1944 — Oct 26, USAAF two C-46 transports collide mid-air Reno Army Air Base, NV– 12
Compiled by Wayne Blanchard; last edit 3-22-2024 for upload to: http://www.usdeadlyevents.com/
— 12 Reno Evening Gazette, NV. “Twelve Airmen Killed As Transports Collide.” 10-26-1944, 1.
— 12 Baugher, Joseph. 1941 USAAF Serial Numbers (41-6722 to 41-13296). 10-29-2011 rev.
— 12 Mireles 2006. Fatal Army AF Aviation Accidents…US…, V3, Aug 1944-Dec 1945, p. 955.
Narrative Information
Baugher: “Curtiss C-46A-10-CU Commando….12357 w/o Oct 26, 1944 in mid-air collision with C-46A 42-96716 Reno AAB, Nevada. 12 killed.” (Baugher, Joseph. 1941 USAAF Serial Numbers (41-6722 to 41-13296). 10-29-2011 revision.)
Mireles: “At 0603 PWT, two Curtiss C-46A transports collided in mid-air and crashed at Reno Army Air Base, Reno, Nevada, killing 12 fliers. Investigators stated,
According to eyewitnesses and the location of the debris it is apparent that the collision occurred near the center of the field [at 2,000 feet agl] from east to west but near the north edge of the field which indicates that Lt. Jackson was following the prescribed instrument let down…. The location of the two airplanes on the ground indicated that Lt. Jackson was on the prescribed heading and that Lt. Frykman was heading approximately 225 degrees. This is apparent by the fact that both aircraft fell approximately one- half mile west from the point of collision…. [Evidence] indicates that Lt. Frykman ran into Lt. Jackson. All members of both aircraft were killed instantly. It is assumed that [a propeller from] Lt. Frykman’s airplane went through the right side of the cockpit of Lt. Jackson’s airplane since the crewmembers in the cockpit of Lt. Jackson’s airplane were badly cut up and found approximately one-half mile from the main wreckage. The pilot seats, radio equipment, and other material from the cockpit of Lt. Jackson’s airplane were strewn along the path of flight, which further indicates that the propeller of Lt. Frykman’s airplane went through cockpit of Lt. Jackson’s airplane. The nose section of Lt. Jackson’s airplane fell off and was shedding parts as it fell earthward.” (Mireles 2006, 955.)
Newspaper
Oct 26: “Mid-air collision of two army transport planes over the Reno army air base early this morning took the lives of 12 army airmen. Two. C-46 transports – largest two-engine planes operated by the air transport command – came together over the airport nine miles north of Reno. The crash occurred at 6 a.m. and was just out of sight of any attendants on the field. Cause of the crash was not determined immediately, and Lt. Col. Robert W. Sanford, commanding officer of the base, appointed a qualified board of officers to investigate the tragedy.
“This afternoon, the names of four of the victims had been announced. They were:
First Lt. Robert H. Heintz, whose wife lives at 742 West St., Reno. His original home
was in Plainsville, Miss.
Second Lt. Olin P. Jackson of 4417 Marathon Blvd., Austin Tex.
Flight Officer Frederick W. Dulfer, Jr., whose wife lives at 59 High St., Reno. He
formerly lived in Oakland, Calif.
Cpl. Henry J. Long, Jr., of 83 Granite St., Westerly, R.I.
“Names of the other eight victims were not announced pending identification of the bodies and the notification of their relatives.
“This was the first accident in more than 85,000 hours of flying for the Reno ferrying division of the air transport command.
“The two planes were on routine training flights from the Reno base when the collision occurred.” (Reno Evening Gazette, NV. “Twelve Airmen Killed As Transports Collide.” 10-26-1944, p.1.)
Sources
Reno Evening Gazette, NV. “Twelve Airmen Killed As Transports Collide.” 10-26-1944, p.1. Accessed 3-22-2024 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/reno-evening-gazette-oct-26-1944-p-19/
Baugher, Joseph F. 1941 USAAF Serial Numbers (41-6722 to 41-13296). Oct 29, 2011 revision. Accessed 12-6-2011 at: http://www.joebaugher.com/usaf_serials/1941_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.