1942 — Mar 5, 2 USAAF planes crash, St. Lucie Riv., Port Sewall, FL; off NC/VA coast–15
Compiled by Wayne Blanchard; last edit 6-29-2024 for upload to: http://www.usdeadlyevents.com/
–15 Mireles. Fatal [AAF] Aviation Accidents...[US]…V1: 1941–June 1943. 2006, p. 58.
USAAF Boeing Y1B-17 Lost out of Langley Field, VA, off East Coast. (8)
— 8 Mireles 2006, p. 58.
— 8 The Bee, Danville, VA. “8 Fliers Die in Air Crash; Langley Plane with 8 Lost.” 3-9-1942, 1
USAAF C-39 crash in St. Lucie River in severe rainstorm, Port Sewall, FL (7)
— 7 Charleston Daily Mail, WV. “West Virginian’s Body Still Hunted in River.” 3-12-1942, 3.
— 7 Mireles 2006, 58. (USAAF Douglas C-39 Plane Crash, St. Lucie River, Port Sewall, FL.)[1]
— 7 Times Recorder, Zanesville, OH. “Seven Die in Plane Crash.” 3-7-1942, 1.
— 7 Waterloo Sunday Courier, IA. “Search River for 7 Fliers.” 3-8-1942, 2.
Florida
Mireles: “3-5-42C. St. Lucie River, Florida. At 1850, a Douglas C-39 crashed into the St. Lucie River at Port Sewall, Florida killing eight fliers. Investigators speculated that the pilot lost visual contact after entering an extremely severe rainstorm. The aircraft struck the river with its starboard wing tip while in a right turn. The pilot was apparently trying to orient himself in the poor visibility. Killed in the crash were: 1Lt. John R. Evans, Auburndale, Massachusetts, pilot; 1Lt. John R. Bullock, Lexington, Kentucky, co-pilot; Sgt. Ercel Stallard, Lathard, Kentucky, crew chief; Cpl. Clarence F. Ayers, Huntington, West Virginia, radio operator; 2Lt. Raymond D. Clement; 2 Lt. Newton M. Simpson; Sgt. John A. Rutko. Witnesses on the ground reported that it was raining extremely hard at the time of the crash. The C-39 had taken off from Patterson Field, Ohio, on a cargo flight to Morrison Field, West Palm Beach, Florida.” (Mireles 2006, 58.)
March 6, AP: “Stuart, Fla., March 6 – (AP) – Military authorities today gave up as dead the seven men aboard an army twin-engined transport plane that lost a wing, caught fire and crashed near here last night. The big machine plunged into the St. Lucie river. Its cabin was torn open and no bodies have been recovered. Army authorities at Dayton, O., said those aboard were
Lieut. John A. Evans, pilot, of Auburndale, Mass.;
Lieut. Harry E. Bullock, Jr., co-pilot, Lexington, Ky.;
Sergt. Ercel Stallard, aviation engineer, Lathar [Lathard], Ky., and
Corp. Clarence F. Ayers, radio operator, Huntingdon, W. Va., all from Patterson Field,
Dayton.
“The other three occupants, from the Middleton, Pa., air depot, whose first names and addresses were unavailable, were Lieutenants Clements and Simpson and Sergeant Rutko.[2]
“An army spokesman from Morrison Field said ‘there is no question that seven men were aboard
or that any of them survived.’ Boats are searching the river for the bodies.
“The plane, southbound, ran into a sudden squall near Port Sewall south of Stuart, and the pilot turned back. Eye-witnesses said terrifically turbulent wind apparently tore a wing off, set the craft afire and sent it plunging into the river. Its wrecked tail still protrudes from the water today.” (Times Recorder, Zanesville, OH. “Seven Die in Plane Crash.” 3-7-1942, 1.)
March 7: “Stuart, Fla., March 7….The shattered remnants of the Douglas C-39 plane–similar to a commercial transport and capable of seating 20 persons – were pulled from the muddy waters yesterday. But an official army spokesman at Morrison field, West Palm Beach, said there was no evidence to indicate the fate of the plane’s occupants….Witnesses reported seeing the plane explode, then nose-dive into the river as it battled squally weather.” (Daily News, Huntingdon, PA. “Hold Little Hope for Safety of 7 Army Fliers.” 3-9-1942, 1.)
