1944 – July 20, 2 USAAF B-24Js in 18-ship flight enter clouds/collide/crash, 1M N Roswell, NM–10
Compiled by Wayne Blanchard; last edit 3-30-2024 for upload to: http://www.usdeadlyevents.com/
–10 AP. “Two B-24 bombers crash near Roswell.” Wichita Daily Times, Wichita Falls, TX. 7-21-1944, 6.
–10 Mireles 2006. Fatal Army AF Aviation Accidents…US…, V2, July 1943-July 1944, p. 862.
Narrative Information
Mireles: “At 1045 MWT, two Consolidated B-24J airplanes flying in instrument conditions apparently collided in mid-air one mile north of Roswell, New Mexico, killing ten fliers and injuring seven others, one seriously….
“The airplanes were part of an 18-ship flight that had taken off from Biggs Field, San Antonio, Texas, on a high- altitude formation training flight. B-24J #42-100144 was flying in the number-four position and B-24J #4273361 was flying in the number-six position of the lead squadron. The formation encountered a large cumulus cloud, punched through and went on instruments. After entering the overcast, B-24J #42-73361 began losing altitude and the pilot soon lost control of the airplane and it entered a steep dive. The pilot was unable to regain control of his airplane and he ordered the crew to bail out. B-24J #42-100144 immediately went out of control after the apparent collision and it spun to the ground where it exploded into flames upon impact. Investigators noted that the port vertical fin of B-24J #100144 was dented and had evidence of foreign paint on it. The dent on the port vertical stabilizer was in the shape of a B-24 wingtip light, causing investigators to speculate that a collision had occurred while the airplanes were flying in zero visibility. The surviving pilots testified to investigators that they were unaware of a mid-air collision, but they were not able to state with any certainty that a collision had not occurred.” (Mireles 2006, pp. 862-863.)
Newspaper
July 21, AP: “El Paso, Texas, July 21. (AP) – An official board of inquiry from Biggs Field today sought the cause of a double crash of B-24 bombers near Roswell, N.M., in which 10 men were killed and seven parachuted to safety. One crash was a mile north of that city with the entire crew of nine men being killed. The other was 20 miles north of Roswell with only one crew member dying in the crash. It was from this bomber that the seven men parachuted to safety with Cpl. William T. Schaeffer, a gunner, receiving a broken leg in landing. Both crashes occurred about 11 a.m. yesterday and came during routine combat training missions. There were no Texans among the dead.” (Associated Press. “Two B-24 Bombers Crash Near Roswell.” Wichita Daily Times, Wichita Falls, TX. 7-21-1944, p. 6.)
Sources
Associated Press. “Two B-24 Bombers Crash Near Roswell.” Wichita Daily Times, Wichita Falls, TX. 7-21-1944, p. 6. Accessed 3-30-2024 at:
https://newspaperarchive.com/wichita-daily-times-jul-21-1944-p-6/
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.