1942 — Feb 20, seven U.S. military planes crash, CA, Wash. DC, FL (2), WA (2) — 13
Compiled by Wayne Blanchard; last edit 7-2-2024 for upload to: http://www.usdeadlyevents.com/
–2 07:25 USAAF Vultee O-49 crash, Grays Harbor, Hoquiam, WA
–2 09:45 USAAF Lockheed A-29 crash near Fort Lewis, WA
–2 11:40 USAAF Vultee BT-13A crash 10 miles south of Perrin Field, Sherman, TX
–2 12:30 USAAF Lockheed A-29 crash, Canoga Park, Los Angeles, CA
–1 17:00 USAAF Douglas DB-7B crash, Potomac River near Bolling Field, Wash., DC
–2 20:15 USAAF Cessna AT-17 crash six miles east of Woodville, TX.
–2 Miami NAS Plane Crash, off Delray Beach, FL. Charleston Gazette, WV. 2-21-42, 2
— 13 Blanchard tally based on breakouts below
— 11 Mireles. Fatal [AAF] Aviation Accidents...[US]…V1: 1941–June 1943. 2006, pp. 54-55
No. 1: USAAF Vultee O-49 crash shortly after Moon Isl. AP takeoff, Gray Harbor, WA–2
Mireles: The Gray Harbor plane had just taken off from Moon Island Airport at Hoquiam. “The airplane was about to go on a coastal patrol mission. Investigators stated, ‘Ship took off and turned right, entering ground fog at low altitude just at daybreak and pilot flew into the water before he could properly orient himself on instruments’.” (Mireles. Fatal [AAF] Aviation Accidents... [US]…V1: 1941–June 1943. 2006, pp. 54-55.)
Feb 20: “Tacoma, Wash., Feb. 20. – Four army airmen were killed and three others were injured today in two separate plane crashes in Washington. Army officers at Gray Field, Ft. Lewis, tonight announced two officers from the field were killed near Hoquiam when their observation plane plunged into Grays Harbor while on a routine flight. The two were 2nd Lt. Charles P. Clark of Tempe. Ariz., pilot; and 1st Lt. Rudy J. Binder of El Segundo, Cal., observer.
“Earlier, McChord field officers announced the crash of a bomber [Lockheed A-29] south of Tacoma [near Fort Lewis] which caused the deaths of 2 fliers and injured 3. The air corps announced that the dead were:
Corp. Forest W. Barlow, Topeka, Kans.
Sgt. Kenneth W. Holstrom, Thief River Falls, Minn….”
(Charleston Gazette, WV. “6 Army Fliers Die in Crashes.” 2-21-1942, p. 2.)
No. 2: 11:40, USAAF BT-13A crash 10M S of Perrin Field, Sherman TX–2
Mireles: “….Investigation revealed that prior to the accident the airplane had executed a series of loops, commencing at an altitude of about 5,000 feet and working down to about 500 feet. The airplane allegedly performed a loop, stalled at an altitude of 500 feet above ground level, entered a spin and smashed into the ground while in a diving turn to the left. The pilot was just regaining control when the airplane slammed into the ground and exploded in flames, scattering wreckage over an area of 200 feet.” (Mireles. Fatal…Aviation Accidents... V1: 1941–June 1943. 2006, p.55.)
Feb 20: “Dennison, Tex., Feb. 20. – (INS) – Two army airmen from Perrin field died today when their plane crashed into a wheat field near Dorchester during a routine training flight. The victims were: Lt. Cyril T. Van Valkenburg, 23, of Minneapolis, the instructor; and Cadet. Quinton O. Perkins, 21, of Canton, Ga. Two farmers managed to drag the bodies from the wreckage before it burst into flames….It was the first fatality involving a plane from Perrin field, seven miles northwest of Denison. The field is to be formally dedicated next Monday.” (Charleston Gazette, WV. “Accident in Texas.” 2-21-1942, p. 2.)
