1942 – May 6, USAAF B-17 out of MacDill Field, Tampa FL lost, trng. flight, Gulf of Mex.–10

Compiled by Wayne Blanchard; last edit 6-15-2024 for upload to: http://www.usdeadlyevents.com/

–10  AP. “M’Dill Bomber Is Missing On Routine Flight.” Panama City News-Herald. 5-8-1942, 1.

–10  Mireles. Fatal Army Air Forces Aviation Accidents in the [US], 1941-1945 (V.1). 2006, 81.

Narrative Information

Mireles: “At an unknown time after 1914, EWT, a Boeing B-17E disappeared and was presumed to have crashed in the Gulf of Mexico with its crew of ten. The B-17 had not been seen or heard from since it had taken off from MacDill Field, Tampa Florida at 1914 EWT on a local navigation training flight. The B-17 had enough fuel to allow it to remain airborne until 0330. Numerous search efforts were made between 5-7-42 and 5-11-42, covering the Gulf of Mexico, the Florida peninsula, the coast of Mexico and the western coasts of Cuba with no trace of aircraft or crew being found.”  (Mireles Vol. 1, p. 81.)

Newspaper

 

May 8, AP: “Tampa, Fla., May 8 – (AP) – A MacDill Field heavy bomber with 10 army men aboard, two of them passengers, was listed as missing today by MacDill Field officials. The plane left MacDill Wednesday morning on a routine training flight. When no word was heard from the plane, due back at the field at 7 P.M. Wednesday, searching planes were sent out to comb the territory. So far no trace has been found of the bomber.

 

“Eight members of the crew were:

            Second Lieut. Hugh W. Millis, 23, pilot, 1506 Sul Ross, Houston, Texas.

Second Lieut. Charles E. Thomas III, 23, co-pilot, son of Col. C.E. Thomas, Macon, Ga.

Staff Sergt. Wilbert M. George, 21, wife, Caroline C. George, S 112 9th Ave., Tampa…

Pvt. Robert R. Pigman, 22, son of Mrs. Leanna Pigman, 106 Oak St., Berea, Ky.

Pvt. Raymond S. Lynch, 20, son of Clarence T. Lynch, Lupkin, Ga.

Pvt. Nelson L. Teal, 21, son of J. A. Teal, route 3, Bunkie, La., …

Pvt. Elmen E. Mathauser, 23, son of William Mathauser, Burwell, Neb.

Pvt. Charles R. Phillips, 20, son of Eugene Phillips, R.F.D., No. 2, Waukesha, Wis.

 

“Two Passengers:

            Pvt. Gordon J. Howard, 29, son of Bert Howard, 720 Dety St., Green Bay, Wis.

Sgt. Eugene L. Kasmer, 23, son of Frank Kasmer, 4411 S. Troy St., Chicago, Ill.”

 

Sources

 

Associated Press. “M’Dill Bomber Is Missing On Routine Flight.” Panama City News-Herald. 5-8-1942, 1. Accessed 6-15-2024 at:

https://newspaperarchive.com/panama-city-news-herald-may-08-1942-p-1/

 

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.