1943 – Aug 27, USAAF B-24 crash, Cheyenne Mt. 10M W Peterson Field, Colorado Springs CO-10
Compiled by Wayne Blanchard; last edit 4-27-2024 for upload to: http://www.usdeadlyevents.com/
–10 AP. “10 Soldiers Killed In Bomber Crash.” Washington Daily News, NC. 8-30-1943, p. 1.
–10 Associated Press. “Crash Kills Oklahoman.” Ada Evening News, OK. 89-30-1943, p. 8.
–10 Baugher, Joseph F. 1941 USAAF Serial Numbers (41-24340 to 41-30847). 9-12-2011 rev.
–10 Mireles 2006. Fatal Army AF Aviation Accidents…US…, V2, July 1943-July 1944, p. 494.
Narrative Information
Baugher: “Consolidated B-24E-25-CF Liberator….41-29072 crashed Aug 27, 1943, Cheyenne Mtn. CO. 10 killed.” (Baugher, Joe. 1941 USAAF Serial Numbers (41-24340 to 41-30847). 9-12-2011 revision.)
Mireles: “At 2333, a Consolidated B-24E crashed into Cheyenne Mountain, ten miles west of Peterson Field, Colorado Springs, Colorado, killing the crew of ten. Investigators stated,
“[The] B-24E had been on a high altitude formation mission on a local flight from Pueblo Army Air Base [Colorado]. The formation broke up over Pueblo AAB at approximately 2300 MWT. The course the airplane took after that is not definitely known, but it is believed that the pilot then proceeded to a point in the vicinity of Cheyenne Mountain and engaged in some sort of stunting, and in the process lost his position and crashed into Cheyenne Mountain. The airplane was a complete wreck. The airplane crashed while in a right vertical bank, the right wing striking two pine trees. From this point the airplane crashed directly into the side of a sloping mountain in a slightly inverted position. It immediately exploded into flames and burned. Two officers who were close friends of the pilot stated that the sister of the pilot was staying at the Broadmoor Hotel [Colorado Springs, Colorado] at the time of the accident and that she had stated to them that she had observed this airplane circling and watched it approach and crash and felt that it was her brother”.” (Mireles 2006, V2, p. 494.)
Newspapers
Aug 28, AP: “(Associated Press) Colorado Springs, Aug. 28. – A rescue party has reached the burned wreckage of an airplane which crashed in one of the most inaccessible parts of the Pikes Peak region at 11:30 p.m. Friday, Lt. H. D. Harmon, public relations officer at Peterson Field, announced this afternoon. The number of men aboard the plane and their fate, and the home base of the craft were not immediately established. The only plane reported unaccounted for in Colorado was a ship carrying 10, which was missing overnight from the air base at Pueblo.
“The plane struck a cliff in the upper reaches of Fisher canyon, on the south slope of Cheyenne mountain southwest of Colorado Springs, and burst into flames, setting timber afire. The forest blaze had died down by dawn and apparently was out by the time the rescue party reached the scene at noon.” (Associated Press. “Missing Pueblo Plane Found on Cheyenne Mtn.” Greeley Daily Tribune, CO. 8-28-1943, p. 1.)
Aug 30, AP: “Pueblo, Colo., Aug. 30. – (AP) – Staff Sgt. Travis V. Bowling, Claremore, Okla, was one of ten victims of the crash of a bomber from the Pueblo army air base, the public relations office announced. The PRO reported yesterday the plane burned after plunging into Cheyenne mountain near Colorado Springs Friday night.” (Associated Press. “Crash Kills Oklahoman.” Ada Evening News, OK. 89-30-1943, p. 8.)
Aug 30, AP: “Pueblo, Colo., Aug. 30. – (AP) – Ten officers and enlisted men were killed in the crash of a Pueblo Army Air Base heavy bomber. The plane smashed into Cheyenne Mountain, near Colorado Springs, Colo., late Friday night. The Base Public Relations Office reported yesterday that the dead included: [We break paragraph into separate lines.]
Second Lieut. William L. Vogt, Holyoke, Mass.;
Tech. Sergt. Charles C. Owings, McCormick, S.C.;
Staff Sergt. Razz A. Allison, Gaffney, S.C., and
Sergt. Joseph E. Martin, Old Leland road, Greenville, Miss.”
(Associated Press. “10 Soldiers Killed In Bomber Crash.” Washington Daily News, NC. 8-30-1943, p. 1.)
Another AP article, same day in the Corpus Christi Times, TX, lists additional names:
Second Lt. John W. Brancroft, Rochester, NY
Second Lt. Kemper B. Campbell, Jr., Victorville, CA
Second Lt. Elmer L. Skogsberg, Chicago
Tech. Sgt. Paul M. Kruglick, Los Angeles
Staff Sgt. Christin L. Poulson, Hollydale, CA.
Sources
Associated Press. “10 Soldiers Killed In Bomber Crash.” Washington Daily News, NC. 8-30-1943, p. 1. Accessed 4-27-2024 at:
https://newspaperarchive.com/washington-daily-news-aug-30-1943-p-1/
Associated Press. “Crash Kills Oklahoman.” Ada Evening News, OK. 89-30-1943, p. 8. Accessed 4-27-2024 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/ada-evening-news-aug-30-1943-p-8/
Associated Press. “Missing Pueblo Plane Found on Cheyenne Mtn.” Greeley Daily Tribune, CO. 8-28-1943, p. 1. Accessed 4-27-2024 at:
https://newspaperarchive.com/greeley-daily-tribune-aug-28-1943-p-1/
Associated Press. “Ten Killed When Heavy Bomber Hits Cheyenne Mountain.” Corpus Christi Times, TX. 8-30-1943, p. 9. Accessed 4-27-2024 at:
https://newspaperarchive.com/corpus-christi-times-aug-30-1943-p-9/
Baugher, Joseph F. 1941 USAAF Serial Numbers (41-24340 to 41-30847). Sep 12, 2011 revision. Accessed 12-7-2011 at: http://www.joebaugher.com/usaf_serials/1941_4.html
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.