1944 – Dec 27, USAAF B-24J crash in poor weather, near Mattituck, Long Island, NY– 11
Compiled by Wayne Blanchard; last edit 1-31-2024 for upload to: http://www.usdeadlyevents.com/
— 11 Dunkirk Evening Observer, NY. “Late News Bulletins,” 12-29-1944, p. 1, col. 3.
— 11 Mireles 2006. Fatal Army AF Aviation Accidents…US…, V3, Aug 1944-Dec 1945, 1008.
Narrative Information
Mireles: “At 1815, a Consolidated B-24J flying in poor weather crashed two miles west of Mattituck, New York, killing eleven crewmembers. The airplane took off from Westover Field, Chicopee, Massachusetts, on a cross-country flight to Montauk Point and return. The airplane was observed circling the area of Suffolk County Army Air Field, Suffolk County, New York, at about 1735 EWT. Ceiling was about 1,200 feet agl with light snow showers. The control tower attempted to contact the airplane by radio but was unsuccessful. Control tower personnel gave the airplane the green light for a landing but still did not receive a reply from the crew. The weather was deteriorating as the airplane circled and at 1750 it was seen to fly away from the area of the field on a heading of 50 degrees, apparently toward Westover Field. Some minutes later a large explosion was observed. Investigators stated,
The position of the wreckage indicated that the aircraft hit the ground with its left wing low at approximately an 80-degree angle with the ground, then flipped over on its back and exploded. The fuselage broke away from the engines.
“Investigators speculated that the pilot had lost control of the airplane when he suddenly encountered instrument conditions at low altitude and was not able to make the transition to instrument flight from visual flight.” (Mireles 2006, p. 1008.)
Newspaper
Dec 29: “Westhampton Beach, N.Y., — Eleven crew members who were killed when a B-24 bomber exploded and crashed near Mattituck, Long Island, Wednesday night [27th] during a combat training mission from Westover Field, Mass., were identified by officials of the Suffolk army air base last night.” (Dunkirk Evening Observer, NY. “Late News Bulletins,” 12-29-1944, p. 1, c. 3.)
Sources
Dunkirk Evening Observer, NY. “Late News Bulletins,” 12-29-1944, p. 1, col. 3. Accessed 10-4-2012 at: http://newspaperarchive.com/FullPagePdfViewer.aspx?img=36050833
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.