1943 – Dec 13, USAAF B-17F spins out of control in snowstorm 10M N Rosebud, SD –all 10
Compiled by Wayne Blanchard; last edit 4-22-2024 for upload to: http://www.usdeadlyevents.com/
–10 Baugher, Joseph F. 1942 USAAF Serial Numbers (42-001 to 42-30031). 10-28-2011 rev.
–10 INS. “Rosebud Bomber Crash Kills Ten.” The Lincoln Star, NE. 12-15-1943, p. 7.
–10 Mireles 2006. Fatal Army AF Aviation Accidents…US…, V2, July 1943-July 1944, p. 614.
Narrative Information
Baugher: “Boeing B-17F-60-BO Fortress….42-29558 (398th BG) crashed Dec 13, 1943 about 10 mi N of Rosebud, SD. All 10 aboard killed.” (Baugher, Joseph F. 1942 USAAF Serial Numbers (42-001 to 42-30031). 10-28-2011 revision.)
Mireles: “At 1750 MWT, a Boeing B-17F crashed ten miles north of Rosebud, South Dakota, killing the crew of ten. The airplane had taken off from the Army Air Base at Rapid City, South Dakota, at 1438 MWT on an instrument training flight. Weather closed in on the Rapid City area and all pilots in the air were ordered to divert to Ainsworth Army Air Base, Nebraska. The pilot immediately acknowledged the order. A short time later, civilians on the ground observed the airplane descending out of the overcast out of control. The pilot was able to recover from a diving spiral, leveling out momentarily before stalling. The B-17 then entered a spin, smashing to the ground and exploding into flames upon impact.” (Mireles 2006, V2, July 1943-July 1944, p. 614.)
Newspaper
Dec 15, INS: “Rapid City, S.D., Dec. 15 – (INS) – The names of 10 men killed in the crash of a four-engine army bomber were announced today by officials of the army air base at Rapid City, S.D. The crash occurred near Rosebud, S.D., during a snow storm Monday night while the bomber was on a combat training flight. Those killed were: [we break paragraph into lines]
2nd Lieut. Terrell Braly, jr., Huntsville, Ala.,
2nd Lieut. Walter Wascher, Freeport, N.Y.,
2nd Lieut. Harold Coblentz, Detroit;
Sgt. Frank Savasta, Fort Edward, N.Y.,
Sgt. Paul Wilkins, Bernal, Utah;
Sgt. Alvin Kepley, Durham, N.C.,
Sgt. James Considine, Chicago;
Sgt. Lloyd Beaty, Monroe, Tenn.,
Pvt. James Sims, Urich, Mo.,
Pvt. Amerigo Agostini, Clairton, Pa.”
(INS. “Rosebud Bomber Crash Kills Ten.” The Lincoln Star, NE. 12-15-1943, p. 7.)
Sources
Baugher, Joseph F. 1942 USAAF Serial Numbers (42-001 to 42-30031). Oct 28 2011 revision. Accessed 12-9-2011 at: http://www.joebaugher.com/usaf_serials/1942_1.html
INS. “Rosebud Bomber Crash Kills Ten.” The Lincoln Star, NE. 12-15-1943, p. 7. Accessed 4-22-2024 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/lincoln-star-dec-15-1943-p-7/
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.