1944 – Oct 17, USAAF B-24 crash into hillside flying too low, 15M NE of Ukiah, OR–all 10
Compiled by Wayne Blanchard; last edit 3-21-2024 for upload to: http://www.usdeadlyevents.com/
–10 AP. “Wymore Airman Dies In Liberator Crash.” The Lincoln Star, NE. 10-19-1944, p. 10.
–10 Mireles 2006. Fatal Army AF Aviation Accidents…US…, V3, Aug 1944-Dec 1945, p. 944.
Narrative Information
Mireles: “At 0130 PWT, a Consolidated B-24J collided with rising terrain 15 miles northwest of Ukiah, Oregon, killing ten fliers. The B-24 initially took off at 2200 PWT (10-16-44) from Walla Walla Army Air Field, Walla Walla, Washington, on a bombing mission. The airplane made a normal takeoff, climbed to about 20,000 feet, and then flew to the bombing range but was unable to bomb. The airplane returned to the field and landed in order to deplane the bombardier instructor. The airplane then took off at 0045 on an instrument practice mission, using the Walla Walla radio range. When the airplane failed to return to base and the time of the estimated fuel endurance had passed, a search effort was commenced. At 1830, three hunters alerted AAF authorities that they had found a crashed airplane and ten bodies on a wooded hillside. Investigation revealed that the airplane collided with the wooded hillside while in level flight with all four engines operating at cruise rpm. It was speculated that the pilot had been flying on the radio range at an altitude too low to allow safe flight over known obstacles along the flight path. Weather was not considered a factor in the crash and there was no evidence of in-flight fire or mechanical or structural failure. Investigators noted that the airplane had an ‘outstanding maintenance record.’ The B-24 exploded violently into flames upon impact and the crew was killed instantly….” (Mireles 2006, p. 944.)
Newspaper
Oct 19, AP: “Walla Walla, Wash., Oct. 19 – (AP) – Cpl. Edwin D. Feese, son of Edwin L. Feese, Wymore, Neb., was one of 10 crewmen killed in the crash of a Liberator bomber northwest of Ukiah, Ore., Tuesday morning [Oct 17], Col. David Wade, commanding officer of the Walla Walla air base, announced.” (Associated Press. “Wymore Airman Dies In Liberator Crash.” The Lincoln Star, NE. 10-19-1944, p. 10.)
Sources
Associated Press. “Wymore Airman Dies In Liberator Crash.” The Lincoln Star, NE. 10-19-1944, p. 10. Accessed 3-21-2024 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/lincoln-star-oct-19-1944-p-10/
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.