1942 – Oct 17, USAAF B-17 crash, north slope Sierra Grande Mt., 7M SW Des Moines NM-11
Compiled by Wayne Blanchard; last edit 5-30-2024 for upload to: http://www.usdeadlyevents.com/
— 11 Gallup Independent, NM. “Eleven Fliers Die in Crash.” 10-19-1942, p. 1.
— 11 Mireles. Fatal Army Air Forces Aviation Accidents in…US, 1941-1945 (V. 1), 2006, p.173.
Narrative Information
Mireles: “Des Moines, New Mexico. At 0615, a Boeing B-17E collided with the north slope of 8,732-foot Sierra Grande Mountain at an elevation of about 8,000 feet, seven miles southwest of Des Moines, New Mexico, killing the eleven fliers on board.
“The B-17 had taken off from Rapid City, South Dakota, at 0311 MWT and was cleared to Duncan Field, San Antonio, Texas, on a navigation-training mission. Investigators speculated that after take-off the B-17 encountered strong easterly winds and the crew failed to compensate for 175 miles of drift, resulting in the course that led to the collision with the mountain. The crew attempted a position report for Garden City, Kansas, at 0527 but Garden City radio operators did not receive the transmission. The signal was received strongly by La Junta, Colorado, radio operators at 0527. The crew, apparently mistaking La Junta for Garden City, reported their position as 15 miles WSW of Garden City, flying at an altitude of 8,000 feet. A straight- line course from Rapid City to the accident site passes 15 miles west of La Junta.
“Investigation revealed that the B-17 was flying south in a straight and level attitude when it collided with the mountain and marks on the mountainside made by the propellers and engines indicated that all four were producing power. The aircraft exploded violently into flames in the collision and no readable instruments could be found, the flight deck being completely destroyed. A wristwatch that had stopped at 0615 was found among the wreckage that was strewn over an area of 100 yards by 700 yards. Civilians in the area reported that the weather at the time of the accident consisted of rain, light snow, and fog with poor visibility. Two sheepherders who had seen fire on the mountainside discovered the wreck on 10-19-42. Investigators speculated that the airplane was flying in instrument conditions and the pilot, unaware of his position relative to the terrain, flew the airplane into the mountain.
“Killed in the accident were: [We place names into separate lines.]
1Lt. Paul D. Cunningham, pilot;
2Lt. Charles W. Mann, Jr., co-pilot;
2Kt, Robert S. Connor, Jr., navigator;
2Lt. Lawrence W. Hunter, bombardier;
Aviation Cadet Edward W. Larson, student bombardier;
SSgt. Joseph C. Lynch, engineer;
SSgt. Emory F. Herzog, radio operator;
SSgt. Ward Murie assistant engineer;
Cpl. Milton Lakin, assistant radio operator;
Sgt. Jerome A. Krzmarzick, gunner;
TSgt. William R. Patton, passenger.” (Mireles 2006, pp. 173-174.)
Newspaper
Oct 19, Associated Press: “Des Moines, N.M., Oct. 19 (AP) – Eleven army fliers were killed in the crash of a four-motored bomber on Sierra Grande peak in northeastern New Mexico Saturday and the curiosity of two sheep herders probably averted a long search for the wreckage.
“Such a plane, with 11 aboard, was reported missing on a training flight from an air base at Rapid City, S.D., but whether it was the bomber which crashed was undetermined, pending an investigation by army authorities. The bomber from South Dakota, more than 24 hours overdue at its destination last night, was last reported over Kansas.
“Wreckage of a bomber was found by two Spanish-American sheep herders on Sierra Grande peak late Saturday after their curiosity had been aroused before dawn that morning by a light on the mountain. The men, Henry Archuletta of Springer, N. M., and Delfino Martinez of Des Moines, left their sheep camp and made their way slowly up the rugged slope. Upon returning from the crash scene, they notified Union county officers and state patrolmen.
“Harold A. Hill, newspaperman of Raton, N. M., described a picture of utter destruction at the crash scene – an isolated spot in extreme northeastern New Mexico, about four miles east of here and 25 south of the Colorado boundary. He said the bodies had been hurled out of the big plane and that wreckage was strewn 150 yards. The impact wrenched the motors from the craft and hurled one more than 200 feet. The bomber did not burn, but there were evidences that gasoline spilled from the tanks caught fire.” (Gallup Independent, NM. “Eleven Fliers Die in Crash.” 10-19-1942, p. 1.)
Sources
Gallup Independent, NM. “Eleven Fliers Die in Crash.” 10-19-1942, p. 1. Accessed 4-27-2013 at: http://newspaperarchive.com/fullpagepdfviewer?img=88375508&sterm=crash+sierra+grande
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.