1945 – Jan 20, USAAF B-24J landing approach crash, 2½M SE of Muroc Army Air Field, CA-10

Compiled by Wayne Blanchard for: http://www.usdeadlyevents.com/  Last edit 12-14-2023.

–10  Mireles 2006. Fatal Army AF Aviation Accidents…US…, V3, Aug 1944-Dec 1945, 1026.

Narrative Information

 

Baugher: “….North American B-24J-1-NT Liberator….78621 crashed near Muroc AAB, CA Jan 20, 1945.”

 

Mireles: “At 0115, a Con­solidated B-24J crashed two and a half miles south­east of Muroc Army Air Field, Muroc, California, killing ten fliers. The airplane took off from Muroc Army Air Field on a bombing training mission. The crew completed the bombing mission on the AAF range east of Muroc and returned to the area of the field for a landing. The airplane entered the traffic pattern and encountered instrument conditions while flying on the downwind leg for Runway 24. The airplane failed to land at Muroc and the pilot of another B-24 in the pat­tern observed a fire on the ground southeast of the field. Investigation revealed that the airplane flew into the ground on the base leg for Runway 24. The airplane struck the ground at a flat angle in a left-wing low po­sition and burst into flames as it smashed itself to pieces. Wreckage was scattered over an area of 1,000 feet. In­vestigation revealed that the weather in the area of the field had deteriorated at about 0100. Lowering ceil­ings and light snow flurries had moved into the area, hampering visibility. Other pilots attempting landings at the field reported that they had encountered instru­ment conditions and snow while flying in the traffic pattern….”  (Mireles 2006, p. 1026.)

 

Stowe and Robbins:

“Date       Pilot                         Type   ACSN      Station                 Location                  Remarks

“450129  Frederick J. Vieson B-24J  42-78621  Muroc AAF, CA  Muroc AAF 5M SE lost control

 

(Stowe, M. T. and G. C. Robbins. USAAF Aircraft Accidents and Missing Air Crew Reports January 20-22,1945. accident-report.com.)

 

Sources

 

Baugher, Joseph F. 1942 USAAF Serial Numbers (42-70686 to 42-91973), 7-7-2023 revision. Accessed 12-14-2023 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.

 

Stowe, M. T. and G. C. Robbins. USAAF Aircraft Accidents and Missing Air Crew Reports January 20-22,1945. accident-report.com. Accessed 12-14-2023 at:

http://accident-report.com/Yearly/1945/4501/4501g.html