1943 — July 28, USAAF B-24E dive recovery structural failure crash, Adena, CO –all 12
Compiled by Wayne Blanchard; last edit 5-5-2024 for upload to: http://www.usdeadlyevents.com/
–12 “In Memory of the Crew” memorial tablet. Aviation Safety Network Occurrence # 100445.
–12 Mireles 2006. Fatal Army AF Aviation Accidents…US…, V2, July 1943-July 1944, p. 454.
Narrative Information
Mireles: “At 1600, a Consolidated B-24E suffered a catastrophic structural failure and crashed at Adena, Colorado, 27 miles south of Fort Morgan, killing the crew of twelve. Investigators stated,
“The airplane was on a high altitude bombing and instrument flying training mission. According to witnesses, the airplane had been flying in the vicinity of the crash between an hour and two hours. The airplane was seen flying approximately in level flight at an estimated altitude of 5,000 feet, At this time, what appeared to be paper was seen emitting from the airplane. The airplane went into a dive striking the ground at approximately an 85-degree angle. Judging from the results of the impact, it is thought that the airplane struck with terrific speed. The crater formed by the impact was approximately ten feet in depth. The airplane completely disintegrated on impact.
What appeared to be paper from the airplane in flight proved to be elevator tabs, parts of the rudder, cloth from the control surfaces, and the rear bomb bay doors. This material was located on the ground one-half mile from the crash. There were no eyewitnesses to explain how the pilot lost altitude from the high altitude position [20,000 feet] to the estimated 5,000-foot position. It is the opinion of the Board that this airplane came down from the high altitude in a dive, gaining high speed. That the pilot used the elevator tabs to assist in recovering from the dive. That at approximately 5,000 feet (in the opinion of the witnesses), the elevator tabs failed, causing damage to the elevators and rudder and setting up stresses in the fuselage causing the release of the rear bomb bay doors. The damage to the elevators caused the pilot to lose complete control of the airplane, and the loss of elevator control due to the damage to the elevators permitted the airplane to assume an ever increasing diving angle.” (Mireles 2006. Fatal Army AF Aviation Accidents, V2, July 1943-July 1944, p. 454.)
Newspaper
July 28, Greeley Daily Tribune, CO: “Pueblo, July 28. – A heavy bomber from Pueblo airbase crashed late today south of Fort Morgan with 10 men aboard, the base public relations announced tonight. All ten were killed. Announcement said officers from Lowry Field, Denver, will investigate. No other details were given.
“Sheriff Howard A. Anderson of Fort Morgan had reported that an army plane crashed in Adams county on the farm of State Senator Willard B. Preston, about 28 miles south of Fort Morgan. The wallets of several soldiers were found near the scene. William Blue and Eston Park, farmers, working nearby, said the plane had been circling over the area for abut an hour and started earthward at about 45 degrees.” (Greeley Daily Tribune, CO. “Bomber With 10 from Pueblo Crashes South of Fort Morgan.” 7-29-1943, p. 1.)
July 30, Greeley Daily Tribune, CO: “Pueblo, July 30. – The Pueblo army air base announced that the following were killed when the ship crashed and burned south of Fort Morgan, Wednesday:
Second Lieut. Robert J. Staniak, Menasha, Wis.;
Second Lieut. John F. Kime, Liberty, N.C.;
Second Lieut. Willard J. Houwers, Sheboygan Falls, Wis.;
Second Lieut. George L. Stidham, Pecos, Texas;
Second Lieu. Karl L. McAlpiue, Forsan, Texas;
Second Lieut. Carl O. Swanson, Aberdeen, S.D.;
Sgt. Chester P. Munroe, Asheville, N.C.;
Sgt. Mac B. Whittington, Moberly, Mo.;
Sgt. Noble C. Wyss. Route One, Russellville, Mo.;
Sgt. Paul A. Leaman, Lebanon, Penn.
[Sgt. Walter E. Pharo, Tuckerton, NJ.]
[Sgt. Joseph W. DeNicolas, Brooklyn, NY.]
[We have added the two names in brackets from a photograph of a memorial posted on the Aviation Safety Network website. The ten listed in the Greely Daily Tribune article are also listed.]
“Air base officials said possibly the list was incomplete.” (Greeley Daily Tribune, CO. “Fort Morgan Air Crash Dead Listed.” 7-30-1943, p. 1.)
Sources
Greeley Daily Tribune, CO. “Bomber With 10 from Pueblo Crashes South of Fort Morgan.” 7-29-1943, p. 1. Accessed 5-5-2024: https://newspaperarchive.com/greeley-daily-tribune-jul-29-1943-p-1/
Greeley Daily Tribune, CO. “Fort Morgan Air Crash Dead Listed.” 7-30-1943, p. 1. Accessed 5-5-2024 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/greeley-daily-tribune-jul-30-1943-p-1/
“In Memory of the Crew” memorial tablet. Aviation Safety Network Occurrence # 100445. Accessed 5-5-2024 at: https://aviation-safety.net/wikibase/100445
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