1944 – July 4, USAAF B-24s collide 10M NE Palm Springs, 3rd B24 crashed Muroc Lake CA–    10

Compiled by Wayne Blanchard; last edit 3-31-2024 for upload to: http://www.usdeadlyevents.com/

–10  Mireles 2006. Fatal Army AF Aviation Accidents…US…, V2, July 1943-July 1944, p. 846.

            [Appears that Mireles was mistaken on the death toll – one man parachuted to safety.]

–10  Oakland Tribune, CA. “Albany Soldier Dies in Air Crash.” 7-5-1944, p. 1.)

Narrative Information

Mireles: “At 1140, two Consolidated B-24J airplanes collided in mid-air ten miles northeast of Palm Springs, California, killing ten fliers aboard B-24J #42-51022… B-24J #42-51435… [was] able to make a successful emergency landing…at Palm Springs Municipal Airport.” (Mireles 2006, p. 846.)

Newspapers

July 5, INS: “March Field, July 5 – (INS) – Two army flyers were dead today and seven others were missing following a mid-air collision of two B-24 bombers yesterday near Palm Springs. Missing was John R. Styll, 20 of Bell. Pilot of one plane, Second Lt. George B. Smallfield, 22, of Cleveland, Ohio, was accidently thrown out of the bomber and parachuted to safety. Seven crew members of the second plane bailed out safely. The pilot and copilot, staying with the ship, rode it in to a safe landing at Palm Springs.

“Moses Lake, Wash., July 5. – (INS) – Second Lt. Richard E. Wortman, of Altadena, Calif., was killed today when his fighter plane crashed near the Moses Lake air base.” (INS. “Two Flyers Die in B-24 Collision.” Long Beach Independent, CA. 7-6-1944, p. 2.)

July 5, Oakland Tribune: “Corporal Eugene Cormeny Jr., 22, of Albany, was among 10 men killed when three Army B-24 Liberator bombers crashed in various parts of Southern California yesterday. Two of the big four-motored planes collided in midair 10 miles north of Palm Springs. The third of the B-24s crashed near Muroc Dry Lake. One man was killed there, although nine others were injured.

“Second Lieut. George B. Smallfield, 22, of Cleveland, O., parachuted to safety while nine others aboard his plane died in the flaming crash.

“Second Lieut. Gerald H. Solheid, of Cicero, Ill., pilot of the second plane, ordered his crew to bail out, and with his co-pilot, Second Lieut. Edwin H. Darland, of San Jose, landed the bomber at Palm Springs. All were safe….” (Oakland Tribune, CA. “Albany Soldier Dies in Air Crash.” 7-5-1944, p. 1.)

Sources

INS (International News Service). “Two Flyers Die in B-24 Collision.” Long Beach Independent, CA. 7-6-1944, p. 2. Accessed 3-31-2024 at:

https://newspaperarchive.com/long-beach-independent-jul-06-1944-p-12/

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.

Oakland Tribune, CA. “Albany Soldier Dies in Air Crash.” 7-5-1944, p. 1. Accessed 3-31-2024 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/oakland-tribune-jul-05-1944-p-1/