1942 – Nov 30, USAAF B-17F crash in snowstorm 1/3M SW of Sioux City AAB, IA — 10
Compiled by Wayne Blanchard; last edit 5-29-2024 for upload to: http://www.usdeadlyevents.com/
–10 AP. “10 Army Fliers Killed, Iowa!” Boone News-Republican, IA. 11-30-1942, p. 1.
–10 Mireles. Fatal Army Air Forces Aviation Accidents in…US, 1941-1945 (V. 1), 2006, 201.
Narrative Information
Mireles: “At 0215, a Boeing B-17F flying in instrument conditions crashed one-third of a mile southwest of the Army Air Base at Sioux City, Iowa, killing the crew of ten. Weather at the time of the accident was reported as ceiling at 1,000 feet with visibility of three-quarters of a mile in light snow….
“Shortly before the crash, the B-17 had passed over the field at approximately 600 feet agl. Moments later the tower officer observed ‘the whole sky illuminate by the explosive glow of the crash fire.’ Investigators stated,
There are no actual witnesses to the accident….There is very little concrete evidence other than the actual telescoped wreckage to determine what happened and it is assumed that the pilot tried to instigate a contact approach to the field under instrument conditions and in doing so stalled the aircraft as soon as contact with the field was lost. The aircraft apparently stalled from a low altitude and crashed in a near vertical attitude before recovery could be accomplished. All other aircraft proceeded on instruments to alternate fields.
“Killed in the crash were: [We place names into separate lines.]
2Lt. Henry Bunn, pilot;
2Lt. Edward E. Lowery, Jr., co-pilot
2Lt. Harry J. Kaufman, navigator;
2Lt. Leon R. Christenson, bombardier;
TSgt. James G. Kirkpatrick engineer;
SSgt. Wayne A. Sims, radio operator;
Sgt. Robert E. Ables, gunner;
Sgt. Alexander Armstrong, Jr., gunner;
Sgt. Arlo H. Brown, gunner;
2Lt. Earl B. Reynolds, passenger.” (Mireles 2006, p. 201.)
Newspaper
Nov. 30, AP: “Sioux City, Nov. 30 (AP) – Ten army fliers were killed today when their bomber crashed and burned a half mile southwest of the Sioux City air base. The plane plunged into a level corn field during a blinding snowstorm about 2:15 a.m. shortly after it had taken off. It was the worst plane crash ever occurring in Iowa.
“Capt. Fred Shick, post public relations officer, said all ten men were dead when help reached the plane and they apparently had died instantly. The plane was on a routine flight….” (Associated Press. “10 Army Fliers Killed, Iowa!” Boone News-Republican, IA. 11-30-1942, p. 1.)
Sources
Associated Press. “10 Army Fliers Killed, Iowa!” Boone News-Republican, IA. 11-30-1942, p. 1. Accessed 5-29-2024 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/boone-news-republican-nov-30-1942-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.