1944 – Dec 8, two USAAF AT-18 planes collide, Sioux Falls Army Air Field, SD — 10
Compiled by Wayne Blanchard; last edit 2-4-2024 for upload to: http://www.usdeadlyevents.com/
–10 AP. “Ten soldiers die as planes collide.” Nebraska State Journal, Lincoln. 12-9-1944, p. 1.
–10 Mireles 2006. Fatal Army AF Aviation Accidents…US…, V3, Aug 1944-Dec 1945, p. 990.
Narrative Information
Mireles: “At 1502 CWT, two Lockheed AT-18 airplanes collided in midair and crashed at Sioux Falls Army Air Field, Sioux Falls, South Dakota, killing seven fliers and three army personnel on the ground. Two other army personnel on the ground were seriously injured. Seven crewmembers were injured parachuting to safety. AT-18 #4255636 crashed into Barracks #631 at Sioux City Army Air Field and AT-18 #42-55691 crashed five miles northeast of the field after it was abandoned in flight at about 1515 CWT…..
“Capt. Woody took off on Runway 33 at 1457 and Lt. Curry took off at 1458 on separate radio training flights. Capt. Woody made a left turn just after take-off and then made a right turn out of the traffic pattern. After climbing to about 1,000 feet agl, Capt. Woody then turned to the left and circled back and around the field. Lt. Curry took off a minute after Capt. Woody and turned left just after becoming airborne, making another left turn moments later, flying a course parallel to the take-off runway. He also was flying at an altitude of about 1,000 feet agl.
“The airplanes continued on these respective courses until the collision occurred. Investigation revealed that Capt. Woody’s starboard wing, engine and propeller struck the starboard vertical fin and rudder of Lt. Curry’s airplane. Lt. Curry’s airplane flew for about a quarter mile before going out of control and entering a spiral to the right, smashing into Barracks #631 and bursting into flames. Capt. Woody was unable to conroll his airplane when speed dipped below 165 mph. The starboard engine began smoking and the airplane was vibrating excessively, making the airplane almost uncontrollable. A portion of the starboard wing leading edge of Capt. Woody’s airplane had been torn away and pieces of the other airplane’s tail section were lodged in the starboard wing. Capt. Woody climbed the airplane, held the speed steady and ordered the crew to bail out.” (Mireles 2006, 990.)
Newspaper
Dec 9, AP: “Sioux Falls. S.D. (AP). Ten soldiers at the Sioux Falls army air field were killed late Friday [Dec 8] when one of two planes that collided in midair crashed into a barracks on the field. Col. O. L. Rogers, commanding officer at the base, announced. Seven men in the other plane involved parachuted to safety before their ship crashed.
“Every one of the seven occupants of the plane which crashed into the barracks was killed. Three more men were killed in the barracks building when it was destroyed by fire..” (Associated Press. “Ten soldiers die as planes collide.” Nebraska State Journal, Lincoln. 12-9-1944, p. 1.)
Sources
Associated Press. “Ten soldiers die as planes collide.” Nebraska State Journal, Lincoln. 12-9-1944, p. 1. Accessed 2-4-2024 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/lincoln-nebraska-state-journal-dec-09-1944-p-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.