1943 – Aug 29, USAAF B-24E landing approach engine failure crash 5M E Wendover Field, UT-10
Compiled by Wayne Blanchard; last edit 4-27-2024 for upload to: http://www.usdeadlyevents.com/
–10 Mireles 2006. Fatal Army AF Aviation Accidents…US…, V2, July 1943-July 1944, p. 496.
–10 Salt Lake Tribune, UT. “Wendover Crash Kills 10 Fliers.” 8-30-1943, p. 9.
Narrative Information
Mireles: “At 1525 PWT, a Consolidated B-24E [41-28442] attempting a three-engine landing crashed five miles east of Wendover Field, Utah, killing the crew of ten. The airplane was returning from a medium-altitude bombing mission with its number-two engine out and the propeller feathered. The tower gave the B-24 immediate clearance for the active runway, which was directly into the wind. The number-one engine was observed to be smoking badly on the final approach. The engine failed and caused the airplane to veer to the left. The pilot aborted the landing and elected to go around. The 0-24 made a left turn at an altitude of about 150 feet, leveling out on a heading of East by Northeast with both number-one and two engines dead and propellers feathered. The 0-24 climbed to about 400 feet above the terrain and stalled, dropping off on the port wing. The nose dropped and the airplane described one-half of a turn of spin to the left and smashed into the ground, exploding violently into flames and killing all on board instantly.” (Mireles 2006, V1, p. 496.)
Newspaper
Aug 30, Salt Lake Tribune: “Wendover – Crashing and burning in the salt flats seven miles east of Wendover field, a four-motored heavy army bomber carried 10 crew members to their deaths in a mysterious crack-up at 4 p.m. Sunday. Names of the crew members were withheld by public relations officials pending notification of their next of kin. Five officers and five enlisted men lost their lives. Lieutenant A. J. Madden, Wendover field public relations officer, said the bomber was on a routine training flight and was returning to the field, where it was base, after two hours in the air. He said the pilot apparently attempted an emergency landing in the salt flats. A board of investigators has been named to determine cause of the crash.
“All the crew members died instantly, it was reported. The huge bomber exploded and burst into flames almost the instant it hit the ground.” (Salt Lake Tribune, UT. “Wendover Crash Kills 10 Fliers.” 8-30-1943, p. 9.)
Sources
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.
Salt Lake Tribune, UT. “Wendover Crash Kills 10 Fliers.” 8-30-1943, p. 9. Accessed 4-27-2024 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/salt-lake-tribune-aug-30-1943-p-9/