1943 – Sep 28, USAAF B-24H formation slipstream stall/crash 3M N of Fountain, CO– 11
Compiled by Wayne Blanchard; last edit 4-26-2024 for upload to: http://www.usdeadlyevents.com/
–11 Greeley Tribune, CO. “18 Killed in 2 Bomber Crashes in [CO], 11 near Fountain…” 9-29-1943, p1.
–11 Greeley Daily Tribune, CO. “Colorado Bomber Crashes Kill at Least 32…” 10-1-1943, 1.
–11 Mireles 2006. Fatal Army AF Aviation Accidents…US…, V2, July 1943-July 1944, p. 531.
Narrative Information
Mireles: “At 0922, a Consolidated B-24H crashed three miles north of Fountain, Colorado, killing eleven crewmembers. Gunner Sgt. William A. Baker was able to parachute to safety, suffering only minor injuries…. Investigators stated,
“2Lt. Bookmiller in B-24H #4129162 was flying number-three position in a four-airplane formation from Lowry Field [Denver, Colorado] to March Field [Riverside, California]. At a point about ten miles south of Colorado Springs [Colorado] and about 17,000 feet altitude this ship pulled in towards the lead ship. He then pulled in closer and probably flew into the propeller wash of the lead ship. The ship banked very steeply to the left and the pilot apparently pulled the nose high. The ship then leveled out, still in the nose-high position and apparently stalled, falling off to the right. The ship then went practically straight down. At a point approximately 2,000 feet above the ground the pilot regained partial control of the aircraft. At that point Sgt. Baker parachuted from the airplane. The ship maintained a level attitude but continually lost altitude until it struck the ground. At a point just prior to where Sgt. Baker bailed out of the airplane, part of the left elevator became detached. It is believed this was because of excessive speed attained in the dive and by over-controlling in attempting to recover from the dive.” (Mireles 2006, Vol. 2, July 1943-July 1944, p. 531.)
Newspaper
Sep 28, AP: “(Associated Press) Fountain, Colo., Sept. 28. – An army B-24 Liberator bomber from Lowry Field crashed and burned near here today after eyewitnesses reported it was apparently in distress as it passed over Fountain, 10 miles south of Colorado Springs on U.S. highway 87. Sheriff’s officers said one crewman parachuted safely from the four-engined craft, but his name was not immediately available. Military intelligence officers at Lowry Field near Denver said merely that the bomber had crashed during a routine flight. They did not disclose how many men were in the bomber.
“Eye-witnesses here said the bomber ‘seemed to be coming down in a wing-over.’ One resident said he saw the craft make five complete spirals, then the motors were ‘gunned’ and the ship regained altitude for a time. The crash, a pancake landing into the side of a hill, occurred at 9:15 a.m.” (Greeley Daily Tribune, CO. “Lowry B-24 Is Destroyed Near Fountain.” 9-28-1943, p. 1.)
Sep 29, Greeley Daily Tribune: “….(Associated Press) Denv4r, Sept. 29. – A parachute saved one army man’s life, but 11 other crewmen in a heavy bomber died when the plane crashed yesterday near Fountain, 10 miles south of Colorado Springs. Lowry Field of Denver, home base of the Liberator bomber, announced that it crashed on a ‘routine training flight.’ Sgt. William Baker… bailed out and was not injured. Residents of Fountain had reported that a bomber circled the town apparently in trouble, then appeared to come down in a wing-over….
“The plane crashed into the side of a hill yesterday morning. The parachutist reportedly landed on a farm land. The names of the 11 dead were announced as:
First Lt. Nyland BG. Bockmiller. New York City and Denver.
Second Lt. William G. Drum, San Francisco.
Second Lt. Samuel M. Schaad, Williams, Calif.
Second Lt. Joseph M. Losonsky, New York City and Denver
Second Lt. Ira L. Clamp, Newberry, S.C.
Sgt. Bernard A. Willey, Forest Hill, W.Va.
Cpl. Charles C. Clancy, Albuquerque, N.M.
Sgt. R. E. Whiteside, Hampshire, Tenn.
Sgt. Leroy G. Quattrocelli, Southbridge, Mass.
Sgt. John E. Myrek, West Sand Lake, N.Y.
Cpl. John Emery, San Francisco.”
(Greeley Daily Tribune, CO. “18 Killed in 2 Bomber Crashes in Colorado, 11 near Fountain and 7 near Pueblo Wednesday.” 9-29-1943, p. 1.)
Sources
Greeley Daily Tribune, CO. “18 Killed in 2 Bomber Crashes in Colorado, 11 near Fountain and 7 near Pueblo Wednesday.” 9-29-1943, p. 1. Accessed 4-26-2024 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/greeley-daily-tribune-sep-29-1943-p-1/
Greeley Daily Tribune, CO. “Colorado Bomber Crashes Kill at Least 32 This Week as 4th Disaster Occurs near Bailey.” 10-1-1943, p. 1. Accessed at: http://www.newspaperarchive.com/FullPagePdfViewer.aspx?img=52021825
Greeley Daily Tribune, CO. “Lowry B-24 Is Destroyed Near Fountain.” 9-28-1943, p. 1. Accessed 4-26-2024 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/greeley-daily-tribune-sep-28-1943-p-1/
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.