1943 – Jan 15, 2 USAAF B-17Es collide, #41-9181 crashes 10M SW Gowen Field, Boise, ID–10
Compiled by Wayne Blanchard; last edit 5-18-2024 for upload to: http://www.usdeadlyevents.com/
— 10 Aviation Safety Network, Flight Safety Foundation. ASN Wikibase Occurrence # 97367.
— 10 Laredo Times (TX). “Heavy Bomber Crashes,” Jan 18, 1943, p. 1.
— 10 Mireles 2006, Fatal Army AF Aviation Accidents in US 1941-1945, Vol. 1, p. 241.
Narrative Information
Aviation Safety Network, Flight Safety Foundation. ASN Wikibase Occurrence # 97367:
“Date: Friday 15 January 1943 Time: 23:23
“Type: Boeing B-17E Flying Fortress
“Owner/operator: United States Army Air Force (USAAF)
“Registration: 41-9181
….
“Fatalities: 10 / Occupants: 11
“….
“Location: Kuna, ID – USA….
“Departure airport: Gowen Field, ID
“Destination airport: return to same
….
“The crew of 41-9181 killed were:
2LT Paul C. Painter, O-792625, OH, Pilot
2LT William W. Reed Jr., O-735451, WA, Co-Pilot
2LT Raymond A. Hay, O-735999, TX, Navigator
2LT Howard H. Norton Jr, O-734729, OK, Bombardier
SSGT Raymond A. Etherton Jr, 37217143, KS, Asst. Radio Operator
SSGT Rollen H. Eubank, 38088357, OK, Flight Engineer
SSGT William J. Griffiths, 35353459, IN, Radio Operator
SGT Arthur P. Mayer, unknown, NY, Gunner
SGT Pasquale P. Patri, 12093429, NJ, Asst. Engineer
SGT Christian F. Weinhold, 32267078, NJ, Asst. Radio Operator.”
Mireles: “At 2323 MWT, two Boeing B-17E airplanes collided in midair ten miles southwest of Gowen Field, Boise, Idaho, killing ten fliers aboard B-17E #41-9181. Gunner Sgt. Joseph R. Moscicki managed to parachute to safety but was seriously injured. The twelve fliers aboard B-17E #41-2603 were uninjured and were able to land safely at Gowen Field. Investigators stated,
It appears that 41-9181, the airplane that crashed, was approaching 412603 at an angle of approximately 45 degrees to the left, head-on [at an altitude of 7,000 feet]. From further interrogation of the members of the crew of 412603, it appears that the passing light of 41-9181 was not [illuminated] at the time of the crash. From the interrogation of the pilot, co-pilot, navigator and bombardier on 41-2603 immediately after the crash, the passing light on 41-2603 was known to be on. The fuselage of 41-2603 was cut halfway through at the tail wheel station by the propellers of 41-9181, and the lower portion of the fuselage to the rear was torn away. One- third of the right elevator was torn away by the propellers of 41-9181. From these marks, the committee presumes that after the pilots [had observed B-17 #419181 corning at them from the left front quarter at angle of 45 degrees, pulled up] to avoid collision, the propeller marks on the tail section of this ship indicated that 41-9181 struck 41-2603 in an approximate direction of 45 degrees from the [port side and into the] left rear. Further marks on the tail of the fuselage of 412603 lead the committee to presume that 41-9181 had struck the tail of 41-2603 in such a manner as to cave in the upper section of the pilot’s compartment of 419181, thereby temporarily stunning [or killing] the pilot and co-pilot of 41-9181 and allowing the ship to fall out of control.”
(Quoted in Mireles 2006, Fatal Army AF Aviation Accidents in US 1941-1945, Vol. 1, p. 241.)
Newspaper
Jan 18: “Boise, Idaho, Jan. 18.—(AP)—One crew member escaped with a broken arm and shoulder injuries and 10 were killed in the crash of a heavy army bomber 10 miles southwest of here early Saturday….” (Laredo Times (TX). “Heavy Bomber Crashes,” Jan 18, 1943, p. 1.)
Sources
Aviation Safety Network, Flight Safety Foundation. ASN Wikibase Occurrence # 97367. Accessed 5-18-2024 at: https://aviation-safety.net/wikibase/97367
Laredo Times, TX. “Heavy Bomber Crashes.” 1-18-1943, p. 1. Accessed at: http://www.newspaperarchive.com/FullPagePdfViewer.aspx?img=154667212
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.