1943 – May 23, USAAF B-17 crash, Yellowstone Nat. Park 4M S West Yellowstone, MT–10
Compiled by Wayne Blanchard; last edit 5-6-2024 for upload to: http://www.usdeadlyevents.com/
–10 Mireles 2006. Fatal Army AF Aviation Accidents…US…, V. 1 Jan 1941-Jun 1943, p. 380.
–10 UP. “Only One Survives Bomb4r Crash on Park’s Borders.” Montana Standard, Butte. 5-26-1943, 2.
Narrative Information
Mireles: “At 0039 MWT, a Boeing B-17F crashed on the grounds of Yellowstone National Park four miles south of West Yellowstone, Montana, killing ten crewmembers. Bombardier 2Lt. William F. McDonald was able to parachute to safety and sustained only minor injuries….The airplane had taken off from Marysville, California, on a flight back to its home station at Lewiston, Montana. As the airplane neared Reno, Nevada, the pilot climbed to about 15,000 feet indicated altitude to escape turbulent air and icing conditions. Soon after reaching this altitude, the airplane again encountered very turbulent air and icing conditions. As the airplane neared Yellowstone National Park the pilot ordered the crew to prepare to bail out. The co-pilot shouted an order to ‘Get out now, get out now’ at the same instant. The bombardier immediately bailed out of the nose hatch and the B-17 crashed seconds later. Investigators speculated that the airplane had picked up a thick coating of ice, causing the pilots to lose control of the B-17. Investigation of the wreckage revealed that the airplane had slammed into the ground in a nose-down attitude, exploding into flames upon impact.” (Mireles 2006, Vol. 1, p. 380.)
Newspaper
May 23, UP: “Great Falls, May 23. – (U.P.) – A four-engined heavy bomber from the Lewistown, Mont., Army air base crashed in the rugged mountains of Yellowstone National park early Sunday, the Great Falls Army air base here announced. Number and names of the crew members were not released pending definite confirmation that some may have parachuted to safety, and will not be announced until the kin of those known to be killed have been notified, Capt. John Lloyd, public relations officer at the base, said. Yellowstone park Rangers Sunday night were leading searching parties to the wrecked plane high in the mountains of western Yellowstone, about five miles from the Montana-Wyoming boundary, Captain Lloyd said. The huge bomber was on a routine training flight from the base at Lewistown, a satellite field of the Great Falls air base, when it crashed into the mountainside, he said.” (United Press. “Bomber Is Wrecked High in Mountains.” The Montana Standard, Butte. 5-24-1943, p. 1.)
May 25, UP: “Great Falls, May 25. – (U.P.) – Second Lieutenant William F. McDonald, 24, Buffalo, N.Y., a bombardier, was the only survivor out of a crew of 11 men on a heavy bomber that crashed into a Yellowstone National park mountainside Sunday, the Great Falls Army air base announced today. McDonald bailed out on orders from the pilot, landed a half mile from the wreckage and walked to a hotel in West Yellowstone. The other 10 men were killed when the plane hit a rugged mountainside six miles southeast of West Yellowstone, just inside the park border.
“Captain John Lloyd, Great Falls airbase public relations officer, said the bomber was on a routine flight and was returning to its sub-base at Lewistown, Mont., when it crashed. The wreckage was located by planes from the Pocatello Idaho base and ground parties reached the scene 40 hours after the accident. Lloyd said the 10 men killed were:
Second Lieutenant Roy E. Thompson, 23, pilot, Point Pleasant, N.Y.
Second Lieutenant James Jerome Highley, 22, co-pilot, Oklahoma City, Okla.
Second Lieutenant George Andrew Brast, 23, navigator, Roosevelt, N.Y.
Second Lieutenant Robert Kenneth Edwards, 27, intelligence officet, Philadelphia, Pa.
Sergeant William S. McCune, 28, mechanic, West Orange, N.J.
Staff Sergeant Lawrence S. Medlin, 19, gunner, Chattanooga, Tenn.
Staff Sergeant Leo E. Thorn, 30, engineer and gunner, Lake Charles, La.
Staff Sergeant Donald W. Rice, 21, radio operator, Henrietta, N.Y.
Staff Sergeant Gilbert E. Underwood, 37, aerial engineer, West Orange, N.J.
Staff Sergeant Alexander Jurkowski, 21, gunner, Brooklyn, N.Y.”
(United Press. “Only One Survives Bomb4r Crash on Park’s Borders.” Montana Standard, Butte. 5-26-1943, p. 2.)
Sources
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.
United Press. “Bomber Is Wrecked High in Mountains.” The Montana Standard, Butte. 5-24-1943, p. 1. Accessed 5-6-2024 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/butte-montana-standard-may-24-1943-p-1/
United Press. “Only One Survives Bomb4r Crash on Park’s Borders.” Montana Standard, Butte. 5-26-1943, p. 2. Accessed 5-6-2024 at:
https://newspaperarchive.com/butte-montana-standard-may-26-1943-p-2/