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

–10 AP. “Kearney based heavy bomber crash kills 10.” Nebraska State Journal, Lincoln. 7-5-1943, 3.

–10 Mireles 2006. Fatal Army AF Aviation Accidents…US…, V2, July 1943-July 1944, p. 425.

Narrative Information

Mireles: “At 1510 CWT, a Boeing B-17F suffered a catastrophic structural failure of the tail section and crashed at White City, Kansas, killing the crew of ten. The outer one-third of port-horizontal-stabilizer-and-elevator, and the entire starboard elevator outboard of the metal trim tab had separated from the airplane while it was in flight. The starboard elevator fell to the ground in two pieces and both pieces were found one-quarter of a mile from the main wreckage. The pilot lost control of the airplane and it entered a spin to the right immediately, crashing to the ground and exploding violently into flames. The airplane was at high altitude above the overcast on a ferry flight from Kearney, Nebraska, to Eglin Field, Florida. Witnesses on the ground observed the airplane falling out of the clouds in a spin with pieces trailing behind. It was speculated that the pilot might have overstressed the airplane while maneuvering in turbulent air.” (Mireles 2006, p. 425.)

Newspaper

July 4, AP: “Council Grove, Kas. (AP) – A four-motored army bomber crashed and burned Saturday on the farm of Rubin Bacon, two miles north of White City, Kas. The crash was 10 miles north of the Delavan, Kas., air base and Maj. Hal W. Painter, commanding officer, headed a group of officers investigating the accident. The base of the plane was not immediately established. Bacon and his son Robert saw the plane go into a spin and burst into flames after crashing. Bacon said he believed there were eight men on the plane and that none escaped the flames.” (Associated Press. “Heavy Bomber Crashes Near White City.” Hutchinson News-Herald, KS. 7-4-1943, p. 1.)

July 5, AP: “Kearney, Neb. (AP). A four-engined bomber from the Kearney army air base crashed and burned two miles northwest of White City, Kas., Saturday, killing all members of the ten-man crew, Lt. James Bolin, base public relations officer, said Sunday. Names of the victims were not immediately available, the officer said, pending notification of the next of kin.

“The big bomber crashed in a pasture on the Rubin Bacon farm. Bacon reported to local authorities that he saw the plane burst into flames after crashing. Lieutenant Bolin said a group of officers is investigating the crash.” (Associated Press. “Kearney based heavy bomber crash kills 10.” Nebraska State Journal, Lincoln. 7-5-1943, p. 3.)

Sources

Associated Press. “Heavy Bomber Crashes Near White City.” Hutchinson News-Herald, KS. 7-4-1943, p. 1. Accessed 5-5-2024 at:

https://newspaperarchive.com/hutchinson-news-herald-jul-04-1943-p-1/

Associated Press. “Kearney based heavy bomber crash kills 10.” Nebraska State Journal, Lincoln. 7-5-1943, p. 3. Accessed 5-5-2024 at:

https://newspaperarchive.com/lincoln-nebraska-state-journal-jul-05-1943-p-3/

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

1943 – July 3, USAAF B-17F tail section structural failure, 2M N of White City, KS –all 10