1944 – Dec 29, USAAF B-24J structural failure, poor weather, crash ~Meridian, ID –all 10
Compiled by Wayne Blanchard; last edit 1-29-2024 for upload to: http://www.usdeadlyevents.com/
–10 AP. “10 Fliers Killed In Idaho Crash.” Salt Lake Tribune, 12-30-1944, p. 13, col. 5.
–10 Mireles 2006. Fatal Army AF Aviation Accidents…US…, V3, Aug 1944-Dec 1945, 1010.
Narrative Information
Mireles: “At 1907 MWT, a Consolidated B-24J flying in poor weather suffered a catastrophic structural failure and crashed two and one-half miles northeast of Meridian, Idaho, killing the crew of ten.
“The airplane took off at 1850 MWT from Gowen Field, Boise, Idaho, on a local bombing mission. At 1855, the pilot contacted the bombing range control officer for a range assignment. The control officer informed the pilot that the range was closed due to poor weather. The pilot was advised to fly contact in the local area and the pilot acknowledged. At 1904, the pilot was instructed to return to the field and land. A few minutes later a pilot flying in the area observed the explosion on the ground and reported it to the tower. Investigators stated,
[The] aircraft was apparently in the overcast coming down in a power dive. Airplane was out of control in a spiraling dive when it was observed coming out of the overcast and just before crashing was seen to ‘flip over’ in the nature of a snap roll. There was no fire issuing from the aircraft prior to the crash. Aircraft struck the ground in a partially inverted position. Violent use of the controls at excessive speed was evidenced by fabric torn off and ribs of elevators sheared off in addition to the entire tail assembly…. Pieces of fabric were first found in a field about 2 miles from the scene of the crash. Then continuing in southeasterly direction towards the crash, additional pieces of fabric parts of rudder and parts of elevator, ribs, etc., were found at intervals. These were followed by other parts of the airplane such as: right front bomb bay door, left rear bomb bay door, section of the right wing, portion of the top section of the right vertical stabilizer, and finally, the entire tail section, (horizontal stabilizer with vertical stabilizers attached), which was found 300 yards from the main wreckage.
“Weather at the scene of the crash was reported as ceiling of 700 feet agl with a rainsquall in the area and was described as “bad”.” (Mireles 2006, 1010.)
Newspaper
July 29, AP: “Meridian, Ida., Dec. 29 (AP) – Ten crew members of a Gowen army airfield B-24 bomber were killed Friday night [Dec 29] when the huge plane crashed and burned near here, Col. John R. Kane, commandant of the base at Boise, said. The colonel said the plane was Gowen-based and was on a combat training mission at the time of the crash. The bomber plunged to earth on the Fred Rosti farm near Meridian, which is eight miles from Boise.” (Associated Press. “10 Fliers Killed In Idaho Crash.” Salt Lake Tribune, 12-30-1944, p. 13, col. 5.)
Sources
Associated Press. “10 Fliers Killed In Idaho Crash.” Salt Lake Tribune, 12-30-1944, p. 13, col. 5. Accessed 1-29-2024 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/salt-lake-tribune-dec-30-1944-p-13/
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.