1945 – Jan 26, USAAF B-17G plane crash 2M SW of Hendricks Field, Sebring, FL –all 10
Compiled by Wayne Blanchard for: http://www.usdeadlyevents.com/ Last edit 12-14-2023.
–10 AP. “Fond du Lac Soldier Dies in Plane Crash.” Manitowoc Herald-Times, WI. 1-29-1945, 3.
–10 Mireles 2006. Fatal Army AF Aviation Accidents…US…, V3, Aug 1944-Dec 1945, 1030.
Narrative Information
Mireles: “At 2130 EWT, a Boeing B-17G crashed two miles southwest of Hendricks Field, Sebring, Florida, killing ten crewmembers. The airplane had taken off from Hendricks Field on a high-altitude bombing mission at the AAF Bombing Range at Avon Park, Florida. The airplane, flying at 20,000 feet, received permission to bomb on the range. The airplane never arrived on the range and did not drop its bombs. Investigators stated,
At 2130 EWT several witnesses from Hendricks Field heard a terrific roar as of overspeeding engines. This was followed by a large flash in the air at approximately 1,000 feet, which was in turn followed by a second explosion as the airplane crashed into the ground. The two explosions were almost simultaneous and indicate that the airplane was traveling at high speed and [diving] nearly straight down. The scene of the accident also indicated a terminal velocity dive or high-speed spiral as, prior to the crash, the airplane began to shed parts. All parts torn loose were found south of the point of impact, with some small pieces of wing skin being found six miles away. The heavier parts of the control surfaces, wing flaps, ailerons, trailing edges of the wings, horizontal and vertical stabilizers and elevators were all within one mile of the point of impact….The entire fuselage was completely demolished and no information could be gathered from the wreckage due to the fire after crashing. Parts of the fuselage and engines were buried six to eight feet in the ground. Due to no evidence of fire or explosion on the scattered parts, it is the opinion of the [investigators] that the first explosion seen in the air was a result of the airplane coming apart rather than a cause [of the crash]. All bodies were recovered in their approximate flight positions and as near as could be determined, all had oxygen masks on.
“The cause of the accident could not be determined….” (Mireles 2006,, p. 1030.)
Newspaper
Jan 28, AP: “Avon Park, Fla., (AP) – Ten men were killed Friday night in the crash of a four engine bomber near Sebring, Fla., Colonel Clint T. Johnson, commanding officer of the Avon Park army air field, announced Saturday. Those killed included: Cpt. Howard W. Wertz, Found du Lac, Wis.” (AP. “Fond du Lac Soldier Dies in Plane Crash.” Manitowoc Herald-Times, WI. 1-28-1945, p.3)
Sources
Associated Press. “Fond du Lac Soldier Dies in Plane Crash.” Manitowoc Herald-Times, WI. 1-29-1945, p. 3. Accessed 12-14-2023 at:
https://newspaperarchive.com/manitowoc-herald-times-jan-28-1945-p-3/
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.