1943 – Aug 12, USAAF B-24E Liberator crash, mountainside 7M north of Indio, CA –all 10
Compiled by Wayne Blanchard; last edit 4-28-2024 for upload to: http://www.usdeadlyevents.com/
–10 Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives. “Crash of a Consolidated B-24E…Near Indio…”
–10 Mireles 2006. Fatal Army AF Aviation Accidents…US…, V2, July 1943-July 1944, p. 472.
–10 United Press. “Bomber Crash Reported At Blythe.” Oxnard Courier, CA. 8-14-1943, p. 3.
Narrative Information
Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives. “Crash of a…B-24E…Near Indio: 10 Killed.”
“Date & Time: Aug 12, 1943 at 2206 LT [local time]
“Type of aircraft: Consolidated B-24 Liberator
“Operator: USAAF
“Registration: 42-7122
“Flight Phase: Flight
“Flight Type: Training
“Survivors: No
“Site: Mountains
“Schedule: Blythe – Muroc
“MSN: 146
“YOM: 1941
“Location: Indio, California
….
“Crew on board: 10
….
“Circumstances: A few minutes before 2200LT, the aircraft left Blythe Airfield and set an
altitude for 15,000 feet and a heading towards Muroc for a night training
bombing mission. No radio contact was made with the crew of the Liberator
after take-off. At 2206LT, approximately 50 miles west of Blythe and north
of Indio, the B-24 crashed and burned on a mountainside. All ten crew
members were killed and the aircraft was totally destroyed.
“Crew (34th BG): 2nd Lt Harold Schonberg, pilot,
2nd Lt Gene Healy, copilot,
2nd Lt Arnold Johnston, navigator,
2nd Lt Harry Louis, bombardier,
Sgt Ernest Simard, flight engineer,
Sgt Arnold Wilensky, radio operator,
Sgt Melvin Steeley, flight engineer,
Sgt Ross Hill, radio operator,
Sgt Paul Trusley, air gunner,
Sgt John Sweeney, air gunner.
“Source: http://www.aircraftarchaeology.com/indiob24.html
Mireles: “At 2206, a Consolidated B-24E crashed seven miles north of Indio, California, killing the crew of ten. The airplane had taken off from the Army Air Base at Blythe, California, on a high-altitude bombing mission to Muroc Bombing and Gunnery Range, California. Investigators speculated that the pilots had lost control of the airplane at high altitude and overstressed the airplane while attempting to re-establish level flight. The airplane slammed into the ground in a vertical dive and exploded into flames, killing all on board instantly. There was no evidence of forward motion upon impact with the ground on a small hill at an elevation of 1,000 feet. Despite a thorough search, the remains of the tail section could not be found in the wreckage or in the surrounding desert.” (Mireles 2006, Vol. 2, July 1943-July 1944, p. 472.)
Newspaper
Aug 14, UP: “Blythe Army Air Base (U.P.) – Ten crew members were reported missing today after a four-engined Army bomber based here crashed five miles north of India, Calif., Thursday night. Army officers said a searching party had been organized to investigate wreckage in the rugged Chuckwalla mountain range. Deputies at India reported a plane crashed about 10:15 p.m. and burned for several hours.” (United Press. “Bomber Crash Reported At Blythe.” Oxnard Courier, CA. 8-14-1943, p. 3.)
Sources
Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives. “Crash of a Consolidated B-24E-10-FO Liberator Near Indio: 10 Killed.” Accessed 4-28-2024 at:
https://www.baaa-acro.com/crash/crash-consolidated-b-24e-10-fo-liberator-near-indio-10-killed
Mireles, Anthony J. Fatal Army Air Forces Aviation Accidents in the United States, 1941-1945 (Volume 2: July 1943 – July 1944). Jefferson, NC: McFarland and Co., 2006.
United Press. “Bomber Crash Reported At Blythe.” Oxnard Courier, CA. 8-14-1943, p. 3. Accessed 4-28-2024 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/oxnard-press-courier-aug-14-1943-p-6/