1945 – April 27, USAAF C-46D Plane Crash, Palo Duro canyon south of Claude, TX –all 11
Compiled by Wayne Blanchard for: http://www.usdeadlyevents.com/ Last edit 12-6-2023.
–11 Amarillo Sunday News-Globe, TX. “Army Transport Crash Kills 11.” 4-29-1945, p. 1.
–11 AP. “Eleven Officers and Men Killed in Crash.” Big Spring Daily Herald, TX. 4-30-1945, p.6.
–11 Aviation Safety Network. USAAF Curtis C-46D Commando crash 25M SSE Claude TX.
–11 Baugher, Joseph F. 1944 USAAF Serial Numbers (44-70255 to 44-83885). 6-10-2023 rev.
–11 Mireles 2006. Fatal Army AF Aviation Accidents…US…, V3, Aug 1944-Dec 1945, 1086.
–11 UP. “Probe Ordered in Crash Fatal to 11.” Dunkirk Evening Observer, NY. 4-30-1945, p.1.
–11 UP. “Two Minnesota Airmen Killed in Texas Crash.” Moorhead Daily News, MN. 5-1-1945, p.6.
Narrative Information
Aviation Safety Network, Flight Safety Foundation, Database, 1945, p. 76 (44-77706):
“Date: Friday 27 April 1945
“Time: 13:44
“Type: Curtiss C-46D-10-CU Commando
“Operator: United States Army Air Force – USAAF
“Registration: 44-77706
“MSN: 33102
“First flight: 1945
“Crew: Fatalities: 5 / Occupants: 5
“Passengers: Fatalities: 6 / Occupants: 6
“Total: Fatalities: 11 / Occupants: 11
….
“Location: 40 km (25 mls) SSE of Claude, TX (USA)
“Phase: En route (ENR)
“Mature: Military
“Departure airport: Sedalia Army Air Field, MO…USA
“Destination airport: San Antonio-Brooks Field, TX, USA
“Narrative:
“The C-46 transport plane departed Sedalia AAF on a personnel ferry flight to San Antonio-Brooks Field. It took off on a visual clearance but encountered instrument weather conditions en route. The pilot decided to continue on instruments at an altitude of 6000 feet. The airplane descended until it crashed in a canyon.”
Baugher: “….44-77444/77893 Curtiss (C-46D-10CU Commando….77706 (MSN 33102) w/o [written off] 27 Apr 1945 in crash 25 miles SSE of Claude, TX, 11 killed (flew into a canyon).”
Mireles: “At 1344 CWT, a Curtiss C-46D flying in poor weather crashed 25 miles SSE of Claude, Texas, killing 11 fliers…. The airplane took off on visual clearance at 1019 CWT from Sedalia Army Air Field, Knobnoster, Missouri, on a personnel ferry flight to Brooks Field, San Antonio, Texas, via Amarillo, Texas. The airplane encountered instrument conditions as it approached Amarillo, so the pilot went on instruments. At 1324, the pilot radioed Amarillo radio and reported that his position as 15 miles southeast of Amarillo at 6,000 feet. The pilot advised Amarillo radio that he was on an instrument clearance, which was not true, and requested weather for Abilene, Texas. The pilot radioed at 1332, reporting that he was 30 miles southeast of Amarillo at 6,000 feet. The pilot inquired about the ceiling and was advised the pilot reports indicated that the top of the overcast was about 8,000 feet. A short time later, three ranch employees heard a ‘sudden surge’ of the airplane engines in the overcast. Moments later the airplane was heard to crash. There were no eyewitnesses to the crash. Investigators stated that the airplane had crashed into ‘a shelf between the rim of the river bluff and the top cap-rock of the canyon.’ The airplane descended into the ground at angle exceeding 45 degrees, exploding violently into flames upon impact.” (Mireles 2006, p. 1086.)
Newspapers
April 29: “Eleven twisted, mangled bodies were removed from an Army Transport plane yesterday afternoon 25 miles south of Claude where it crashed at 1:45 o’clock Friday afternoon. The C-46 transport was en route to San Antonio from Sedalia, Mo., on a routine flight, officers said.
“R. Jones, a cowboy on the Hedgecoke Ranch, who lives only a mile from the scene of the crash, said he heard the plane flying in what he thought was perfect condition. ‘Suddenly the motors started to whine and the plane crashed to the earth,’ he said. He and the Hedgecoke foreman, Hobart Brace, were first to the scene. No piece of the plane large enough to identify remained intact except one buried motor and a portion of the propeller some 300 yards from the first impact.
“When the cowmen reported the accident men from Amarillo Field rushed to the scene. Roads were almost impassable and they did not reach the wreckage until midnight. They stood guard until the rescue parties reached the victims at mid-afternoon Saturday.
“Will Rogers Range Riders responded to the Army’s call yesterday morning by sending 16 horses and riders to the scene….