March 12, UP: “West Palm Beach, Fla., March 12 (UP). – The body of Crew Chief Ercil Stallard, Lathar, Ky., was recovered from the St. Lucie river at Stuart near the scene of an army plane crash last Thursday which took seven lives, it was announced officially today. Army authorities at Morrison field said search would be continued for the body of Corp. Clarence F. Ayers, Huntington. W. Va. Bodies of the other victims have been recovered.” (Charleston Daily Mail, WV. “West Virginian’s Body Still Hunted in River.” 3-12-1942, 3.)
Off East Coast
Mireles: “3-5-42E. Location Unknown. At an unknown time after 1100 EWT, a Boeing Y1B-17 disappeared and was presumed to have been crashed into the Atlantic Ocean with eight crewmembers. The airplane failed to return to base following a combat patrol over the Atlantic Ocean along the East Coast. The crew of the eight was declared missing and presumed lost at sea. The Y1B-17 tad taken off at 0730 EWT from Langley Field, Hampton, Virginia, and had 14 hours of fuel aboard. Its last reported position was off Cape Hatteras, North Carolina, at 1100 EWT. An extensive search of the sea and inland areas was conducted without success. Missing and presumed lost at sea were: Lt. Col. Edward Flanick, pilot; 2Lt. James H. Miller, co-pilot; 2Lt. Robert L. Garrison, navigator; Sgt. Ellsworth W. Aitken, engineer; Pfc. Robert R. McIntyre, assistant engineer; Sgt. Steven J. Chohrach, radio operator; Sgt. Arthur L. Becker, assistant radio operator; Cpl. Draper Hoyt, bombardier.” (Mireles 2006, 58.)
March 9, AP: “Langley Field, Va., March 9. – (AP) – Search was continued today for a large army plane from Langley Field which has been missing with its crew of eight since Thursday after it started a routine training flight over the North Carolina coast. Colonel Edgar O. Hobbs, Langley Field public relations officer, said there was a possibility that the plane had been forced down in an isolated section along the North Carolina coast or at sea where its crew might have been picked up by a ship. Crew members and their next of kin were listed as follows:
Lieutenant Colonel Edward Flanick, pilot…Hampton, Va.
Second Lieutenant James H. Miller, co-pilot…Langley Field.
Second Lieutenant Robert L. Garrison, navigator…Spokane, Wash.
Sergeant Steve J. Chohrach…Lewis Run, Penna.
Sergeant Arthur L. Berke…Gloucester, Mass.
Sergeant Ellsworth W. Aiken…Lynn, Mass.
Corporal Draper Hoydt…Houston, Texas.
Private Robert R. McIntre…Boscawen, N.Y.”
(The Bee, Danville, VA. “8 Fliers Die in Air Crash; Langley Plane with 8 Lost.” 3-9-1942, 1.)
Mireles: There were also three other crashes this day – Mather Field, CA (1 death), Barnegat Light, NJ (3 deaths), Randolph Field, TX (1 death). (Mireles. Fatal [AAF] Aviation Accidents...[US]…V1: 1941–June 1943. 2006, p. 58.)
Sources
Charleston Daily Mail, WV. “West Virginian’s Body Still Hunted in River.” 3-12-1942, 3. Accessed at: http://newspaperarchive.com/FullPagePdfViewer.aspx?img=39687375
Daily News, Huntingdon, PA. “Hold Little Hope for Safety of 7 Army Fliers.” 3-9-1942, 1. Accessed at: http://newspaperarchive.com/FullPagePdfViewer.aspx?img=102189974
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.
The Bee, Danville, VA. “8 Fliers Die in Air Crash; Langley Plane with 8 Lost.” 3-9-1942, 1. Accessed at: http://newspaperarchive.com/FullPagePdfViewer.aspx?img=108933336
The Times Recorder, Zanesville, OH. “Seven Die in Plane Crash.” 3-7-1942, 1. Accessed 6-29-2024 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/zanesville-times-recorder-mar-07-1942-p-1/
[1] While the text notes eight deaths, only seven names are listed – the same names listed in newspaper reports.
[2] Raymond B. Clements was from Muskogee, OK, Newton H. Simpson was from Cheyenne, WY, and John A. Rutko from Port Carbon, PA. (Waterloo Sunday Courier, IA. “Search River for 7 Fliers.” 3-8-1942, 2.)