1942 — Jan 14, five USAAF Planes Crash, AL, ID, NH, TX and off coast of VA — 15
Compiled by Wayne Blanchard; last edit 7-7-2024 for upload to: http://www.usdeadlyevents.com/
–15 Mireles. Fatal Army Air Forces Aviation Accidents…[US] 1941-1945 (Vol. 1). P. 42.
— 1 08:35, USAAF Bell P-39D airport approach crash near Harlingen, TX
— 9 14:22, USAAF Martin B-26B crash near Black Creek Reservoir and 9 mls SE of Boise, ID
— 1 18:30, USAAF North American AT-6A crash 1M north of Craig Field, Selma, AL
— 2 after 18:30 USAAF Vultee BT-13A crash, Atlantic, off coast of VA
— 2 20:04, USAAF Douglas B-18A crash into Mt. Moosilauke, NH
Harlingen Texas USAAF P-39D airport approach crash:
Mireless: “1-14-42A, Harlingen Texas. At 0835, a Bell P-39D crashed near Harlingen, Texas, killing pilot 2Lt. Woodrow W. Christian, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. The Accident Classification Committee stated. ‘On final approach for landing the pilot made a nose-high slow turn with power off and flaps down at approximately 300 feet altitude. Aircraft stalled, striking the ground about one-half mile north of the North-South runway and resulting in death to the pilot and almost complete destruction of the aircraft.’” (p. 42)
Gowen Field, Idaho B-26B crash
Mireles: “….The airplane was part of a formation of five B-26 airplanes on a positioning flight to McChord Field, Tacoma, Washington, and had taken off third from Gowen Field at 1415, apparently crashing soon after….
“Investigators could not determine the cause of the accident but speculated that the white snow on the ground and the fog might have caused the pilot to lose the horizon and over-control the airplane….” (Mireles. Fatal [AAF] Aviation Accidents...[US]…V1: 1941–June 1943. 2006, 42.)
Jan 15, AP: “Boise, Idaho Jan. 15. – (AP) Soldiers from Gowen Field, Army bomber base, stood guard today over an airplane that crashed and lay in burned-out wreckage about 20 miles southeast of here near the railroad siding of Orchard. Neither Gowen Field officials nor sheriff’s officers, who investigated, would comment on the accident. Guards at the wreckage, however, told a reporter that bodies had been removed and taken to Gowen Field. Statements as to the number of airmen aboard the craft varied from five to 11.” (Oakland Tribune, CA. “Soldiers Guard Plane Wreckage in Idaho.” 1-15-1942, 8.)
Jan 15, AP: “Spokane, Wash., Jan. 15 (AP) – Two officers and seven enlisted men were killed outright Wednesday afternoon in an army bombing plane which crashed and burned in sage country 13 miles southeast of Boise near the Black Creek reservoir, the Second air force announced Thursday night. The men’s watches stopped at 2:20 p. m. The dead were listed as:
Second Lieutenant Elmer M. Munn Jr., pilot, Fort Worth, Texas;
Second Lieutenant Darrell Wing, copilot, Phoenix, Ariz.;
Staff Sergeant Carl Funkhouser, Skedee, Okla.;
Staff Sergeant Carmen R. Gismondi, Oliver, Pa.;
Private First Class Andre A. Chisholm, Woodside, Long Island, N.Y.;
Private Robert F. Adams, Vale, Ore.;
Private Lloyd Knight Thompsonville, Ill.;
Private Leland Sanders, Odessa, Mo.;
Private Stanley Sansenbach, Parkersburg, Iowa.
“The announcement said the plane was on a routine flight.
“A Union Pacific section workman was first to see the wreckage. He flagged down a passenger
train to notify the conductor. The latter reported the crash when the train reached Boise. Gowen field crash trucks and ambulances were sent to the scene immediately.
