1944 – June 13, USAAF B-24E in night navigation ex., flies into Green Knob Mt., NC– 10
Compiled by Wayne Blanchard; last edit 4-3-2024 for upload to: http://www.usdeadlyevents.com/
— 10 Gastonia Daily Gazette, NC. “Ten Die in Bomber Crash At Asheville.” 6-14-1944, p. 6.
— 10 Mireles 2006. Fatal Army AF Aviation Accidents…US…, V2, July 1943-July 1944, p. 821.
Narrative Information
Mireles: “At 2320 EWT, a Consolidated B-24E collided with rising terrain 28 miles ENE of Asheville, North Carolina, killing ten fliers. The airplane had taken off at about 2020 EWT from Chatham Army Air Field, Savannah, Georgia, on a navigation-training mission to Raleigh-Durham Army Air Field, Raleigh, North Carolina, and return. The airplane, which was flying a heading of 270 degrees, was over 175 miles off course to the west-northwest at the time of the accident. The airplane passed over several peaks, apparently clearing them by only a few feet, before smashing into the mountain at an elevation of 3,500 feet msl, exploding violently into flames upon impact. Weather was not considered a factor in the accident. It was speculated that the airplane became lost and the pilots erroneously followed a light line that caused them to inadvertently fly into the mountain.” (Mireles 2006, Vol. 2, July 1943-July 1944, p. 821.)
Newspaper
June 14, Associated Press: “Asheville, June 14 – (AP) – An Army B-24 bomber on a combat training flight ploughed into Green Knob Mountain near here last night killing the entire crew of ten, Army Air Force officials announced this morning.
“The plane, from Chatham field, Savannah, Ga., struck the mountain at about 11:30 last night.
“Eight of the bodies have been recovered and soldiers of the Air Force are now searching for the other two. The crash occurred in McDowell county near Mount Mitchell and a mile and a half from the Blue Ridge Parkway, 30 airline miles east of Asheville. The plane burned after crashing.
“Air Force officials said the cause of the accident had not been determined.” (Gastonia Daily Gazette, NC. “Ten Die in Bomber Crash At Asheville.” 6-14-1944, p. 6. Col. 6.)
Sources
Gastonia Daily Gazette, NC. “Ten Die in Bomber Crash At Asheville.” 6-14-1944, p. 6. col. 6. Accessed 10-4-2012 at: http://newspaperarchive.com/FullPagePdfViewer.aspx?img=65014108
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.