1943 – Nov 3, USAAF B-24J engine fire/crash 4½M SW of Pueblo Army Air Base, CO– 10
Compiled by Wayne Blanchard; last edit 4-23-2024 for upload to: http://www.usdeadlyevents.com/
–10 AP. “Bomber Crash Near Pueblo Kills 10 Men.” Greeley Daily Tribune, CO. 11-3-1943, p1
–10 Baugher. 1942 USAAF Serial Numbers (42-70686 to 42-91973). 5-18-2011 revision.
–10 Mireles 2006. Fatal Army AF Aviation Accidents…US…, V2, July 1943-July 1944, p. 570.
Narrative Information
Baugher: “Consolidated B-24J-25-CO Liberator….73229 (471st BG, 807th BS) crashed 11/3/1943, Pueblo, CO during training flight. 10 killed.” (Baugher. 1942 USAAF Serial Numbers (42-70686 to 42-91973). 5-18-2011 revision.)
Mireles: “At 0159 MWT, a Consolidated B-24J suffering a fire in the number-three engine crashed four and one-half miles southwest of the Army Air Base at Pueblo, Colorado, killing the crew of ten. The airplane was returning from a night navigation flight from Pueblo AAB to Wichita, Kansas, to La Junta, Colorado, and return to Pueblo. Investigators stated,
“The pilot contacted [the Pueblo AAB] Control Tower at 0157 and stated that he was south of the field at 9,500 feet. [He] requested landing information and received landing information from the tower. Traffic was to the west on Runway 26. Pilot went southwest of the field to enter traffic. According to statements of witnesses fire burst out in the number-three engine. At this time he was flying east. Apparently through mistake, number-four [propeller] was feathered and loss of engine plus probable loss of the number-three engine, due to lines being destroyed by fire, made ship turn to the right resulting in a complete stall from which position the ship fell vertically and contacted the ground. [Investigation revealed that the crash was caused by a] fire in the number-three engine of undetermined origin, coupled with melting of right flap and probable burning of linen control surfaces, together with the pilot’s error in feathering of the wrong propeller and improper emergency procedures”.” (Mireles 2006, Vol. 2, July 1943-July 1944, p. 570.)
Newspaper
Nov 3, AP: “Pueblo, Colo., Nov. 3. – A four-engined army bomber from the Pueblo air base crashed and burned early today just three miles south of the base killing all ten officers and enlisted men aboard. The Pueblo air base public relations office said the crash occurred about 2 a.m. while the big plane – a B-24 Liberator – was on a routine training flight. Most of the airmen were from the east and midwest.
“Residents of the area, about six miles southeast of Pueblo, said the plane apparently pancaked, then exploded in a blinding sheet of flame. It crashed within 100 yards of the J. P. Harbour farm house, in which Mr. and Mrs. Don Baker were residing, and about 300 yards from the home of J. D. Comstock, a dairyman. ‘I was awakened by the plane flying low,’ said Comstock. ‘I heard one terrific explosion before I could get to a window and then saw it – settling down like a blimp, in clouds of smoke and flame. Then there was another explosion.’ The Bakers said the bomber appeared to pancake and explode. Accounts of other witnesses indicated, however, that the bomber did not explode before it hit the ground. The wings were intact, as was the tail assembly, but the fuselage was a mass of tangled wreckage.” (Associated Press. “Bomber Crash Near Pueblo Kills 10 Men.” Greeley Daily Tribune, CO. 11-3-1943, p.1.)
Sources
Associated Press. “Bomber Crash Near Pueblo Kills 10 Men.” Greeley Daily Tribune, CO. 11-3-1943, p. 1. Accessed 4-23-2024 at:
https://newspaperarchive.com/greeley-daily-tribune-nov-03-1943-p-1/
Baugher, Joseph F. 1942 USAAF Serial Numbers (42-70686 to 42-91973). 5-18-2011 revision. Accessed 12-16-2011 at: http://www.joebaugher.com/usaf_serials/1942_4.html
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.