“Kansas City, Jan 15 (AP) — Married 12 days ago at Gowen field, Idaho, Mrs. Ruth Faye Sanders, 20, was notified Thursday by the war department that her husband, Private Leland Sanders, was killed Wednesday in the crash of an army bomber near Boise, Idaho.” (Salt Lake Tribune, UT. “Nine Men Die in Bomber Crash in Idaho.” 1-16-1942, 8.)
Jan 17, UP: “San Francisco – (UP) – Army boards of inquiry sought Friday to determine the cause of two bombing plane crashes in which 18 members of the air corps were killed. The western defense command revealed nine officers and men died late Wednesday when a medium bomber crashed and burned in brush-covered hills 13 miles southeast of Boise, Ida.
“It also revealed that a twin-motored bomber which disappeared Dec. 30 in California’s San Bernardino mountains had been found near Lake Arrowhead with all nine of its occupants dead.”
(Wisconsin State Journal, Madison. “Army Probes Death of 18 in Air Crashes.” 1-17-1942, p. 3)
Jan 18, AP: “Boise (AP) – Military secrecy surrounded Saturday the report on investigation of an army bomber crash near Boise Wednesday that claimed nine lives. Findings, directed by Captain Earl T. Vance of Gowen field, were to be submitted to the war department….
“Death at El Paso, Texas, of Elmer M. Munn Sr., father of the bomber pilot, added to the tragedy.
The death was attributed to shock caused by news of the death of the son, an only child.” (Salt Lake Tribune, UT. “Army Investigates Bomber Crash.” 1-18-1942, p. 10.)
Craig Field, Selma, Alabama AT-6A crash:
Mireless: 1-14-42C. Craig Field, Alabama. At 1830, a North American AT-6A crashed one mile north of Craig Field, Selma, Alabama, killing RAF Flying Cadet George B. Whigham. ‘It is the opinion of the Accident Classification Committee that the student became confused while night flying. It was a dark night with very little horizon, and as there are very few lights on the ground in this vicinity it is believed that the student flew into the ground while letting down from his assigned zone and altitude.’”
Jan 15, Norwich Sun, NY: “Selma, Alas – John J. Feldon Rimer, 20, a R.A.F. cadet from London, was killed in an airplane accident near Craig Field when the training ship he was flying solo crashed in a corn field.” (The Norwich Sun, NY. 1-15-1942, p. 5.)
Atlantic Ocean off coast of Virginia BT-13A crash:
Mireless: 1-14-42D, Atlantic Ocean, Virginia. A Vultee Bt-13A crashed into the Atlantic Ocean off the Virginia coast, killing passenger 2Lt. Rush H. Willard, Bay City, Michigan. Pilot 1Lt. James A. Fannin was missing and presumed lost at sea. The airplane had taken off at 1830 CST from Knoxville, Tennessee, on a pilot proficiency flight to Bolling Field, Washington, D.C. When the airplane failed to arrive at Bolling Field, it was reported missing. On 1-15-42, the body of Lt. Willard and two wheels from a BT-13 type airplane were recovered from the sea 45 miles east of Cape Charles, Virginia. Despite a thorough search effort, the body of Lt. Fannin has never been recovered. No other wreckage was recovered and the cause of the accident remains undetermined.”
Jan 17, UP: “Washington, Jan. 17. (UP) – The war department said today that the body of Second Lieut. Rush H. Willard, 25, Bay City, Mich., had been found by a navy vessel in the Atlantic Ocean, 45 miles east of Cape Charles, Va., along with the landing gear of his plane. Willard left Knoxville, Tenn., Wednesday night on a ‘routine cross-country’ flight to Bolling field here.” (UP. “Michigan Aviator’s Body Found in Ocean.” South Haven Daily Tribune, MI. 1-17-1942, p. 1.)
