1944 — Nov 11, USAAF C-47 crash, Strawberry Peak, low visibility, ~Glendale, CA –12-13
Compiled by Wayne Blanchard; last edit 3-18-2024 for upload to: http://www.usdeadlyevents.com/
— 13 Mireles 2006. Fatal Army AF Aviation Accidents…US…, V3, Aug 1944-Dec 1945, p. 967.
— 12 Baugher. 1943 USAAF Serial Numbers (43-5109 to 43-52437). 11-7-2011 rev.
— 12 Neosho Daily Democrat, MO. “Twelfth Victim of Plane Crash Dies.” 11-16-1944, p. 4.
— 11 Oakland Tribune, CA. “Bay Man Dies in Plane Crash.” 11-14-1944, p. 7.
Narrative Information
Baugher: “Douglas C-47B-1-DL….16143 (c/n 20609) crashed in Wildcat Gulch, California in heavy clouds Nov 11, 1944 during flight from Hamilton Field, San Rafael to Mines Field, Los Angeles. 12 killed, one survived.” (Baugher. 1943 USAAF Serial Numbers (43-5109 to 43-52437). 11-7-2011 revision.)
Mireles: “At 2017, a Douglas C-47B flying in instrument conditions crashed into Strawberry Peak 14 miles north of Glendale, California, killing 13 crew and passengers. The airplane had taken off from Hamilton Field, San Rafael, California, on a transport flight to Mines Field, Los Angeles, California, via Bakersfield, California. The airplane took off from Bakersfield and soon afterward encountered bad weather. The airplane inadvertently entered an area where weather conditions consisted of low ceilings, hard rain, turbulence, and severe icing at altitudes exceeding 8,500 feet msl. The pilot lost radio contact soon after leaving Bakersfield. The pilot used dead reckoning for the remainder of the trip and then, believing that he had cleared the mountainous area, attempted to let down for his landing in Los Angeles. The airplane was under control when it collided with trees in a straight-and-level attitude. The C-47 smashed its way through trees for about 30 yards and then careened over the top of the ridge and bounded across a deep canyon about 200 yards wide before smashing into the side of the mountain just below the peak, exploding into flames upon impact. All personnel on board were killed instantly.
“Investigation revealed that the pilot was given inadequate weather and wind information at Bakersfield prior to take-off. The erroneous wind information caused the airplane to be off course and over mountainous terrain when the pilots began to let down through instrument conditions.” (Mireles 2006, 967.)
Newspapers
Nov 14: “Pasadena, Nov. 14 – (UP) – Helpless because of their own injuries, two survivors of a C-47 Army cargo plane crash huddled under a bent wing tip for protection against a driving snowstorm for more than 24 hours while one of their companions screamed in agony until he died, the two said today. The victim’s name was not released. Ten other servicemen were killed when the plane hit the slope of Strawberry Peak in Angelus National Forest during a storm Saturday night.
“The two survivors, resting in an Army regional hospital today after their rescue by Army crews, were: PM3/C Buford Chism, who was the less seriously injured, and Cpl. Kenneth Bedford. “The plane split in half when it hit the mountain.” Chism said. “One of the halves bounced and struck the mountain a second lime. It shattered into pieces.” Chism said that when he regained consciousness he heard Bedford yelling and by calling to each other they got together.
“Sixteen soldiers, working in shifts of four, struggled down the two-mile slope in driving rain and snow to bring Chism and Bedford on stretchers to waiting Army ambulances in National Forest.
“The dead:
Capt. Ray C. Kelley, St. Joseph, Mo., the pilot…
Second Lieut. Carl Hankie, co-pilot, also of St. Joseph.
Maj. John C. Anderson III. Wife, Shirley Anderson, Tampa, Fla.
Maj. Thomas W. Mackey. Sister: Mrs. Krystine Murphy, Florida Ave., Richmond, Calif.
Second Lieut. Gertrude L. Maschoff, Mother: Mrs. Hulda Maschoff, Kirkwood. Mo.
First Lieut. Hugh B. Cramer. Wife, Babette Cramer, San Jose. Calif.
First Lieut. Dan B. Field Jr. Wife, Virginia Field, San Antonio, Tex.
Lieut. Alva Eickberger, Father: Henry Eickberger, Deer Park, Spokane, Wash.
Staff Sgt. Francis E. Ward. Wife: Caroline. Chattanooga, Tenn.
Master Sgt. Harold Peterson. Mother. Mrs. H. Peterson. Brooklyn, New York.
Cpl. Manuel Garcia. Mother: Mrs. Juanita Santamaria, Los Angeles.”
(Oakland Tribune, CA. “Bay Man Dies in Plane Crash.” 11-14-1944, p. 7.)
Nov 16: “Pasadena, California (UP) — Negro Corporal Kenneth C. Bedford of Robertson, Missouri, has died of injuries received when an Army C147 transport plane crashed on 6,500-foot Strawberry Peak during a blinding rainstorm late Saturday.
“He was the 12th victim of the crash and his death left Buford Chism the sole survivor among the 13 men who were aboard the plane when it left St. Joseph, Missouri, on route to Los Angeles.
“Bedford was given first aid and blood plasma on the mountainside before rescuers carried him down a slippery two-mile trail to an ambulance that took him to a hospital. He died last night.” (Neosho Daily Democrat, MO. “Twelfth Victim of Plane Crash Dies.” 11-16-1944, p. 4.)
Sources
Baugher, Joseph F. 1943 USAAF Serial Numbers (43-5109 to 43-52437). Nov 7, 2011 revision. Accessed 12-18-2011 at: http://www.joebaugher.com/usaf_serials/1943_2.html
Mireles, Anthony J. Fatal Army Air Forces Aviation Accidents in the United States, 1941-1945 (Volume 3: August 1944 – December 1945). Jefferson, NC: McFarland and Co., 2006.
Neosho Daily Democrat, MO. “Twelfth Victim of Plane Crash Dies.” 11-16-1944, p. 4. Accessed at: http://www.newspaperarchive.com/FullPagePdfViewer.aspx?img=142811415
Oakland Tribune, CA. “Bay Man Dies in Plane Crash.” 11-14-1944, p. 7. Accessed at: http://www.newspaperarchive.com/FullPagePdfViewer.aspx?img=33495891