1944 – Aug 9, USAAF B-24J in-flight fire and crash 5M SE of Kiowa, CO                 –all 10

Compiled by Wayne Blanchard; last edit 3-28-2024 for upload to: http://www.usdeadlyevents.com/

–10  AP. “Ten Fliers Killed In Colorado Crash.” Lubbock Morning Avalanche, TX. 8-11-1944, 1.

–10  Mireles 2006. Fatal Army AF Aviation Accidents…US…, V3, Aug 1944-Dec 1945, p. 883.

Narrative Information

Mireles: “At 1725, a Con­solidated B-24J suffering an in-flight fire crashed five miles southeast of Kiowa, Colorado, killing the crew of ten. The airplane was part of six-ship flight that had taken off from the Army Air Base at Pueblo, Colorado, on a camera-bombing mission. The formation was flying at an indicated altitude of 20,000 feet when a pilot in formation noticed that the subject airplane’s number-four engine was on fire. The observing pilot radioed the subject airplane a warning and was in­formed by the subject pilot that the number-four pro­peller was running away. The subject B-24 left the for­mation to return to Pueblo Army Air Base. The airplane was next observed at an altitude of about 3,000 feet agl with the number-four engine and nacelle in flames. The starboard wing and the number-four engine then separated from the aircraft, causing it to go into a slow spin to the right. The airplane then smashed into the ground on the right side and exploded into flames. The starboard wing was found about one mile from the main wreckage. Investigators speculated that the wing was weakened by the intense fire, causing it to separate from the aircraft.”  (Mireles 2006, p. 883.)

Newspaper

 

Aug 10, AP: “Denver, Aug. 20 (AP) – Ten fliers from the Pueblo, Colo., Army Air base were killed last night in the crash of their GB-24 bomber eight airline miles southeast of Kiowa, southeast of Denver. The Lowry field public relations office said that not all the next of kin had been notified and the names of the victims couldn’t be released immediately.” (Associated Press. “Ten Fliers Killed In Colorado Crash.” Lubbock Morning Avalanche, TX. 8-11-1944, 1.)

Sources

 

Associated Press. “Ten Fliers Killed In Colorado Crash.” Lubbock Morning Avalanche, TX. 8-11-1944, 1.

 

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.