1945 — Jan 24, two USAAF B-17Fs in flight of five collide/crash ~5M NE of Dyersburg, TN– 16
Compiled by Wayne Blanchard for: http://www.usdeadlyevents.com/ Last edit 12-14-2023.
— 16 Kingsport News, TN. “Plane Collision Kills 16 Airmen.” 1-25-1945, p. 1.
— 16 Mireles 2006. Fatal Army AF Aviation Accidents…US…, V3, Aug 1944-Dec 1945, 1028.
Narrative Information
Mireles: “At 1610 CWT, two Boeing B-17F airplanes collided in midair and crashed northeast of Dyersburg, Tennessee, killing sixteen fliers. Four fliers were able to parachute to safety. The two airplanes were part of a five-ship flight that took off at 1500 from Dyersburg Army Air Field on a high altitude formation flight with pursuit ship interception. B-17F #42-6177, which crashed six miles northeast of Dyersburg, was flying in the number-three position of the lead element; B-17F #425325, which crashed four miles northeast of Dyersburg, was flying in the lead position of the second element. The formation was flying north at 10,000 feet when the number-three airplane dropped back out of position and then veered to the right. The number-three airplane continued to move to the right and stopped directly over the lead ship of the second element. The number-three airplane “hovered” over the lead ship for several seconds before dropping down on top of the lead ship. The number-three ship’s nose collapsed on the port wing and its starboard propellers cut into the fuselage of the lead ship near the radio room. The lead ship broke up as it fell away from the number-three ship, the port wing was severed and the fuselage broke in two near the radio room. The starboard wing failed and separated as the lead ship fell to earth. None of the ten crewmembers aboard the lead ship were able to parachute to safety. The number-three ship went into a slight climb and then entered a spiral to the right, remaining in this attitude until it crashed to ground and exploded into flames….” (Mireles 2006, 1028.)
Newspaper
Jan 25, Associated Press: “Dyersburg, Tenn. – AP – Sixteen Army airmen were killed and four others parachuted to safety late Wednesday when two Flying Fortresses collided in flight about five miles northeast of their Dyersburg base, Col. William C. Lewis, commanding officer, announced. The ships were flying in formation on a combat training-mission when the collision occurred. They crashed and burned within two miles of each other….” (Kingsport News, TN. “Plane Collision Kills 16 Airmen.” 1-25-1945, p. 1.)
Sources
Kingsport News, TN. “Plane Collision Kills 16 Airmen.” 1-25-1945, p. 1. Accessed 10-9-2012 at: http://newspaperarchive.com/FullPagePdfViewer.aspx?img=49005261
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.