1943 — Nov 16, two USAAF AT-18s crash, Buckingham AAF, Fort Myers, FL           —     16

–8  USAAF AT-18A 42-55637, 11-16-1943, Buckingham AAF, Fort Myers, FL

–8  USAAF AT-18A 42-55675, 11-16-1943, Buckingham AAF, Fort Myers, FL

Compiled by Wayne Blanchard; last edit 5-23-2024 for upload to: http://www.usdeadlyevents.com/

–16  Aviation Safety Network, Flight Safety Foundation. Database, 1943, p. 51.

–16  INS. “Two Nebraska Fliers Die In Plane Crashes.” The Lincoln Star, NE. 11-17-1943, p. 9.

 

Narrative information

 

Aviation Safety Network, Flight Safety Foundation. ASN Wikibase Occurrence # 106942:

“Date:                          Tuesday 16 November 1943

“Type:                         Lockheed AT-18A Hudson

“Owner/operator:        United States Army Air Force (USAAF)

“Registration:              42-55675

“Fatalities:                   Fatalities: 8 / Occupants: 8

“Aircraft damage:       Destroyed

….      

“Narrative:                  Stall/spin accident. No survivors.”

 

Aviation Safety Network, Flight Safety Foundation. ASN Wikibase Occurrence # 106943:

“Date:                          Tuesday 16 November 1943

“Type:                         Lockheed AT-18A Hudson

“Owner/operator:        715th FGT Sqn USAAF

“Registration:              42-55637

“Fatalities:                   Fatalities: 8

“Aircraft damage:       Destroyed

“Location:                   Buckingham AAF, Fort Myers, FL – USA

“Phase:                        Landing

….

“Destination airport:   Buckingham AAF, FL

“Narrative:                  Crashed. Landing accident. Collided with the ground.

Two Hudsons crashed this day within one hour. 16 killed.”

 

Newspaper

 

Nov 17, INS: “Buckingham Army Air Field, Fort Myers, Fla., Nov. 17 – (INS) – Two Nebraskans were among the 16 fliers who lost their lives in separate crashes of two medium army bombers at Buckingham Field near Fort Myers Tuesday. Eight fliers were killed in the first crash which occurred less than a mile west of the field when the plane, flying on a routine mission, appeared to get out of control and spun in from an altitude of approximately 1,000 feet.

 

“An hour later a second medium bomber crashed just off the ramp near the engineering building and burst into flames, killing all eight occupants. The fliers were believed to have been killed by the impact as the plane crashed while coming in for a landing. No members of the ground crew were injured.

 

“Many soldiers and civilian workers on the field saw both accidents, and crash trucks arrived on the scene almost immediately.

 

“In a preliminary report investigating officers discounted the possibility of sabotage and declared the accidents were in no way connected.

 

“Staff Sgt. Millard Yoder, 24, aircraft armorer and son of Mrs. Sarah Yoder, Chappell, Neb., lost his life in the first crash.

 

“Pfc. Delman L. Storey, 21, student gunn4r, Grand Island, Neb., was killed in the second crash.” (INS. “Two Nebraska Fliers Die In Plane Crashes.” The Lincoln Star, NE. 11-17-1943, p. 9.)

 

Sources

 

Aviation Safety Network, Flight Safety Foundation. ASN Wikibase Occurrence # 106942. USAAF At-18A 42-55675, 11-16-1943, Buckingham AAF, Fort Myers, FL. Accessed 5-23-2024 at: https://aviation-safety.net/wikibase/106942

 

Aviation Safety Network, Flight Safety Foundation. ASN Wikibase Occurrence # 106943. USAAF AT-18A 42-55637, 11-16-1943, Buckingham AAF, Fort Myers, FL. Accessed 5-23-2024 at: https://aviation-safety.net/wikibase/106943

 

INS. “Two Nebraska Fliers Die In Plane Crashes.” The Lincoln Star, NE. 11-17-1943, p. 9. Accessed 5-23-2024 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/lincoln-star-nov-17-1943-p-9/