Mt. Moosilauke, New Hampshire off-course USAAF B-18B crash:
Mireless: “1-14-E. Mt. Moosilauke, New Hampshire. At 2004, a Douglas B-18A returning from an anti-submarine patrol mission over the Atlantic Ocean crashed into Mr. Moosilauke, New Hampshire, killing two crewmembers and seriously injuring five others. The aircraft, attempting to get back to its base at Westover Field, Chicopee, Massachusetts, was lost and off course due to the navigator’s inability to compute the drift because of unexpected winds that were strong and adverse. The pilot and the navigator had calculated that they would be at their base at approximately 2000. The pilot stated that at about 2000, the airplane was flying in instrument conditions in the overcast at an altitude of about 4,000 feet. The night was very dark and the visibility poor. The pilot was flying the airplane on instruments and the co-pilot was watching for visual contact conditions. A few minutes later, the co-pilot shounted that there was a mountain ahead and grabbed the control wheel. The pilot looked up and saw athe mountain rapidly approaching. They attempted to make a steep, climbing turn to the right when the airplane struck the mountain and the pilot lost consciousness. The co-pilot, who never lost consciousness during the accident, stated that the airplane was in a skidding turn to the right and that he had gave the air-plane some left rudder and then pulled back on the control column and the airplane mushed in. The aircraft tore itself apart as it collided with tall trees. The shattered airplane came to rest and a few small fires were burning among the wreckage. The five surviving crewmembers were able to escape the airplane before it erupted in flames and the ordinance exploded. The crew got away from the airplane by rolling down the hill and soon three large explosions were heard. They struggled down the hill through deep snow until rescued by civilians a short time later. Killed in the crash were the radio operator Pfc. N. W. Philips and the bombardier Pvt. F. J. Lawrence….” 9p. 43)
Jan 15, AP: “North Woodstock, N.H., Jan. 15. – (AP) – Breaking their way through five miles of snow-covered woodland, a volunteer rescue party brought to safety today five of a seven-man crew of an Army bomber, which crashed into a mountainside last night, killing two of its occupants.
“Army officials said the twin-motored ship was on a routine training flight from Westover Field, Chicopee, Mass….
“The Associated Press correspondent in the vicinity said that two died when the big ship crashed into the side of Mt. Jim, about five miles from the nearest highway and that three bombs exploded.
“A rescue party…plowed into the woods on snowshoes upon hearing the explosions. They succeeded in bringing the survivors out early today, two of them in critical condition. Three of the injured walked more than a mile before they were picked up by the searchers.” (Oakland Tribune, CA. “Five of Bomber Crew Rescued. Two Airmen Killed…” 1-15-1942, 8.)
Sources
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. “Five of Bomber Crew Rescued. Two Airmen Killed…[NH]” 1-15-1942, 8. Accessed at: http://www.newspaperarchive.com/FullPagePdfViewer.aspx?img=34397960
Oakland Tribune, CA. “Soldiers Guard Plane Wreckage in Idaho.” 1-15-1942, 8. Accessed at: http://www.newspaperarchive.com/FullPagePdfViewer.aspx?img=34397960
Salt Lake Tribune, UT. “Army Investigates Bomber Crash.” 1-18-1942, p. 10. Accessed at: http://www.newspaperarchive.com/FullPagePdfViewer.aspx?img=89912101
Salt Lake Tribune, UT. “Nine Men Die in Bomber Crash in Idaho.” 1-16-1942, 8. Accessed at: http://www.newspaperarchive.com/FullPagePdfViewer.aspx?img=89912048
The Norwich Sun, NY. 1-15-1942, p. 5. Accessed 7-7-2024 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/norwich-sun-jan-15-1942-p-5/
United Press. “Michigan Aviator’s Body Found in Ocean.” South Haven Daily Tribune, MI. 1-17-1942, p. 1. Accessed 7-7-2024 at:
https://newspaperarchive.com/south-haven-daily-tribune-jan-17-1942-p-1/
Wisconsin State Journal, Madison. “Army Probes Death of 18 in Air Crashes.” 1-17-1942, p. 3. Accessed at: http://www.newspaperarchive.com/FullPagePdfViewer.aspx?img=99934848