No. 3: 09:45. USAAF A-29 crash near Fort Lewis, WA — 2
Mireles: “….Lt. Solberg [pilot, injured] departed McChord Field {Tacoma, Washington} at 0855 for local training flight….Evidence presented indicates that while cruising at an altitude of approximately 5,000 feet, clouds were encountered (icing conditions known to exist from an altitude of 3,000 feet up) resulting in causing the left engine to cease functioning. It is believed that together with engine trouble and being required to fly on instruments momentarily, the plane immediately entered a flat spin. Further evidence presented also indicates that the pilot and co-pilot being unable to recover from the flat spin, moved to the rear of the airplane for the probable purpose of bailing out. It is believed this increased weight in the rear compartment force the airplane out of the spin; as it righted itself, approximately 100 feet from the ground, the airplane started to climb at an angle of approximately 45 degrees. Due to this weight being in the rear of the airplane, it then stalled and mushed into the trees’.” (Mireles. Fatal [AAF] Aviation Accidents...[US]…V1: 1941–June 1943. 2006, pp. 54-55.)
Feb 20, Associated Press: “Tacoma, Wash., Feb. 20 (AP) – Two army airplane crashes killed four men and injured three Friday in Western Washington. An army air corps bomber from near-by McChord field was wrecked as it came to earth 15 miles south of here on the Fort Lewis military reservation. Two of its crew died almost instantly. The three others were hurt, but how seriously was not immediately determined….
“The dead in the bomber crash at Fort Lewis were [We place names into separate lines]
Corporal Forest W. Barlow, son of Mrs. Gertrude Irene Barlow, Topeka, Kan.,
Sergeant Kenneth W. Holstrom, son of Edward Holstrom, Thief River Falls, Minn.
(AP. “Two Crashes in Northwest Kill Four Army Fliers.” Salt Lake Tribune, UT. 2-21-1942, p. 8.)
No. 4: 12:30. USAAF A-29 crash Canoga Park, San Fernando Valley, Los Angeles, CA–2
Mireles: “….The Accident Classification Committee stated. ‘That the airplane was flying in a northwesterly direction at approximately 1,500 feet above the ground operating normally. At this time, a rather rough, severe vertical bank was made to the left. The reason for this is unknown and it appears at this time that some trouble developed in the controls. The airplane assumed a diving attitude of about 70 degrees and maintained this to approximately 200 feet from the ground, at which point it climbed to about 350 feet, stalled, fell off on the left wing, and crashed and burned, killing both occupants.’ The cause of the accident could not be determined.” (Mireles. Fatal [AAF] Aviation Accidents...[US]…V1: 1941–June 1943. 2006, 55)
Feb 21: “Los Angeles, Feb. 21. – (UP) — Army authorities were investigating today the crash of a Lockheed Hudson bomber in which two Army fliers were killed. The plane, while undergoing test flights [USAAF acceptance flight (Mireles)], crashed in flames in an orchard at Canoga Park in San Fernando Valley, police said. A few minutes after the crash Army officers took charge of the wreckage and removal of the victims’ bodies. The coroner’s report identified the victims as Frank Dace [USN Lt. (Mireles)] and Harry Roberts [Lockheed inspector pilot (Mireles)].” (Oakland Tribune, CA. “U.S. Air Crashes Take Heavy Toll.” 2-21-1942, p. 3.)
No. 5. 17:00 USAAF DB-7B engine loss, crash, Potomac River near Bolling Field, Wash. DC
Mireles: The DB-7B, “suffering the failure of its port engine stalled and spun into the Potomac River” after reaching “an altitude of about 200 feet.” This was about “500 yards from the edge of the field.” (Mireles. Fatal [AAF] Aviation Accidents...[US]…V1: 1941–June 1943. 2006, 55.)
