1945 – July 14, USAAF TB-25C engine-related plane crash, 1 mile NW of Weldon, TX– 11
Last edit Dec 2, 2023 by Wayne Blanchard for upload to: http://www.usdeadlyevents.com/
–11 Mireles 2006. Fatal Army AF Aviation Accidents…US…, V3, Aug 1944-Dec 1945, 1134.
Narrative Information
Mireles: “At 1119 CWT, a North American TB-25C suffering apparent engine trouble while flying in instrument conditions crashed one mile northwest of Weldon, Texas, killing 11 passengers and crew. The airplane took off at 1025 CWT from Esler Field, Alexandria, Louisiana, on an administrative flight to Temple Army Air Field, Temple, Texas. The Accident Classification Committee stated,
“Shortly after 1100 CWT the aircraft was observed over Stumpville, Texas, a village about 25 miles northeast of Madisonville, Texas, on the highway to Austonio, Texas, coming out of a bank of clouds at an altitude of approximately 500 feet, heading in a southerly or southeasterly direction. Witnesses stated that the left engine was trailing grayish-blue smoke and emitting intermittent puffs of black smoke, and that the landing-gear was down and the bomb bay doors were open. At 1119 CWT, the aircraft crashed in a previously cultivated field about one mile northwest of Weldon, Texas, nine miles southeast of where it was first observed and approximately 16 miles southeast of its course.”
“Investigators noted that the ceiling in the area of the crash was approximately 600 feet agl with scattered thundershowers. It was speculated that the pilot was attempting an emergency forced landing and inadvertently flew the airplane into the ground. The airplane exploded into flames upon impact with the ground, scattering wreckage over an area of 400 yards.” (Mireles 2006, p. 1134.)
Baugher: “41-13039/13296 North American B-25C-1 Mitchell….13105 to TB-25C….crashed 1 mi NW of Weldon, TX Jul 14, 1945…” (Baugher, Joseph F. 1941 USAAF Serial Numbers (41-6722 to 41-13296. April 11, 2023 revision.)
Newspaper
July 14 (AP): “Weldon, Tex., July 14 (AP) – An Army airplane exploded and crashed during a heavy rainstorm a mile west of this central east Texas community Saturday, killing nine persons. Spectators reported the low-flying plane caught fire just before it exploded.” (Associated Press. “Army Plane Explodes in Storm, Killing Nine.” Albuquerque Journal, NM. 7-15-1945, p. 1.)
July 14 (UP): “Weldon, Tex., July 14 (UP) – Nine airmen were killed today when a B-25 medium bomber crashed and burned after exploding near here while on a routine training flight from Esler field, Alexandria, La., to the Temple (Tex.) Army airfield. Lt. Col. Roy P. Ward, commanding officer of the Bryan Army airfield at Bryan, Tex., said that a board of officers had been selected to investigate the crash. No names were announced.” (United Press. “Nine Army Airmen Killed in Crash.” Port Arthur News, TX. July 15, 1945, p. 1.)
Sources
Associated Press. “Army Plane Explodes in Storm, Killing Nine.” Albuquerque Journal, NM. 7-15-1945, p. 1. Accessed 12-2-2023: https://newspaperarchive.com/albuquerque-journal-jul-15-1945-p-1/
Baugher, Joseph F. 1941 USAAF Serial Numbers (41-6722 to 41-13296. April 11, 2023 revision. Accessed 12-2-2023 at: https://www.joebaugher.com/usaf_serials/1941_2.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. “Nine Army Airmen Killed in Crash.” Port Arthur News, TX. July 15, 1945, p. 1.
Accessed 12-2-2023 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/port-arthur-news-jul-15-1945-p-1/