1944 – Feb 12, two USAAF B-17s Collide, one Crashes (42-30481), Mill Creek, OK — 10
Compiled by Wayne Blanchard; last edit 4-13-2024 for upload to: http://www.usdeadlyevents.com/
— 11 Baugher, Joseph F. 1942 USAAF Serial Numbers (42-30032 to 42-39757). 8-26-2011 rev.
— 10 Ada Evening News, OK. “Ten Killed When Fortresses Crashes.” 2-14-1944, p. 3.
— 10 Mireles 2006. Fatal Army AF Aviation Accidents…US…, V2, July 1943-July 1944, p. 685.
Narrative Information
Baugher: “Boeing B-17F-105-BO Fortress….30481 crashed Feb 12, 1944 at Mill Creek, OK after formation collision. 11 killed, tail gunner parachuted to safety.” (Baugher, Joseph F. 1942 USAAF Serial Numbers (42-30032 to 42-39757). 8-26-2011 revision.)
Mireles: “At 1739 CWT, two Boeing B-17 airplanes collided in mid-air 20 miles northeast of the Army Air Field at Ardmore, Oklahoma, killing ten fliers. Ten other fliers were uninjured…. Investigators stated,
At 1325 CWT, twelve B-17s took off from Ardmore Army Air Field for a routine high altitude, group formation training mission. This formation consisted of two, six-ship squadrons (lead and low), with the low squadron on the left. At 1739 CWT, aircraft #42-30752 and 4230481- collided in mid-air at an altitude of 12,000 to 14,000 feet. Aircraft 42-30481 broke in half just aft of the ball turret and crashed on the edge of the village of Mill Creek, Oklahoma, approximately 20 miles northeast of Ardmore Army Air Field. One member of the crew, the tail gunner, parachuted successfully. The other ten men were killed. Aircraft 42-30752, although severely damaged, made a successful landing at Ardmore Army Air Field at 1800 CWT.
“Investigation reported that two airplanes, flying in the number-two and three positions of the second element of the lead squadron, had dropped out of the formation because of engine problems and had returned to base.
“B-17F #42-30481 was flying in the number-four, or ‘diamond’ position of the lead element of the low squadron. This airplane had been the lead ship of the second element of the lead squadron. B-17F #42-30752 was flying in the number-three position of the second element of three in the low squadron. The formation climbed to 14,000 feet and practiced evasive maneuvers. The formation entered a gentle turn to the left when the lead B-17 of the low squadron encountered propeller turbulence, causing the starboard wing to drop. The pilot of B-17F #42-30752, apparently thinking that the lead pilot was leveling out, leveled out of the turn. The lead airplane rolled back to the rate of bank for the turn but the number-three pilot did not react in time. The number-three airplane entered the propeller turbulence of the lead airplane, causing a momentarily loss of control. B-17F #42-30752 slid over and descended on top of B-17F #42-30481, which was flying in the number-four (diamond position) of the lead element of the low squadron. The number-two propeller of B-17F #42-30481 sliced off the plexi-glass nose of B-17F #42-30752. The airplanes stuck together momentarily and then separated. B-17F #42-30752’s number-three and four propellers had cut into the fuselage of B-17F #42-30481 just aft of the radio room, severing the tail section. The tail section fell “tail first” and the forward section entered a spiral to the left until it struck the ground and burst into flames.” (Mireles 2006, Vol. 2, July 1943-July 1944, pp. 685-686.)
Newspaper
Feb 14, Associated Press: “Mill Creek, Okla., Feb. 14. – (AP) – Officers from the Ardmore Army air field investigated today the crash of a Flying Fortress that killed 10 of its’ 11 crewmen. The bomber, on a routine training flight, fell near here Saturday night, and only one man, Corp. James Clanahan, a gunner, was able to parachute to safety. The plane was based at the Ardmore field. The dead included: Captain William K. Heck, Ardmore, pilot.” (Ada Evening News, OK. “Ten Killed When Fortresses Crashes.” 2-14-1944, p. 3.)
Sources
Ada Evening News, OK. “Ten Killed When Fortresses Crashes.” 2-14-1944, p. 3. Accessed at: http://www.newspaperarchive.com/FullPagePdfViewer.aspx?img=48944609
Baugher, Joseph F. 1942 USAAF Serial Numbers (42-30032 to 42-39757). Aug 26, 2011 revision. Accessed 12-14-2011 at: http://www.joebaugher.com/usaf_serials/1942_2.html
Mireles, Anthony J. Fatal Army Air Forces Aviation Accidents in the United States, 1941-1945 (Volume 2: July 1943 – July 1944). Jefferson, NC: McFarland and Co., 2006.