1943 — July 24, USAAF B-17 crash into hill 10M N of Army Air Base, Ephrata, WA –all 13
Compiled by Wayne Blanchard; last edit 5-5-2024 for upload to: http://www.usdeadlyevents.com/
–13 Mireles 2006. Fatal Army AF Aviation Accidents…US…, V2, July 1943-July 1944, p. 447.
–13 Pacific Wrecks. “B-17F-95-BO Flying Fortress Serial Number 42-30488.”
Narrative Information
Mireles: “At 0054, a Boeing B-17F collided with a hill 10 miles north of the Army Air Base at Ephrata, Washington, killing thirteen fliers. The B-17 had returned from a bombing mission and was circling the area in an attempt to enter the traffic pattern for the base when the accident occurred seven miles north of the pattern area. Investigation revealed that the airplane was in a left bank that exactly matched the slope of a hill that the airplane was flying over. It is probable that the pilots could not see the surface because of darkness and were unaware of their proximity to the ground. The B-17 was configured for landing with flaps partially down and landing gear extended. The B-17 contacted the surface of the hill in a left bank on both main wheels and rolled about 200 yards before striking a horse that weighed an estimated 1,500 pounds. The horse was severely slashed in two places by the number-two propeller, which was knocked off by the collision. The collision with the horse knocked off the port landing gear. As the B-17 bounded back into the air for about 100 feet, the port landing gear and main wheel hurtled backward into the port horizontal stabilizer and elevator, knocking them off. Other than the tracks made by the two main wheels, there were no marks on the ground that appeared to be made by the wings or the tail wheel, indicating that the airplane had been rolling on the hill on both main wheels when it collided with the horse. After colliding with the horse and losing the port landing gear, the airplane continued across a gully and collided with another hill, smashing up the side for about 400 yards, breaking up and bursting into flames. The main wreckage came to rest about one-half mile from the point of first contact with the terrain.” (Mireles 2006, Vol. 2, p. 447.)
Pacific Wrecks: “….Mission History. On July 23, 1943 took off from Ephrata Army Air Field on a training bombing mission. On July 24, 1943 after midnight, while returning, the bomber was circling to land in a left turn with the flaps partially extended and landing gear extended when it contacted the side of a hill and rolled roughly 200 yards on the landing gear before the no. 2 engine propeller struck a horse knocking off the engine and left landing gear to break off that collided with the left horizontal stabilizer and elevator, knocking them off and caused the bomber to bounce back into the air 100′ before colliding with another hill and sliding 400 yards before breaking up and bursting into flames roughly a half mile from the first contact with the ground at 12:54am near Soap Lake in Grant County, Washington killing everyone aboard….
Pilot 2nd Lt. James P. Ticksman (KIA, BR) WA
Co-Pilot 2nd Lt. John W. O’Cheskey (KIA, BR) Carlsbad, NM
Co-Pilot 2nd Lt. Jay D. Underwood (KIA, BR) Rochelle, IL
Co-Pilot 2nd Lt. Julian M. Crapp (KIA, BR) TX
Bombardier F/O Owen E. Longest (KIA, BR) OK
Engineer Sgt George L. Dobson (KIA, BR)
Engineer Sgt Bobby P. Cone (KIA, BR) Barwick, GA
Engineer Sgt Edwin Johnstone (KIA, BR)
Engineer Sgt Arthur D. Grant (KIA, BR) KS
Engineer Sgt Werner F. Haukop (KIA, BR)
Radio Sgt George O. Cartwright (KIA, BR)
Gunner Sgt William W. Aulwes (KIA, BR)
Gunner Sgt Annesley E. Hodson III (KIA, BR)….”
Sources
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.
Pacific Wrecks. “B-17F-95-BO Flying Fortress Serial Number 42-30488.” 2-5-2024 update accessed 5-5-2024 at: https://pacificwrecks.com/aircraft/b-17/42-30488.html