“Sgt. C. G. Conner and Patrolman Hugh Shaw of the State Highway Patrol visited the scene and assisted in freeing stuck cars most of the day. The only approach was over the canyon river beds, up steep hills and through quicksand. The Army field kitchen truck stuck within three miles of the scene of the tragedy and late last night wreckers were trying to free it and other cars from the said. Maj. Paul Johnson, officer in charge of the field kitchen unit, set up equipmen6 in the middle of the river bed and fed Army personnel and civilians alike.
“A board of officers have been named and are investigating the crash….” (Amarillo Sunday News-Globe, TX. “Army Transport Crash Kills 11.” 4-29-1945, p. 1.)
April 30, AP: “Amarillo, April 30 (AP) – Four Texans were among the 11 officers and men killed when an army transport plane from a Sedalia, Mo., base crashed in Palo Duro canyon 25 miles south of Claude, Tex., Friday. They were identified yesterday as:
2nd Lt. Ernest F. Crew, Jr., husband of Mrs. Verna H. Crow, 1205 Werst Dobbs, Tyler.
2nd Lt. Forrest M. Faulkner, husband of Mrs. Sarah J. Faulkner, 1010 West 37th st., Austin.
Flight Officer Thomas G. Anderson, San Antonio.
Cpl. Edward J. Shields, San Antonio.”
(Associated Press. “Eleven Officers and Men Killed in Crash.” Big Spring Daily Herald, TX. 4-30-1945, p.6.)
April 30. AP: “Amarillo, Tex., April 30 – (AP) – Two Sedalia, Mo., officers and army transport plane from a Sedalia base crashed in rugged Palo Duro canyon south of Claude, Tex., Friday. The Sedalians are
Captain Brown G. Middleton, jr., …wife…Evelyn R. Middleton, lives at 403 W Broadway
Lieutenant Paul J. Entrees, whose wife, Mrs. Violet Entress lives at 1602 South Osage St.
(AP. “Two Sedalia Fliers Among Crash Victims. Joplin News Herald, MO. 4-30-1945, p. 3.)
April 30, UP: “Amarillo, Tex., April 30 – (UP) – An investigation was ordered today into the crash of a C-26 army transport plane near Claude, Tex., Friday. The plane was enroute from Sedalia, Mo., to San Antonio, Tex., when the crash occurred, killing 11 officers and men. The dead include: Lt. Edward T. Kelly, son of Mrs. Agnes B. Kelly, Dansville, N.Y.” (UP. “Probe Ordered in Crash Fatal to 11.” Dunkirk Evening Observer, NY. 4-30-1945, p.1.)
May 1, UP: “Amarillo, Tex., May 1 (UP) – Two Minnesota airmen, Flight Officer Hollis K. Smith, Minneapolis, and Second Lieutenant Robert Gray of Kimball, were killed Frida in the crash of a C-46 transport plane, army officials disclosed today. The plane’s entire 11-man crew died when the transport went down near Claude, Tex., the army said.” (UP. “Two Minnesota Airmen Killed in Texas Crash.” Moorhead Daily News, MN. 5-1-1945, p.6.)
List of Fatalities from sources noted herein, alphabetically arranged:
(could not locate two names)
- Flight Officer Thomas G. Anderson San Antonio, TX.
- 2nd Ernest F. Crew, Jr. Tyler, TX.
- Lieutenant Paul J. Entrees Sedalia, MO
- 2nd Forrest M. Faulkner Austin, TX.
- Second Lieutenant Robert Gray Kimball, MN
- Edward T. Kelly Dansville, NY
- Captain Brown G. Middleton Jr. Sedalia, MO
- Edward J. Shields San Antonio, TX.
- Flight Officer Hollis K. Smith Minneapolis, MN
Sources
Associated Press. “Eleven Officers and Men Killed in Crash.” Big Spring Daily Herald, TX. 4-30-1945, p.6. Accessed 12-6-2023 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/big-spring-daily-herald-apr-30-1945-p-6/
Associated Press. “Two Sedalia Fliers Among Crash Victims. Joplin News Herald, MO. 4-30-1945, p. 3. Accessed 12-6-2023 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/joplin-news-herald-apr-30-1945-p-3/
Aviation Safety Network, Flight Safety Foundation, Database, 1945, p. 76. USAAF Curtis C-46D Commando crash 25M SSE Claude TX. 27 April 1945. Accessed 12-6-2023 at: https://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=19450427-2
Baugher, Joseph F. 1944 USAAF Serial Numbers (44-70255 to 44-83885). 6-10-2023 revision. Accessed 12-6-2023 at: https://www.joebaugher.com/usaf_serials/1944_5.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. “Probe Ordered in Crash Fatal to 11.” Dunkirk Evening Observer, NY. 4-30-1945, p.1. Accessed 12-6-2023 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/dunkirk-evening-observer-apr-30-1945-p-1/
United Press. “Two Minnesota Airmen Killed in Texas Crash.” Moorhead Daily News, MN. 5-1-1945, p.6. Accessed 12-6-2023 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/moorhead-daily-news-may-01-1945-p-6/