1945 — June 30, USAAF B-29 night navigation crash into mt., 8M ~Guadalupe Peak, TX–12
Last edit Dec 3, 2023 by Wayne Blanchard for upload to: http://www.usdeadlyevents.com/
— 12 Baugher. 1944 USAAF Serial Numbers (44-40049 to 44-70254). Oct 28, 2011 revision.
— 12 Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives. USAAF B-29, Guadalupe Peak, June 30, 1945.
— 12 Mireles 2006. Fatal Army AF Aviation Accidents…US…, V3, Aug 1944-Dec 1945, 1123.
Narrative Information
Baugher: “Boeing B-29-70-BW Superfortress….69943 (TB-29, 233rd AAFBU) crashed into high ground 8 mi S of Guadalupe Peak, Texas Jun 30, 1945 while on night navigation training mission during return leg from Davis Monthan AAF to Mobile, AL. All 12 aboard killed.” (Baugher. 1944 USAAF Serial Numbers (44-40049 to 44-70254). Oct 28, 2011 revision.)
Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives. USAAF B-29, Guadalupe Peak, June 30, 1945:
“Date & Time: Jun 39, 1945 at 2240 LT [local time]
“Type of aircraft: Boeing B-29 Superfortress
“Operator: USAAF
“Registration: 44-69943
“Flight Phase: Flight
“Flight Type: Training
“Survivors: No
“Site: Mountains
“Schedule: Davis Monthan – Mobile – Davis Monthan
“MSN: 10775
“YOM: 1945
“Location: Guadalupe Peak, Texas
….
“Crew on board: 12
“Crew fatalities: 12
“Pax on board: 0
“Pax fatalities: 0
“Other fatalities: 0
“Total fatalities: 12
….
“Circumstances: While cruising by night and low visibility, the four engine aircraft hit the
slope of a mountain located south of the Guadalupe Peak, southeast of Pine
Springs, west Texas. The aircraft was destroyed by impact forces and a post
crash fire and all 12 crew members were killed. They were conducting a
night training sortie from Davis Monthan to Mobile and return.
“Crew (233rd Unit): F/O Eugene R. Chale,
1st Lt James Harrison Couch,
2nd Lt James M. Green,
Sgt Aristo Landers,
M/Sgt Orval R. Lawless,
Cpl Ralph I. Martin,
1st Lt Joseph J. Mennen Jr.,
Pfc Clark J. Moore,
Sgt Fayette H. Stanfield,
F/O James A. Thomas,
2nd Lt Wesley A. Waldron,
F/O Ernest E. Wilson.
“Probable cause: At the time of the accident, the aircraft was cruising at an insufficient
altitude estimated between 5,000 and 5,400 feet by night. According to
investigators, such flight should not be conducted by night as the crew was
not familiarized with the topography of this region. No technical failure was
pointed out on the aircraft. Also, the preflight briefing on behalf of the crew
was incomplete.”
Mireles: “At 2040 MWT, a Boeing TB-29A crashed into a mountain seven miles southeast of Delaware Springs, Texas, killing 12 fliers. The airplane was one of a flight of five that took off from Davis-Monthan Field, Tucson, Arizona, on a flight to Mobile, Alabama, and return. The airplane never arrived at Mobile and it was found to have crashed into the side of a mountain at an elevation of approximately 5,200 feet while flying in a straight and level attitude at cruise speed.” (Mireles 2006, p. 1123.)
Sources
Baugher, Joseph F. 1944 USAAF Serial Numbers (44-40049 to 44-70254). Oct 28, 2011 revision. Accessed 12-25-2011 at: http://www.joebaugher.com/usaf_serials/1944_4.html
Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives. “Crash of a Boeing TB-29A Super Fortress near the Guadalupe Peak: 12 Killed.” Accessed 12-3-2023 at: https://www.baaa-acro.com/crash/crash-boeing-tb-29a-super-fortress-near-guadalupe-peak-12-killed
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.