1943 – Jan 17, USAAF B-24D crash, too-fast spin recovery 10M N Alamogordo AAB, NM-11

Compiled by Wayne Blanchard; last edit 5-17-2024 for upload to: http://www.usdeadlyevents.com/

— 11  AP. “11 Flyers Killed Near Alamogordo.” Albuquerque Journal, NM. 1-19-1944, p. 1.

— 11  Mireles 2006, Fatal Army AF Aviation Accidents in US 1941-1945, Vol. 1, p. 243.

Narrative Information

Mireles: “At 1500 MWT, a Consolidated B-24D crashed ten miles north of the Army Air Base at Alamogordo, New Mexico, killing 11 crewmembers and injuring radio operator SSgt. Richard Pugh, who parachuted to safety. The Ac­cident Classification Committee stated,

 

Pilot was flying in the No. 4 position in a formation of four airplanes when the leader of the flight flew into a cloud. The pilot of the [subject] airplane became confused, attempted to slow the airplane down through throttling the engines, went into a spin or tight spiral from which he was un­able to recover for some time; then in the recovery process the airplane had attained such a speed that ab­normal stresses were [imposed], resulting in the loss of the left wing tip, rudder and elevator surfaces, result­ing in total destruction of the aircraft.”  (Mireles 2006, Vol. 1., p. 243.)

 

Newspaper

 

Jan 18, AP: “Alamogordo, N.M., Jan. 18 (AP) – Eleven men from the Alamogordo air base here were killed Sunday when a ZB-24 bomber crashed about 10 miles north of the base. Lieut. Wray G. Zelt, public relations officer, said the plane was on a routine training flight. A board of officers will investigate the crash. The victims were:  [We put names into separate lines.]

 

Second Lieut. Daniel W. Phillips, Dacono, Colo.;

Second Lieut. Donald A. Irwin, Sacramento, Cal.;

Second Lieut. James M. McClure, Manhattan, Ill.;

Second Lieut. James B. Milligan, Chattanooga, Tenn.’

Sgt. William B. Dyson, Monrovia, Cal.;

Sgt. Rogert Cole, Altoona, Pa;

Sgt. Chester C. Shoemaker, Lima, O.;

Sgt. Melvin A. Plumbert, Kansas City, Kas.;

Sgt. LeRoy H. Wilkins, Canbury, Conn.;  [Canterbury or Danbury?]

Tech 5th Gr. William J. Lewis, Jacksonville, O.;

Tech 5th Gr. Steve Voytke, Byesville, O.”

 

(AP. “11 Flyers Killed Near Alamogordo.” Albuquerque Journal, NM. 1-19-1944, p. 1.)

 

Sources

 

Associated Press. “11 Flyers Killed Near Alamogordo.” Albuquerque Journal, NM. 1-19-1944, p. 1. Accessed 5-17-2024 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/albuquerque-journal-jan-19-1943-p-1/

 

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.