Feb 20: “Washington, Feb. 20 (AP) – A civilian pilot ferrying a light attack bomber for delivery to the British was killed in the crash of the plane today into the Potomac River. The pilot, Jack H. Marine, of Dallas, Texas, the Air Corps announced, was the only occupant of the plane. The bomber, taking off from Bolling Field into a heavy wind, spun into the river. The plane, designated as an A-20 by the United States and as the ‘’Boston” by the British, is a two-engined ship capable of high speed and used by the RAF, in addition to bombing, as a night fighter.” (The News, Frederick, MD. “Civilian Pilot Loses His Life in Washington.” 2-21-1942, p. 10.)
No. 6. 20:15. USAAF Cessna AT-17 crash 6M east of Woodville, Texas (Ellington Field)
Mireles: “At 2015, a Cessna AT-17 on an interception mission crashed six miles east of Woodville, Texas, killing A/C Arthur W. Clothier and A/C Joseph A. Corcoran. The airplane crashed into a heavily wooded and was not found until the next day. Investigators could not determine the cause of the accident.” (Mireles. Fatal [AAF] Aviation Accidents...[US]…V1: 1941–June 1943. 2006, p. 55.)
Feb 21: “Houston, Tex., Feb. 21 (AP) – Two Ellington Field fliers were killed when their training plane crashed in Tyler county, seven miles east of Woodville in East Texas, army authorities announced tonight. The airmen were A. A. Corcoran and A. W. Clothier….The Tyler county sheriff’s office notified Ellington Field that the plane and the two bodies were found this afternoon [day after the crash]. Army authorities said the men left Ellington Field on an interception problem late Friday afternoon [Feb 20].” (Clovis News-Journal, NM. “Two Fliers Die in Plane Crash.” 2-22-1942, p. 5.)
No. 7. USN plane out of Miami Naval Air Station lost 3/4M NE of Delray Beach, Florida
Feb 20: “Miami, Fla., Feb. 20. – (AP) – Two men were missing and believed lost today after a plane from the Miami naval air station crashed into the Atlantic three-quarters of a mile northeast of Delray Beach. Occupants of the plane were Second Lt. George J. Back, 27, of Chicago, U.S. Marine corps reserve, the pilot, and his passenger, George Bryon, Jr., aviation radioman, third class, of Oak hill, W. Va., the navy said.” (Charleston Gazette, WV. “Oak Hill Navy Man Lost in Air Crash.” 2-21-1942, p. 2.)
Sources
Associated Press. “Two Crashes in Northwest Kill Four Army Fliers.” Salt Lake Tribune, UT. 2-21-1942, p. 8. Accessed 7-2-2024 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/salt-lake-tribune-feb-21-1942-p-8/
Charleston Gazette, WV. “6 Army Fliers Die in Crashes.” 2-21-1942, p. 2. Accessed at: http://www.newspaperarchive.com/FullPagePdfViewer.aspx?img=40388517
Charleston Gazette, WV. “Accident in Texas [USAAF Plane Crash, Perrin Field].” 2-21-1942, 2. Accessed at: http://www.newspaperarchive.com/FullPagePdfViewer.aspx?img=40388517
Charleston Gazette, WV. “Oak Hill Navy Man Lost in Air Crash.” 2-21-1942, 2. Accessed at: http://www.newspaperarchive.com/FullPagePdfViewer.aspx?img=40388517
Clovis News-Journal, NM. “Two Fliers Die in Plane Crash.” 2-22-1942, p. 5. Accessed at: http://www.newspaperarchive.com/FullPagePdfViewer.aspx?img=120574638
Mireles, Anthony J. Fatal Army Air Forces Aviation Accidents in the United States, 1941-1945 (Volume 1: Introduction, January 1941 – June 1943). Jefferson, NC: McFarland and Co., 2006.
Oakland Tribune, CA. “U.S. Air Crashes Take Heavy Toll.” 2-21-1942, p. 3. Accessed at: http://www.newspaperarchive.com/FullPagePdfViewer.aspx?img=34476108
The News, Frederick, MD. “Civilian Pilot Loses His Life in Washington.” 2-21-1942, p. 10. Accessed at: http://www.newspaperarchive.com/FullPagePdfViewer.aspx?img=12024887