.)
Sources
Adrian Daily Telegram, MI. “Two Bombers Crash: 14 Die.” 4-13-1942, p. 1. Accessed at: http://www.newspaperarchive.com/FullPagePdfViewer.aspx?img=117271875
Baugher, Joseph F. US Navy and US Marine Corps BuNos Second Series (5030 to 7303). Aug 17, 2009 revision. Accessed 11-11-2011 at: http://www.joebaugher.com/navy_serials/secondseries2.html
Edwardsville Intelligencer, IL. “Chronology of the Year 1942,” Dec 31, 1942, p. 8. Accessed at: http://www.newspaperarchive.com/FullPagePdfViewer.aspx?img=1665978
North Adams Transcript, MA. “Chronology of the Year 1942.” 1-1-1943, p. 2. Accessed at: http://www.newspaperarchive.com/FullPagePdfViewer.aspx?img=62291663