1944 – Oct 29, USAAF B-17 engine failure, emer. lndg. crash ~Chatham Field, Savannah, GA– 10

Compiled by Wayne Blanchard; last edit 3-21-2024 for upload to: http://www.usdeadlyevents.com/

–10  Associated Press. “10 Killed,” The High Point Enterprise, NC. 10-30-1944, p. 1.

–10  Mireles 2006. Fatal Army AF Aviation Accidents…US…, V3, Aug 1944-Dec 1945, p. 957.

Narrative Information

Mireles: “At 1423 EWT, a Consolidated B-24J attempting an emergency landing crashed two miles east of Chatham Field, Sa­vannah, Georgia, killing the crew of ten. The airplane had taken off from Chatham Field on a high altitude formation flight. Soon after take-off the number-one engine was lost and the propeller feathered. Moments later, the number-three engine was seen to be trailing thick smoke. The pilot radioed the tower for landing instructions and then returned to the field for an emer­gency landing. The pilot entered the pattern and made an approach but overshot his landing. The pilots re­tracted the landing gear, entered a gradual left turn and attempted to go around. The airplane continued in the turn, losing altitude until it mushed into the ground and burst into Flames.” (Mireles 2006, 957.)

Newspaper

Oct 30, AP: “Savannah, Ga., Oct. 30. – (AP) – All members of a 10-man crew were killed Sunday in the crash of their B-24 Liberator shortly after its takeoff from Chatham Field, field officials announced today. Crash of another Liberator in an attempted landing here Saturday killed four other airmen.” (Associated Press. “10 Killed,” The High Point Enterprise, NC. 10-30-1944, p. 1.)

Sources

Associated Press. “10 Killed,” The High Point Enterprise, NC. 10-30-1944, p. 1. Accessed 3-21-2024 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/high-point-enterprise-oct-30-1944-p-1/

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.