1943 — May 20, USAAF B-24 missed approach crash into natural gas tank, fog, Chicago IL-12
Compiled by Wayne Blanchard; last edit 5-9-2024 for upload to: http://www.usdeadlyevents.com/
–12 Baugher, Joseph F. 1942 USAAF Serial Numbers (42-001 to 42-30031). 10-28-2011 rev.
–12 Mireles 2006. Fatal Army AF Aviation Accidents…US…, V. 1 Jan 1941-Jun 1943, p. 377.
–12 Southtown Economist, Chicago IL. “Find Bodies of Nine Plane Crash Victims.” 5-23-‘43, 1
Narrative Information
Baugher: “Ford B-24E-5-FO Liberator….7053 crashed into the side of a 20 million cubic foot natural gas holding tank at 73rd Street and Central Park Avenue, Chicago, IL May 5, 1943.[1] 12 killed.” (Baugher, Joe. 1942 USAAF Serial Numbers (42-001 to 42-30031). 10-28-2011 revision.)
Mireles: “At 1140 CWT, a Consolidated B-24E flying in instrument conditions crashed into the side of a 20,000,000 cubic foot natural gas holding tank at 73rd Street and Central Park Avenue, Chicago, Illinois, killing 12 fliers. The airplane had taken off at 0650 CWT from Tarrant Field, Fort Worth, Texas, on a cross-country navigation flight to Chicago Municipal Airport, Chicago, Illinois, and return. The airplane had flown on top of the overcast or on instruments for a majority of the time on the inbound flight to Chicago. The airplane encountered real instrument conditions when it arrived in the vicinity of Chicago. Weather conditions were reported as a ceiling below 500 feet with visibility of three-quarters of a mile in light rain, light fog, and light smoke.
“The B-24 instructor pilot had contacted Chicago air traffic controllers and was cleared to make an instrument approach. The pilot was cleared to land to the northeast on Runway 4 Center. The airplane passed directly over the field at 1136 but the pilot was unable to get below the ceiling and make visual contact with the field, forcing him to execute a missed approach. The airplane flew to the northeast and the pilot began a right turn until the airplane was heading southwest. The pilot was having trouble communicating with the Chicago control tower, possibly due to static or perhaps confusion over the missed approach. As the pilot attempted to get under the ceiling the control tower again cleared the B-24E to land to the northeast on Runway 4 Center, transmitting this instruction twice. The pilot did not respond to the instruction because the airplane apparently collided with the gas holding tank at that instant. The 20,000,000 cubic foot gas holding tank, which was located approximately two miles southeast of the airport, was described as a 285-foot wide 28-sided polygon, 381 feet from ground level to the eaves; 404 feet high to the highest point of the crown; 416 feet high to the top of the roof ventilator; 486 feet high to the top of the beacon tower; and 490 feet high to the top of the 1,000 watt light.
“Investigation revealed that the B-24E, flying from the northeast, collided with the gas holding tank at approximately the 250-foot level, causing the tank to explode violently into flames. The flames, which reached hundreds of feet into the air, were reported to be visible through the fog. The terrific explosion was heard and felt for miles. All but one flier, who had been hurled clear of the wreckage when the tail was severed in the blast, were incinerated in the massive blaze. Only a small amount of human remains were recovered. No one on the ground was killed or injured. The gas holding tank was owned and operated by The Peoples Gas Light and Coke Company, Chicago. It was noted that Springfield, Illinois, air traffic controllers alerted the B24 instructor pilot that Chicago Municipal Airport was reported to be closed down. The pilot stated that he would “try to make it anyway. Heavy fog was reported in the area of the crash and a witness on the ground reported that only the first 50 feet of the tank was visible in the fog. Investigators noted that the flight was cleared in error at Tarrant Field.” (Mireles 2006. Fatal Army AF Aviation Accidents… US…, V. 1 Jan 1941-Jun 1943, p. 377.)
Newspaper
May 23: “Bodies of nine of the 12 men who burned to death when an army bomber crashed into a 500-foot gas storage reservoir at 73rd st. and Central Park Ave. at noon Thursday, have been recovered, it was learned yesterday as authorities continued their investigation of the disaster…. Meanwhile, searchers were unpiling wreckage to find the other three bodies.
