1944 — April 25, two USAAF B-24s collide, 15M NE of Yuma Army Air Field, AZ — 12
Compiled by Wayne Blanchard; last edit 4-6-2024 for upload to: http://www.usdeadlyevents.com/
— 12 Mireles 2006. Fatal Army AF Aviation Accidents…US…, V2, July 1943-July 1944, p. 766.
— 12 Tucson Daily Citizen, AZ. “Aerial Collision Kills Twelve Men.” 4-26-1944, p. 1.
Narrative Information
Mireles: “At 1404 MWT, a Consolidated B-24H and a B-24J collided in mid-air and crashed 15 miles northeast of Yuma Army Air Field, Yuma, Arizona, killing 12 fliers…. Investigators stated,
B-24H #42-95467 [took off] from March Field, Riverside, California, flying a navigation mission direct to Columbus, New Mexico, and B-24J #44 40608 [took off] from Consolidated Aircraft Corporation, San Diego, California, en route to Phoenix, Arizona, collided 15 miles northeast of Yuma Army Air Field, Yuma, Arizona. Approximately five minutes prior to the collision, [the B-24J] called a position report into Yuma Radio, giving an airways report with an altitude of 9,000 feet. No radio communication was had with the B-24H1. The two aircraft collided together head-on, with fatalities to all crewmembers of both aircraft. The actual collision was seen by only one witness, who testified that the airplanes approached head-on from the east and west, respectively. [The B-24J] is reported to have attempted a sharp dive just prior to the actual contact, as in a sudden effort to escape collision, and exploded upon contact. [The B-24H] caught fire immediately upon contact and spiraled down steeply, exploding upon striking the earth. No attempt to use parachutes was observed. [The B-24H] was off course to the south, but was on the Yuma Airway apparently following it at a course directly opposite that of [the B- 24J]. The reason for this is not known. [The B-24J] is assumed to have been at the correct altitude, as he gave his altitude as 9,000 feet, just preceding the accident. This leaves the likelihood that [the B-24H] was flying the airways at an incorrect altitude. From witness’ statements and the position of the wreckage, it is believed that [the B-24J] was on the left, or incorrect, side of the airway. (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, p. 766.)
Newspaper
April 26: “Yuma, Ariz., Apr. 26. (AP) – Two four-engine bombers flames and exploded after a head-on aerial collision, hurtling 12 men to a fiery death on semi-desert lands 12 miles northeast of here yesterday. Seven Army airmen, including three officers, were aboard one of the B-24 Consolidated Liberator planes returning to March field, Riverside, Calif., on a training flight. ‘Three civilians and two Camp Callan, San Diego, Calif, soldiers were on the other B-24 en route
from the Consolidated Vultee Aircraft corporation San Diego plant to the firm’s modification center at Tucson, Ariz.
“The burned bodies were recovered from the smoking wreckage of the planes, which fell three and one-half miles apart. An explosion, witnesses said, disintegrated the Convair ship immediately after the impact, scattering burning parts through the air. The Army plane, they said, appeared to regain level flight momentarily but burst into flames and hurtled to earth.
“Col. Herbert W. Anderson, commanding officer of the Yuma Army airfield, said the collision occurred in the area between Gila Center store and Laguna dam.
“The fuselage of the Convair craft crashed on the banks of the Metropolitan canal. The bodies from that ship were scattered within a radius of 600 feet. The Army plane struck about three and one-half miles east from there, reported Anderson, who named a board of officers to investigate.
“Two witnesses, Mrs. Margaret Lumpp and Mrs. Jennie Leong, said they saw none of the fliers attempt to parachute from the falling craft. Mrs. Lumpp viewed the accident from the Charles Martin ranch, four miles away, and was one of the first to reach the scene. Mrs. Lumpp [Leong?] saw the collision from the Gila Center store….” (Tucson Daily Citizen, AZ. “Aerial Collision Kills Twelve Men. B-24 Bombers Crash Head-On Near Yuma.” 4-26-1944, p. 1.)
Sources
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.
Tucson Daily Citizen, AZ. “Aerial Collision Kills Twelve Men.” 4-26-1944, p. 1. Accessed at: http://newspaperarchive.com/fullpagepdfviewer?img=85128760&sterm=yuma+plane