1943 — Sep 10, 2 USAAF B-17s in formation collide ~50M southeast of Galveston, TX– 22
Compiled by Wayne Blanchard; last edit 4-26-2024 for upload to: http://www.usdeadlyevents.com/
— 22 Baugher, Joseph F. 1942 USAAF Serial Numbers (42-001 to 42-30031). 10-28-2011 rev.
— 22 Gero. Military Aviation Disasters: Significant Losses Since 1908. 1999, p. 25.
— 22 Mireles 2006. Fatal Army AF Aviation Accidents…US…, V2, July 1943-July 1944, p. 510.
Narrative Information
Baugher: “Lockheed/Vega B-17F-45-VE Fortress…6031 collided with another B-17 41-24621 over Gulf of Mexico Sept 10, 1943. 11 on each aircraft killed.” (Baugher, Joseph F. 1942 USAAF Serial Numbers (42-001 to 42-30031). 10-28-2011 rev.)
Gero: “…two four-engine heavy bombers [42-4621 & 42-6031] collided in mid-air, and both then crashed at sea 50 miles (80km) south-east of Galveston, Texas, US, killing 22 crewmen (11 aboard each one). There were no survivors. The two B-17s involved were among six bombers flying in a tight formation when the leading edge of the vertical stabilizer of 4621 contacted the trailing edge of the wing of 6031, after which the two aircraft slammed together with considerable force, the collision occurring in good weather conditions.” (Gero 1999, 25)
Mireles: “At about 1555, two Boeing B-17F airplanes collided in mid-air over the Gulf of Mexico about 50 miles southeast of Galveston, Texas, killing 22 fliers….
“The airplanes had taken off from Alexandria Army Air Base, Alexandria, Louisiana, and were part of a six-ship formation of B-17s on a formation training flight and air-to-air gunnery exercise. The six airplanes were flying in two, three-ship V-elements in a javelin down configuration, the lead element stacked slightly higher than the following element. The formation, flying at an altitude of about 8,500 feet, had made three gunnery passes at the target sleeve pulled by a tow aircraft and was preparing for a fourth pass.
“The formation was flying a heading of 280 degrees and was leveling out of a slight turn to the right when B-17 #6031, flying in the number-three position of the first element, encountered the propeller turbulence of the lead B-17 and skidded out of position in the formation. B-17 #6031 veered to the right and behind the first element leader, and was flying just above the leader of the second element, B-17 #4621, which was flying about 20 feet below and 50 feet behind the leader of the first element. While trying to regain its position in the formation, B-17 #6031’s starboard horizontal stabilizer contacted the vertical stabilizer of B-17 #4621. B-17 #6031 then slammed down on top of B-17 #4621 with considerable force, the propellers of #6031 tearing into the mid section and wings of #4621.
“B-17 #4621 began breaking up and bursting into flames. The fuselage of #4621 broke in two pieces at the radio room. All four engines and both wings came off of #4621 as the B- 17s, stuck together momentarily, fell away. As the airplanes separated, the shattered and burning wreckage of B-17 #4621 fell straight down and into the sea. As B-17 #4621 fell away, B-17 #6031 rose straight up on its tail and floated in mid-air momentarily in a vertical climb attitude. As the B-17 pitched up, the nose section was seen to tear away. The tail gunner in the number-two B-17 of the first element, Sgt. Homer Hutchens, stated to investigators, “The bombardier or navigator [of B-17 #6031] was hanging on the rest of the ship and was trying to pull himself up into the ship.” Airplane #6031 then winged over and hurtled through the rest of the formation before spinning into the sea where it exploded into flames. The navigator flying in the number-two B-17 in the second element stated that the pilot of his airplane had to put his B17 in a steep bank to the right to avoid the wreckage of airplane #6031. He later stated, “The falling ship missed us by only a few feet.” Numerous airmen flying in the formation observed two parachutes floating in the air, but only one was thought to have been occupied by a flier. The parachute and its occupant sank immediately upon hitting the water. The other parachute took about 15 minutes to reach the sea and also sank immediately.
“The B-17 formation circled the oil slicks and bits of wreckage on the water until a U.S. Navy Consolidated PBY-5A arrived on the scene, joined a short time later by two navy airships (K-60 and K-62). Two B-17s jettisoned their life rafts over the crash site but the rafts were destroyed upon release. A Consolidated B-24 and a North American BC-1 also aided in the search for survivors. Late in the afternoon, U.S. Navy and Coast Guard surface vessels, joined by an AAF crash boat, arrived on the scene and conducted a search of the two oil slicks and the debris field. The navy commander reported that no survivors could be located on the water. No bodies were ever found and only a few pieces of small wreckage, shredded life rafts and flight gear were recovered. Upon the arrival of the PBY, the remaining B-17 formation and the target tow ship (also a B-17) returned to Alexandria without incident.” (Mireles 2006. Fatal Army AF Aviation Accidents, V2, July 1943-July 1944, p. 510.)
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
Gero, David. Military Aviation Disasters: Significant Losses Since 1908. UK and Newbury Park, CA: Patrick Stephens Limited, an imprint of Hayes Publishing, 1999.
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