1943 — July 19, USAAF C-53D crash in turbulent storm 9M W of Lincoln, NE –all 13
Compiled by Wayne Blanchard; last edit 5-5-2024 for upload to: http://www.usdeadlyevents.com/
— 13 Baugher, Joe. 1942 USAAF Serial Numbers (42-57213 to 42-70685). 9-6-2011 revision.
— 13 Mireles 2006. Fatal Army AF Aviation Accidents…US…, V2, July 1943-July 1944, p. 441.
Narrative Information
Baugher: “Douglas C-53D-DO Skytrooper….crashed near Malcolm, Nebraska on flight between Des Moines, Iowa and Alliance, Nebraska Jul 19, 1943. May have been struck by lightning or flew into the ground. All 13 onboard killed.” (Baugher. 1942 USAAF Serial Numbers (42-57213 to 42-70685). 9-6-2011 revision.)
Mireles: “At 0105 CWT, a Douglas C-53D flew into the ground nine miles west of Lincoln, Nebraska, killing 13 crew and passengers. The pilot had filed a flight plan from Des Moines, Iowa, to Alliance Army Air Base, Nebraska, and had taken off at approximately 0001 CWT. The last contact with the airplane, which was flying at an altitude of approximately 6,000 feet 90 miles west of Des Moines, was at 0040 CWT with Omaha air traffic contoll. The Accident Classification Committee stated,
“Proceeding westward on his flight into thunderstorm area, the pilot attempted to circumnavigate the storm to the south, became lost and letting down through the overcast, encountered extremely high and turbulent winds accompanied by lighting with restricted visibility and probably blinding lightning flashes, the pilot failed to realize his proximity to the ground and flew the airplane into the ground resulting in a crash, causing explosion and fire which completely demolished the aircraft and killing all personnel on board.”
“The violent explosion of the airplane scattered wreckage and dismembered bodies over a considerable area. Civilians in the area described the weather as a ‘raging’ storm with heavy rain, high winds and abundant lightning. High winds were reported to have damaged crops and uprooted trees near the crash scene.” (Mireles 2006, Vol. 2, July 1943-July 1944, p. 441.)
Newspaper
July 19: “Malcolm, Neb. – (AP) – An army plane believed to have been a heavy bomber, crashed in flames during a wind and electrical storm on the Walter Lange farm three miles west of here at 1 A. M. today. Lange, awake at the time, was quoted as saying the plane was in flames when it crashed.
“A rescue squad of Seward firemen and policemen went to the scene but the plane was so demolished they could do nothing.
“Officials of the Lincoln Army air base left for the farm immediately, to take charge of the investigation. How many men were on the plane was not immediately determined. First. Reports said eight men were on the plane. All were killed.” (Muscatine Journal and News-Tribune, IA. “Think Eight in Army Plane That Fell in Flames.” 7-19-1943, p 1.)
Sources
Baugher, Joseph F. 1942 USAAF Serial Numbers (42-57213 to 42-70685). Sep 6, 2011 revision. Accessed 12-15-2011 at: http://www.joebaugher.com/usaf_serials/1942_3a.html
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.
Muscatine Journal and News-Tribune, IA. “Think Eight in Army Plane That Fell in Flames.” 7-19-1943, 1. At: http://www.newspaperarchive.com/FullPagePdfViewer.aspx?img=96833661