1944 – Jan 26, USN PBM-35 hits ammo. magazine during landing, NAS Key West, FL– 11

Compiled by Wayne Blanchard; last edit 4-12-2024 for upload to: http://www.usdeadlyevents.com/

–12  Baugher. “US Navy and US Marine Corps BuNos Third Series (39999 to 50359).  8-7-2011

–11  Aviation Safety Network. USN PBM-3S landing crash NAS Key West FL 1-26-1944.

–11  Tucson Daily Citizen (AZ). “Navy Probes Crash Fatal to 11 Fliers,” Jan 28, 1944, 12.

Narrative Information

Aviation Safety Network, Flight Safety Foundation, Database, 1944, p. 14:

“Date and Time:         Wednesday 26 January 1944; 20:31

“Type:                         Martin PBM-3S Mariner

“Owner/operator:        US Navy

“Registration:              48134

….

“Fatalities:                   11 / Occupants: 13

“Aircraft Damage:      Destroyed

“Location:                   NAS Key West, Florida – USA

“Phase:                        Landing

“Nature:                      Military

“Narrative:

“On 26 January 1944 the PBM-3S BuNo 48134 of VP-213 took off at 1851 hrs from NAS Key West, Florida on a routine night convoy coverage flight. Shortly after take-off the instrument panel fluorescent lights failed. The pilot turned back and at 2010 hrs NAS Key West received the following encoded confidential dispatch from the plane: “I am returning to base, Time of arrival 2030 Q, Light circuits bad.”

“The tower air controller ordered the crash boat readied for an emergency landing and all lights in the area turned on. At 2025 hrs the aircraft contacted the air control tower and received the wind velocity and direction was cleared to land on an easterly course of 90°. The pilot, Lt.(jg) Herod, “rogered” for the information and soon thereafter the plane circled the area to get into proper position for landing. The pilot was beamed in by radio, but during the final landing approach became completely lost and hit at 2031 hrs an ammunition magazine mound on Fleming Key, which is located in the northwest area of the Naval Air Station Key West. The Mariner crashed and burned immediately. Ten of the 13 crew were killed in the crash and another died of his injuries early the next morning.

“Crew:

Lt(jg.) Buren Charles Herod (pilot) WIFA (lacerations head and legs)
CAP Donald Ray Meyer (co-pilot) WIFA, DOW in the morning of the 27th
Ens George Henry Pigion KIFA
Ens William Edward Hudson KIFA
ARM2c Marvin Jesse Norris (radioman) WIFA
AMM2c William John Achenbach, Jr. KIFA
ARM3c Marvin Christopherson KIFA
S2c Delbert S. Harris KIFA
AOM3c Edwin Douglas Isbell KIFA
S2c Albert Martines Moran Jr. KIFA
S2c Joseph Milton Pilachonski KIFA
AMM2c Walter Frank Pgoroszewski KIFA
AMM3c James Phillip Smith KIFA

“The official USN Accident Report conclusions were the following:

The pilot thought he was overshooting the area, and was in the act of reaching for the throttles to apply full climbing power to go around again for another approach when the plane hit. From this statement it is believed evident that the pilot was completely disorientated. It is therefore believed that the accident was avoidable and that the principal cause thereof was faulty pilot judgment augmented by minor contributory causes, i.e. the failure of the instrument panel and the flux-Gate compass. Specifically it is believed that the pilot erred in not circling or dragging the area in order to orientate himself definitely and correctly. In this connection the pilot might also have reasonably and conceivably remained aloft circling the area in order to consume fuel and lighten his gross weight before landing.”

Baugher: “Martin PBM-35 Mariner….48134 (VP-213) hit ammunition magazine during night landing at NAS Key West, FL 1/26/1944. 12 killed.”  (Baugher.  “US Navy and US Marine Corps BuNos Third Series (39999 to 50359).  Aug 7, 2011 revision.”)

Newspaper

Jan 28, United Press: “Key West, Fla., Jan. 28. (U.P.)—A Navy board of inquiry today investigated the crash of a Navy patrol plane while attempting to land at the naval air station here Wednesday night in which 11 fliers were killed and two injured. The Navy said the plane was returning from a patrol flight when the crash occurred.”  (Tucson Daily Citizen (AZ). “Navy Probes Crash Fatal to 11 Fliers,” Jan 28, 1944, p. 12.)

Sources

Aviation Safety Network, Flight Safety Foundation, Database, 1944, p. 14. USN PBM-3S landing crash NAS Key West FL 1-26-1944. Accessed 4-12-2024 at:

https://aviation-safety.net/wikibase/81186

Baugher, Joseph F. US Navy and US Marine Corps BuNos Third Series (39999 to 50359). 8-7-2011 revision. Accessed 5-6-2024 at: http://www.joebaugher.com/navy_serials/thirdseries5.html

Tucson Daily Citizen, AZ. “Navy Probes Crash Fatal to 11 Fliers,” Jan 28, 1944, 12. Accessed at:  http://www.newspaperarchive.com/FullPagePdfViewer.aspx?img=85127731