1943 – Feb 11, USAAF B-17F flies into ridge ~Table Top Mt. 17M E Walla Walla, WA– 10
Compiled by Wayne Blanchard; last edit 5-16-2024 for upload to: http://www.usdeadlyevents.com/
— 10 Mireles 2006, Fatal Army AF Aviation Accidents in US 1941-1945, Vol. 1, p. 270.
— 10 Ogden Standard-Examiner (UT). “Wreck Found With Ten Dead,” Feb 17, 1943, p. 17.
Narrative Information
Baugher: “Boeing B-17F-50-BO Fortress….5367 crashed Feb 11, 1943 in mountains SE of Walla Walla, WA.” (Baugher, Joe F. 1942 USAAF Serial Numbers (42-001 to 42-30031). 10-28-2011 revision.)
Mireles: “At 1115, a Boeing B-17F flying in instrument conditions collided with rising terrain 17 miles east of Walla Walla, Washington, killing the crew of ten….
“Investigators stated,
The pilot took off at 0615 for a local bombing and instrument practice. At 1050, near the end of his mission, he radioed in, requested and received clearance from Walla Walla CAA Radio Range Station to approach Walla Walla at 5,500 feet on the west leg. At that time he stated that his position was over Pasco [Naval Air Station], Washington. From that point Lt. Ray evidently proceeded to the Range Station, missed the cone of silence, and six minutes later at a distance of 17 airline miles east of Walla Walla, struck a ridge at approximately 6,000 feet msl near Table Top Mountain at 1115. The time of the accident being substantiated by various watches of the crew-members that were all stopped at the time of impact.
“Investigators noted that a 30 mph tail wind might have propelled the airplane to the cone of silence faster than the pilot had anticipated. It was noted that Lt. Ray, an instrument instructor, was described as an “above average” pilot.”
“Killed in the accident were: [We put names into separate lines.]
2Lt. John T. Ray, Pilot;
2Lt. Richard H. Reed, co-pilot;
2Lt. David T. Dunning, navigator;
2Lt. Hans N. Lehne, bombardier;
TSgt. Alexander Dec, engineer;
SSgt. Lloyd L. Ball, assistant engineer;
SSgt. Milton D. Johnson, radio operator;
SSgt. Claude W. Seif, Jr, assistant radio operator;
SSgt. William C. Fankhanel, gunner;
SSgt. Joseph F. Perkins, gunner….”
(Mireles 2006, Fatal Army AF Aviation Accidents in US 1941-1945, Vol. 1, p. 270.)
Newspaper
Ogden Standard-Examiner, UT: “WALLA WALLA, Wash., Feb. 17 (UP)—A searching party reported today that all 10 crew members were killed in an army bomber, missing since Thursday, which crashed against a ridge of the Blue Mountains. The party reached the plane’s wreckage after traveling two days over difficult terrain. The smashed plane was sighted in the mountains 17 miles east of here by a civil air patrol pilot. The bomber left Walla Walla army air field Thursday.” (Ogden Standard-Examiner (UT). “Wreck Found With Ten Dead,” Feb 17, 1943, p. 17.)
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
Mireles, Anthony J. Fatal Army Air Forces Aviation Accidents in the United States, 1941-1945 (Volume 1: Introduction, January 1941 – June 1943). Jefferson, NC: McFarland and Co., 2006.
Ogden Standard-Examiner, UT. “Wreck Found With Ten Dead,” 2-17-1943, p. 17. Accessed at: http://www.newspaperarchive.com/PdfViewerTags.aspx?img=53853876&firstvisit=true&src=search¤tResult=1