1943 — Aug 28, two USAAF B-17Fs collide, 3rd hits debris ~Army Air Base, Harvard, NE–14
Compiled by Wayne Blanchard; last edit 4-29-2024 for upload to: http://www.usdeadlyevents.com/
–14 B-17 Flying Fortress – The Queen of the Skies (website). “B-17 42-30239.”
–14 Baugher
— 7 B-17F 42-3309 Fortress (all)
— 6 B-17F 42-30239 Fortress (all)
— 1 B-17F 42-30774 (airman bailed out; either chute did not open or cord not pulled in time)
–14 Mason City Globe-Gazette, IA. “14 Die When 2 Planes Collide.” 8-30-1943, p. 2.
–14 Mireles 2006. Fatal Army AF Aviation Accidents…US…, V2, July 1943-July 1944, p. 495.
Narrative Information
Baugher: “….Douglas-Long Beach B-17F-45-DL Fortress…42-3309….
“709th Bomb Squadron, 447th Bomb Group, Harvard Field, NB 2Aug43. Crashed at Harvard Field 28Aug43 (7KIS). Just before darkness, a formation of eight B-17’s was coming into the Harvard Army Air Field to simulate a peel-off out of formation for landing. Instead of going downward and left out of formation, one of the lead B-17F’s (42-30239) went upwards into the path of B-17F (42-3309). The wing of the higher plane cut the fuselage of the plane coming upward in half. A third B-17F (42-30774) flew into the wreckage. The first two B-17’s that collided fell downward and exploded with no survivors. The third B-17 was able to crash land in an open field. The pilot of the third plane had ordered his crew to bail out. One of those who bailed out either struck the plane on the way out or did not deploy his parachute and was killed.” (Baugher, Joseph F. 1942 USAAF Serial Numbers (42-001 to 42-30031). June 2, 2023 revision.)
Baugher: “….Boeing B-17F-95-BO Fortress….42-30239 (MSN 5353)….
“Harvard Field, NB 2Aug43. Accident returning from a training mission and crashed at Harvard Field 28Aug43 (6KIS)….” (Baugher, Joseph F. 1942 USAAF Serial Numbers (42-30032 to 42-39757). 4-10-2023 revision.)
Mireles: “At 2056 CWT, three Boeing B-17F airplanes collided in mid-air near the Army Air Base at Harvard, Nebraska, killing 14 airmen aboard two of the airplanes. B-17 student, 2Lt, Carl W Hansen, was killed when he bailed out of his airplane (42-30774) after it was struck by a B-17 and/or debris from the mid-air collision. B-17 student 2Lt. Hayden T. Hughes and engineer Sgt. Earl S. Lynes were able to parachute to safety. The pilot, B-17 instructor 1Lt. David Rowland, was unable to maintain altitude and crash-landed B-17F #42-30774 in a plowed field. He was uninjured. He later stated to investigators, “A ship came up in front of us climbing very steeply [42-30239]. Its entire tail section was missing. We dodged under it. Then another ship came up, to our right, and passed us. We collided with this ship.”…. Investigators stated,
“B- 17F #42-30774 was flying as left wingman of the upper and left element of an eight-ship formation in the form of a ‘V of Vee’s.’ After the peel-off of the squadron leader preparatory to landing, the left wingman, B-17F #4230239, of the lead element, pulled up and turned left, causing B-17F #42-3309 to strike 42-30239 aft of the radio room. B-17 #42-30239 broke into two pieces, completed a left wingover, crashed and burned. B-17 #423309 completed a right wingover, crashed and burned. B-17 #42-30774 struck [42-3309 and/or debris from it] and sustained damage to the right wing and both right engines to the extent that it could not maintain altitude. Lt. Rowland commanded the other three members of the crew to jump. Lt. Hughes and Sgt. Lynes were able to jump successfully. Lt. Hansen jumped unsuccessfully from an estimated altitude of 700 to 800 feet. The ripcord of Lt. Hansen’s parachute was ajar about 12 inches; the canopy was still well folded, though the pack had burst open. The parachute seemed to be in good working order. The committee’s opinion is that the ripcord had not been pulled prior to striking the ground. There were no marks on the airplane to sustain an assumption that Lt. Hansen struck any part of it as he jumped. It is the opinion of this committee that Lt. Hansen waited too long to pull the ripcord”.” (Mireles 2006, V2, 495)
Newspaper
Aug 3, Associated Press: “Harvard, Nebr., (AP) – The collision and crash of 2 4-engine bombers during a routine training flight late Saturday night killed 14 men base officials announced Sunday night. Both burned after falling on farms about ½ miles apart several miles north of here. One bomber crashed on the Albert Bishoss farm, resting in a gully, while the other plane fell into a corn field on the Blanche Hartman place….No Iowans were among the victims.” (Mason City Globe-Gazette, IA. “14 Die When 2 Planes Collide.” 8-30-1943, p. 2.)
Sources
B-17 Flying Fortress – The Queen of the Skies (website). “B-17 42-30239.” Accessed 4-29-2024 at: https://b17flyingfortress.de/en/b17/42-30239/
Baugher, Joseph F. 1942 USAAF Serial Numbers (42-001 to 42-30031). June 2, 2023 revision. Accessed 4-29-2024 at: http://www.joebaugher.com/usaf_serials/1942_1.html
Baugher, Joseph F. 1942 USAAF Serial Numbers (42-30032 to 42-39757). 4-10-2023 revision. Accessed 4-29-2024 at: https://www.joebaugher.com/usaf_serials/1942_2.html
Mason City Globe-Gazette, IA. “14 Die When 2 Planes Collide.” 8-30-1943, p. 2. Accessed at: http://www.newspaperarchive.com/FullPagePdfViewer.aspx?img=89860993
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.