1944 – June 29, off-course USAAF B-24D flies into mountain, 17M SE of Tobe, CO –all 10
Compiled by Wayne Blanchard; last edit 4-2-2024 for upload to: http://www.usdeadlyevents.com/
— 10 Baugher, Joseph F. 1941 USAAF Serial Numbers (41-13297 to 24339). 11-7-2011 rev.
— 10 Mireles 2006. Fatal Army AF Aviation Accidents…US…, V2, July 1943-July 1944, p. 839.
Narrative Information
Baugher: “Consolidated B-24D-25-CO Liberator….41-24224 hit side of mountain during navigation run in rain and overcast near Tobe, CO Jun 29, 1944. 10 killed.” (Baugher, Joseph F. 1941 USAAF Serial Numbers (41-13297 to 24339). 11-7-2011 revision.)
Mireles: “At 0130 MWT, a Consolidated B-24D crashed 17 miles southeast of Tube [Tobe], Colorado, killing the crew of ten. The airplane had taken off from Pueblo Army Air Base, Colorado, on a 1,000-mile cross-country navigation flight to Lincoln, Nebraska, to Topeka, Kansas, to La Junta, Colorado, and return to Pueblo. The aircraft successfully navigated to the selected checkpoints and the last position report radioed by the B-24 indicated that it was on course for Pueblo AAB. The airplane was traveling a course of 270 degrees in straight and level flight with all four engines producing power when it collided with a 6,599-foot mountain at an elevation of 5,720 feet. The airplane exploded into flames upon impact, killing all on board instantly. The crash occurred approximately 50 miles east of Trinidad, Colorado, more than 70 miles south of the correct course from Topeka to Pueblo.” (Mireles 2006, Vol. 2, July 1943-July 1944, p. 839.)
Sources
Baugher, Joseph F. 1941 USAAF Serial Numbers (41-13297 to 24339). Nov 7, 2011 revision. Accessed at: http://www.joebaugher.com/usaf_serials/1941_3.html
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.