1944 — Aug 5, two USAAF B17G’s in too-close formation collide, 3M W of Dixon, NE– 17
Compiled by Wayne Blanchard; last edit 3-29-2024 for upload to: http://www.usdeadlyevents.com/
— 17 Baugher. 1942 USAAF Serial Numbers (42-91974 to 42-110188). 10-28-2011 rev.
— 17 Mireles 2006. Fatal Army AF Aviation Accidents…US…, V3, Aug 1944-Dec 1945, p. 879.
— 17 NebraskaAirCrash.com. Nebraska WWII Fatal Crash Sites # 43 & 44; Laurel Aug 5, 1944
Narrative Information
Baugher: “Douglas-Long Beach B-17G-35-DL Fortress….107144 collided in midair with B-17G 42-107157 near Laurel, Nebraska. Both planes had nine onboard and only the pilot of 107144 survived.” (Baugher. 1942 USAAF Serial Numbers (42-91974 to 42-110188). 10-28-2011 rev.)
Mireles: “At 1145, two Boeing B-17G airplanes collided in mid-air and crashed three miles west of Dixon, Nebraska, about 35 miles west of the Army Air Base at Sioux City, Iowa, killing 17 fliers aboard both airplanes. The pilot of B-17G #42107144, 2Lt. Charles A. Van Pelt, was able to parachute to safety, sustaining only minor injuries. The Aircraft Accident Classification Committee stated,
Crews departed from the home field at approximately 0715 CWT for the purpose of accomplishing a high-altitude, simulated interception-attack, formation practice mission. Crew had flown for approximately four hours in a three-squadron, 18-ship, ‘Combat Training Formation’ consisting of high (right), lead (center), and low (left) squadrons, each made up of two elements of three ships each. At a point approximately 35 miles from the home field [at an altitude of approximately 9,000 feet msl], the formation executed a norma1 180-degree turn to the left. During the turn, the high squadron moved over to the left and above the lead squadron. The turn had been completed, but the high squadron had not as yet begun to move back to its normal position. The pilot of the ship flying in the number-two position of the first element of the high squadron (B-17G #42-107144) reports that at this time he was flying ‘pretty close formation;’ that at certain times his wing had overlapped the wing of the [high squadron] lead airplane, and that at certain times he had been holding his nose closer than 50 feet from his lead ship.
After the formation’s 180-degree turn to the left had been completed, but before the high squadron had moved back to its normal position, the pilot flying the number-two position of the first element of the high squadron throttled back, and in doing so, dropped back and over behind his lead ship. In that position he encountered the [propeller turbulence] of his lead ship, and as a result, his left wing dropped. In spite of the pilot’s effort to lift his left wing and leave the formation to the right, he continued downward and to the left. In this manner, and while he was unable to control the movement of his ship, the airplane came down onto the left wing of the ship flying in the number-two position of the lead element of the lead squadron [B-17G #42-107157]. As a result of the impact, both aircraft went out of control and crashed. While one aircraft (B-17G #42-107144) fell earthward, the pilot reports he operated the alarm bell switch and directed the co-pilot to clear the crew from the ship. Soon thereafter the airplane apparently broke apart and the pilot was thrown free; he pulled his ripcord and made a successful descent.” (Mireles 2006, 879.)
NebraskaAirCrash.com. Nebraska WWII Fatal Crash Sites # 43 & 44; Laurel Aug 5, 1944:
“In Memory
B-17
2nd Lt. George M. Nelson, Jr …..copilot…..Goldfield, IA
F/O William Kavner …..bombardier…..Brooklyn, NY
Cpl. Ben E. Wall …..navigator…..Madison, NC
Cpl. Richard L. Davis …..radioman…..Oakland, CA
Pfc. Jack L. McCullough …..gunner…..Coolidge, AZ
Pfc. Jack C. Ince ….gunner…..Salt Lake City, UT
Cpl. George B. Brada …..gunner…..Cleveland, OH
Cpl. Walter L. Jacques …..gunner…..Pawtucket, RI
(Survivor)
2nd Lt. Charles A. Van Pelt …..pilot…..Dayton, OH
B-17
2nd Lt. Joseph E. Mead …..pilot…..Danbury, CT
2nd Lt. Archie E. Moran, Jr …..copilot…..Chicago, IL
2nd Lt. Kenneth M. Dewey …..bombardier…..Grosse Point, MI
Sgt. Chester A. Jurkowski …..engineer…..New Boston, MI
Cpl. Nevin B. Matthews …..radioman…..Jeannette, PA
Cpl. Bernard D. Ryder …..gunner…..Haskins, OH
Pfc. Wilber J. Utter …..gunner…..Prescott, WA
Pfc. Dean WS. Still …..gunner…..San Diego, CA
Pfc. Paul J. Berumin …..gunner….. Tucson, AZ
(No Survivors)”
Newspaper
Aug 5, AP: “Laurel, Neb., Aug 5 (AP) – Two four-engined bombers and one army fighter plane crashed near Laurel today after one of the bombers and the fighter collided in the air. The three were part of a 17-plane group flying in close formation. Eight dead were counted soon after the crash and it was feared there were other victims. One flier parachuted and was brought to a Laurel physician’s office. All three planes burned.” (Santa Fe New Mexican. “3 Warplanes in Crash; 8 Dead.” 8-5-1944, 9.)
Sources
Baugher, Joseph F. 1942 USAAF Serial Numbers (42-91974 to 42-110188). Oct 28, 2011 revision. Accessed 12-17-2011 at: http://www.joebaugher.com/usaf_serials/1942_5.html
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.
NebraskaAirCrash.com. Nebraska WWII Fatal Crash Sites # 43 & 44; Laurel Aug 5, 1944. Accessed 12-18-2011 at: http://www.nebraskaaircrash.com/crashsites/laurel.html
Santa Fe New Mexican. “3 Warplanes in Crash; 8 Dead.” 8-5-1944, 9. Accessed at: http://www.newspaperarchive.com/FullPagePdfViewer.aspx?img=147634368