“An inquest into the crash was continued Friday, at army request, until June 11 in the Chicago Lawn police station after members of coroner’s jury had visited the scene of the disaster, which was described yesterday as Chicago’s most spectacular aircraft disaster since July 21, 1919, on which date 13 persons lost their lives as a dirigible burst into flames and smashed into- a skylight of the Illinois Trust and Savings bank at Jackson blvd. and LaSalle st.
“It also was described as the second such disaster in the city’s history. In August, 1930, a civilian plane plunged through the top of another Peoples Gas Light and Coke company tank at Elston Ave. and Division st., causing the instant death of the pilot, Orville Suchy, 1144 W. 80th st., and two women, Mary Laws and her sister, Eugenia, 2250 Warren blvd.
“The normal complement of a B-24 bomber is nine officers and men. The army reported that three of the 12 men on the ship that crashed at 73rd st. and Central Park Ave. were passengers. On a routine flying trip from Fort Worth, none of the men were from Southtown or the Chicago area.
“About 11:50 am. on Thursday the bomber circled southwest after notifying the Chicago airport it was coming in for a landing. Witnesses then reported the plane, either in trouble or not seeing the tank in the rain and fog, smash into the side with a tremendous flaming explosion.
“About three-fourths of the 500-foot tank was ripped off by the force of the explosion and parts of the plane fell into the tank. Friday evening the fire had gone out and plans were able to be made to get inside to look for the bodies.
“Heat created by the explosion was felt blocks away. Firemen and police on the scene immediately after the crash were unable to approach the tank because of the intensity of the heat.
“The tank, owned by the Peoples Gas Light and Coke company, was built in 1928 at an estimated cost of $2,000,000.
“It would have been a miracle if any of the men had lived. The gas tank was demolished by the explosion following the crash and only parts of the plane could be found in the surrounding area. The gas in the tank burned out within 40 minutes after the crash. Then the tar lining in the tank began to burn, giving off huge billows of black smoke. There were 50,000 gallons of tar pitch on the sides of the tank to prevent the gas from escaping. All day and all night Thursday the tar burned and continued all day Friday.
“The gas tank is isolated in a prairie and the continual rain of last week had formed knee-deep pools of water that the firemen had to struggle through with their hoses. To bring the hoses into action they had to be connected to mains that were on the other side of the railroad tracks that run along the tank. This meant only a few hoses could be brought into action until the firemen succeeded in digging small tunnels beneath the rails and then fitting the hoses in the tunnels so any freight tram coming by would not cut them.
“The water seemed to have little effect on the burning tar. Sharp flames leaped out like the flicks of a whip. The strong winds blowing curved the streams of water away. Most of the firemen who were near the tank were in serious danger of their lives during the first hour of the fire. Surrounding the tank was an iron fence which would have prevented any of them escaping if the metal walls of the tank had suddenly collapsed. Firemen swiftly cut escape holes in the fence at intervals to remedy that situation.
“Shortly after the explosion the terrible heat made the sides of the tank such a brilliant red that the interior structure of the steel could be seen outlined. Holes ripped in the tank at different spots testified to the tremendous explosion that had resulted. All the paint on the remaining walls had been seared off in huge and irregular streaks. Sprawled to one side was the huge parts of the steel frame of the tank that had been sheared off by the plane. It seemed incredible that an airplane could demolish such a massive structure of steel, but the top of the tank lay crumbled on the side, almost as high as the parts of the tank that remained standing.
“A few minutes after the explosion Chicago Lawn police went into action. Captain Frank Malone sent 12 squads and four wagons to the scene and later called on eight police districts in the area for help to keep spectators at a distance.
“Shortly after word of the explosion, an army jeep loaded with officers arrived at the scene bouncing over the uneven dirt road beside the railroad tracks. The soldiers swiftly took command and all civilians were ordered back, including newspaper reporters and photographers. Later a detachment of military police arrived to help.” (Southtown Economist, Chicago IL. “Find Bodies of Nine Plane Crash Victims.” 5-23-1943, p. 1.)
Sources
Baugher, Joseph F. 1942 USAAF Serial Numbers (42-001 to 42-30031). Oct 28 2011 revision. Accessed 12-9-2011 at: http://www.joebaugher.com/usaf_serials/1942_1.html
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.
Southtown Economist, Chicago IL. “Find Bodies of Nine Plane Crash Victims.” 5-23-1943, p. 1. Accessed at: http://www.newspaperarchive.com/FullPagePdfViewer.aspx?img=32354651
[1] Incorrect date – was May 20.