1944 – Sep 1, USAAF B-24J emer. lndg. attempt crash ~Muroc Army Air Field, CA –all 10
Compiled by Wayne Blanchard; last edit 3-26-2024 for upload to: http://www.usdeadlyevents.com/
–10 Mireles 2006. Fatal Army AF Aviation Accidents…US…, V3, Aug 1944-Dec 1945, p. 902.
–10 United Press. “Crew of 10 Perish in Bomber Crash.” Oakland Tribune, CA. 9-3-1944, p. 1.
Narrative Information
Baugher: “Consolidated B-24J-25-CO Liberator….73234 (421st AAF BU) crashed 5 mi S of Muroc Field, CA Sep 1, 1944. All aboard killed.” (Baugher. 1942 USAAF Serial Numbers (42-70686 to 42-91973). 5-18-2011 revision.)
Mireles: “At 0718, a Consolidated B-24J crashed five miles southeast of Muroc Army Air Field, California, killing the crew of ten. The airplane took off from Muroc Army Air Field on a high- altitude formation and camera mission. Soon after takeoff anti climbing out of the area, the number-four engine began “acting up.” The pilot elected to return to the field and radioed Muroc Tower that he was coming in. Moments later, the number-three engine began losing rpm. At 0717, the pilot radioed that he was not going to make the field and he was going to attempt an emergency forced landing on Muroc Dry Lake. The pilot then radioed that he was not going to make the dry lakebed. Personnel in the control tower spotted the B-24 as it attempted to shoot its emergency forced landing. The B-24 struck the ground on its landing gear at a slight glide angle, bouncing back into the air for about 150 yards. The airplane then struck the ground hard and began skidding sideways. The airplane broke up and burst into flames as it skidded for about 150 yards, coming to rest approximately 300 yards from the edge of the dry lakebed. Investigation revealed that all B-24 pilots who had flown the subject airplane complained that the airplane could not climb satisfactorily or operate well on three engines. Investigators noted that the B-24 pilots at Muroc had similar performance problems with all B-24J model airplanes in the 42-73377 — 42-73399 block.” (Mireles 2006, pp. 902-903.)
Newspaper
Sep 2, UP: “Muroc Army Air Base, Sept. 2. – (U.P.) – The entire 10-man crew of a B-24 Liberator bomber was killed yesterday when the plane crashed near here, air base officers said today. The dead included F-O William, 2nd Lt. Lawrence D. Lampton, 25, Libby, Mont., and Cpl. Robert L. Metcalf, Denver, Colo.” (United Press. “Crew of 10 Perish in Bomber Crash.” Oakland Tribune, CA. 9-3-1944, p. 1.)
Sources
Baugher, Joseph F. 1942 USAAF Serial Numbers (42-70686 to 42-91973). 5-18-2011 revision. Accessed 12-16-2011 at: http://www.joebaugher.com/usaf_serials/1942_4.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.
United Press. “Crew of 10 Perish in Bomber Crash.” Oakland Tribune, CA. 9-3-1944, p. 1. Accessed 3-27-2024 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/oakland-tribune-sep-03-1944-p-2/