1945 — July 25, thunderstorm, USAAF TC-47B wing fails/crash 13M NE of Tampa, FL–13

Last edit Nov 30, 2023 by Wayne Blanchard for upload to: http://www.usdeadlyevents.com/

–13  AP. “13 Feared Killed in Crash of Giant C-47.” Lubbock Morning Avalanche, TX, 7-26-1945, p.9.

–13  Aviation Safety Network. USAAF TC-47B crash 20M NE Tampa, FL, 25 July 1945.

–13  Mireles 2006. Fatal Army AF Aviation Accidents…US…, V3, Aug 1944-Dec 1945, 1141.

Narrative Information

 

Aviation Safety Network, Flight Safety Foundation, Database, 1945, p. 108 (44-76612).

“Date and Time:          Wednesday 25 July 1945, 10:30

“Type:                         Douglas TC-47B (DC-3)

“Operator:                   United States Army Air Force – USAAF

“Registration:              44-76612

“MSN:                         32944/16196

“First flight:                1945

“Crew:                         Fatalities: 13 / Occupants: 13

“Passengers:                Fatalities:   0 / Occupants:   0

“Total:                         Fatalities: 13 / Occupants: 13

“Aircraft damage:       Destroyed

….

“Location:                   32 km (20 mls) NE of Tampa, FL (USA)

“Phase:                        En route (ENR)

“Nature:                      Military

“Departure airport:      Sarasota AAF, FL…USA

“Destination airport:   Lake Charles AAF, LA…USA

“Narrative:

 

“The Douglas TC-47B was destroyed in an accident near Tampa, FL, killing all thirteen crew members. The airplane was part of a flight of five aircraft on a navigation training flight from Sarasota AAF to Lake Charles AAF. A line of thunderstorms was present in the area north of Tampa. The pilot lost control of he aircraft. Stresses on the airframe caused the failure of the left wing. The airplane spiraled down, breaking up. The wreckage came down in a thick mangrove swamp.” (Aviation Safety Network. USAAF TC-47B crash 20M NE Tampa, FL, 25 July 1945.)

 

Mireles: “At 1030 EWT, Douglas C-47B flying in instrument conditions suffered a catastrophic structural failure and crashed 20 miles northeast of Drew Field, Tampa, Florida, killing 13 fliers.

 

“The subject airplane was part of a flight of five C-47s that took off at 0915 EWT from Sarasota Army Air Base, Sarasota, Florida, on a navigation flight to Lake Charles Army Air Field, Lake Charles, Louisiana. The last aircraft took off at 0933 EWT. The airplanes failed to join up in formation and were never in di­rect visual contact with each other. The airplanes were to fly north and make their turn for Lake Charles when they passed over Drew Field. The lead pilot noticed that a line of thunderstorms was present in the area north of Tampa so he made his turn for Lake Charles south of Tampa Bay and proceeded with the flight. The lead pilot was not in radio contact with the other four airplanes and failed to alert them of the adverse weather conditions on the proposed flight path.

 

“Witnesses on the ground observed the subject airplane diving out of the low hanging overcast in a steep dive. The air­plane appeared to level out momentarily before the port wing failed and separated. The tail section failed and pieces separated from the airplane as it spiraled out of control. The airplane remained in the spiral to the left and smashed to the ground in swampy terrain. Wreck­age was scattered over a wide area. The port horizon­tal stabilizer and the starboard elevator were found about a mile from the main wreckage. The port wing and port elevator could not be found in the thick man­grove swamp, which was in a heavily flooded contri­tion.”  (Mireles 2006, p. 1141.)

 

Newspaper

 

July 25, AP: “Monroe, La., July 25. (AP) – The Selma field public relations office announced that 13 Army men, including four officers, two enlisted men and seven cadets were believed killed today in the crash of a giant C-47 training plane 20 miles northeast of Tampa, Fla. The public relations office said the names of the casualties probably would not be announced until tomorrow.” (Associated Press. “13 Feared Killed in Crash of Giant C-47.” Lubbock Morning Avalanche, TX, 7-26-1945, p. 9.)

 

Sources

 

Associated Press. “13 Feared Killed in Crash of Giant C-47.” Lubbock Morning Avalanche, TX, 7-26-1945, p. 9. Accessed 11-30-2023 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/morning-avalanche-jul-26-1945-p-9/

 

Aviation Safety Network, Flight Safety Foundation, Database, 1945, p. 108. USAAF TC-47B crash 20M NE Tampa, FL, 25 July 1945. Accessed 11-30-2023 at:

https://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=19450725-1

 

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.