1944 – Jan 13, USAAF B-17 fire during landing approach/crash ~Fort Worth AAF, TX–10
Compiled by Wayne Blanchard; last edit 4-15-2024 for upload to: http://www.usdeadlyevents.com/
–10 Mireles 2006. Fatal Army AF Aviation Accidents…US…, V2, July 1943-July 1944, p. 648.
–10 Yuma Sun, AZ. “Army Probes Crash…Flying Fort near Ft. Worth; 10 Killed.” 1-14-1944, 1
Narrative Information
Mireles: “At 1026 CWT, a Boeing B-17F suffering an in-flight fire while attempting a landing crashed one-half mile south of the Army Air Field at Fort Worth, Texas, killing ten crewmembers.
“The B-17 had taken off from Hendricks Field, Sebring, Florida, on a navigation-training mission to Fort Worth and return. As the B-17 approached Fort Worth, the pilot radioed the control tower and requested landing instructions. The pilot was ordered to land on Runway 35. The pilot lined up on Runway 3 in error and the control tower operator ordered the pilot to line up with Runway 35. The pilot lined the B-17 up with Runway 35 and continued his approach. The airplane was on the final approach when it was observed to be on fire. The fire seemed to be located in the front fuselage where the wings meet the fuselage. The airplane continued the approach for landing and the fire appeared to grow in intensity. At an altitude of about-75-feet-agl above the runway, the B-17 was seen to enter a chandelle to the left, turning about 180 degrees before stalling out and smashing into the ground. The B-17 plunged to the ground nose first about one-half mile from the field, exploding violently into flames upon impact. Investigators speculated that the fire was caused by a leak in the main fuel transfer pump. This fuel was ignited by current or arcing from the electric flap motor, which is located directly below the fuel transfer pump. The fuel pump fire burned through and ignited oxygen lines, causing a catastrophic fire.” (Mireles 2006. Fatal Army AF Aviation Accidents…US…, V2, July 1943-July 1944, p. 648.)
Newspaper
Jan 14, United Press: “Sebring, Fla., Jan. 14 (UP) – An army board of inquiry today investigated the crash of a Flying Fortress near Fort Worth, Tex., early yesterday in which 10 fliers were killed….” (Yuma Daily Sun, AZ. “Army Probes Crash of Flying Fort near Ft. Worth; 10 Killed.” 1-14-1944, 1)
Sources
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.
Yuma Daily Sun, AZ. “Army Probes Crash…Flying Fort near Ft. Worth; 10 Killed.” 1-14-1944, p. 1. Accessed at: http://www.newspaperarchive.com/FullPagePdfViewer.aspx?img=54233996