1944 — Aug 1, USAAF B-24’s collide, unsafe formation, 10M S Furnace Creek, Death Valley, CA-17
Compiled by Wayne Blanchard; last edit 3-29-2024 for upload to: http://www.usdeadlyevents.com/
— 17 Mireles 2006. Fatal Army AF Aviation Accidents…US…, V3, Aug 1944-Dec 1945, p. 875.
— 17 The Bakersfield Californian. “17 Airmen Believed Killed in Collision.” 8-2-1944, p. 1.
— 17 The Bakersfield Californian. “Reveal Names of Muroc Crash Victims.” 8-3-1944, p. 9.
Narrative Information
Mireles: “At 0815 PWT, a Consolidated B-24D…B-24J collided in mid-air and crashed 10 miles south of Furnace Creek, Death Valley, California, killing 17 fliers aboard both airplanes. Top turret gunnery student Pvt. Newton J. Steven was hurled from B-24J #42-78522 as it broke apart and he was able to parachute to safety, receiving only minor injuries.
“The airplanes were part of a flight of six B-24s that had taken off from the Army Air Field at Muroc, California, on a gunnery and formation training mission. The formation, consisting of two, three-ship elements in V-flights, had assembled at 9,000 feet indicated altitude over the AAF Bombing Range near Muroc. The formation then climbed to altitude in preparation for the gunnery exercise over Muroc. The formation flew to the northeast for a short time and then to the east, making a 180-degree left turn over Death Valley. The formation was beginning. to level out of the turn and was flying west at 20,000 feet when the collision occurred.
“Other pilots in the formation reported that during the flight they had observed B-24J #42-78522, which was the lead airplane of the second element, flying too close vertically to the first element. Several minutes before the collision, B-24D #42-72862, flying in the number-two position of the first element, had reported to the flight leader that it was suffering a problem with the number-three turbo-supercharger. Other pilots in the flight stated that the B-24D had trouble holding formation, lagging slightly behind the lead element for much of the flight. Apparently trying to leave the formation—or perhaps continuing in the turn that the formation had completed– the pilot of the B-24D was seen executing a gentle turn to the left, causing the pilot of the B-24J, who was flying a tight formation on the first element, to attempt the same gentle left turn in an attempt to parallel the course of the B-24D and avoid a collision. The B-24D apparently became caught in the propeller turbulence of the leading airplanes, causing its port wing to dip further down in the turn. Unable to follow the maneuver and anticipating the collision, the pilot of the B-24J attempted a banking maneuver to the right as the B-24D continued to bank to the left and into the path of his airplane. The B-24J was attempting to roll to the right and under the B-24D but the number-one engine and propeller collided with the B-24D fuselage from underneath near the waist windows, severing the tail of the B-24D and sending it plummeting to earth where it exploded into flames upon impact.
“B-24s flying in the second element had to maneuver to avoid striking flaming debris and the severed tail section of the B-24D that were hurtling through the formation. The B-24J appeared to “hover” in mid-air momentarily as the two port engines and pieces of the flight deck and fuselage peeled away before the bomber spun to earth and exploded into flames. Pvt. Steven was thrown clear at this time. The wreckage of B-24J #42-78522 was scattered over two square miles on the talus slope near Devil’s Golf Course and B-24D #42-72862 slammed to earth on the salt marsh south of Devil’s Golf Course. Investigation revealed that this was the first high-altitude formation flight for all four of the pilots killed in the collision. Investigators recommended that all crewmembers wear their parachute harness at all times while airborne and that crew wear their parachutes in flight whenever possible.” (Mireless 2006, p. 875.)
Newspapers
Aug 1: “A Mid-air collision of a B-24 bomber and another plane over Death Valley this morning was reported by Muroc army air field today. Army officials and coroner’s deputies are investigating the crash, of which further details were unavailable.” (The Bakersfield Californian. “Army Reports Plane Collision Near Muroc.” 8-1-2024, p. 1.)
Aug 2: “Seventeen Muroc Army Air Base fliers were believed killed when two B-24 Liberator bombers crashed after a midair collision over the Panamint range in Death Valley yesterday, Colonel Gerald Hoyle, commanding officer of Muroc Air Base, announced last night. One man parachuted to safety. An unidentified lone survivor made his way to a road and was picked up by a resident of Furnace Creek Inn.
“Searching parties are today seeking the wreckage of the two giant bombers, both based at Muroc, which crashed while on a training flight 12 miles southwest of Furnace Creek Inn. Colonel Hoyle said crews from the base would probably reach the wreckage in the desolate Panamint mountains some time today.
“Crews of other bombers in the training formation, who witnessed the crash of the two planes, said they believed only one of the 18 men escaped. There were no signs of life about the wreckage of the planes on the desert.
“A board of inquiry has been appointed at Muroc to investigate the crash.” (The Bakersfield Californian. “17 Airmen Believed Killed in Collision. Muroc Liberators Crash.” 8-2-1944, p. 1.)
Aug 3: “Muroc army air base officers today released the names of the California victims involved in the crash, August 1, of two heavy bombers which fell into the Panamint mountains overlooking Death Valley after a mid-air collision, Seventeen fliers were reported killed. One crew member, Private First Class Newton J. Stevens, 21, Alamosa, Colo., parachuted to safety.
“Hope has been abandoned by army officials that anyone else survived the crash. California victims were:
Corporal Richard Lira, 20, El Cerrito;
Second Lieutenant Sam B. Johnson, 24, of 523 Kensington Drive, Fillmore…and
Private First Class Robert T. Thomas, 19, of 727 Fourth street….”
(The Bakersfield Californian. “Reveal Names of Muroc Crash Victims.” 8-3-1944, p. 9.)
Sources
Mireles, Anthony J. Fatal Army Air Forces Aviation Accidents in the United States, 1941-1945 (Volume 3: August 1944 – December 1945). Jefferson, NC: McFarland and Co., 2006.
The Bakersfield Californian. “17 Airmen Believed Killed in Collision. Muroc Liberators Crash.” 8-2-1944, p. 1. Accessed 3-29-2024 at:
https://newspaperarchive.com/bakersfield-californian-aug-02-1944-p-1/
The Bakersfield Californian. “Army Reports Plane Collision Near Muroc.” 8-1-2024, p. 1. Accessed 3-29-2024 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/bakersfield-californian-aug-01-1944-p-1/
The Bakersfield Californian. “Reveal Names of Muroc Crash Victims.” 8-3-1944, p. 9. Accessed 3-29-2024 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/bakersfield-californian-aug-03-1944-p-9/