1945 — Sep 12 USN PB4Y-2 Privateer take-off engine fire/crash ~Master Field, Miami FL–14
Last edit Nov 27, 2023 by Wayne Blanchard for upload to: http://www.usdeadlyevents.com/
— 14 Associated Press. “14 Killed in Plane Crash.” Gettysburg Times, PA. 9-12-1945, p. 1.
— 14 Aviation Safety Network. USN Consolidated PB4Y-2 Privateer landing attempt crash.
— 14 Baugher. US Navy…Marine Corps BuNos Third Series (50360 to 60009). 10-27-2011 rev.
— 14 VPNavy.org. U.S. Navy Patrol Squadrons. “VP-4 Mishap…1940’s”
— 12 Aviation Archaeology Investigation & Rsch. “PB4Y USN Aircraft Airframe History List.”
Narrative Information
Baugher: “Consolidated PB4Y-2 Privateer….59618 (VB-4) crashed after takeoff due to engine fire near Master Field, FL Sept 12, 1945. 14 killed, one survived.” (Baugher. US Navy and US Marine Corps BuNos Third Series (50360 to 60009). 4-13-2013 revision.)
VPNavy.org: “12 SEP 45 A/C: PB4Y-2 Location: NAS Miami Strike: No BUNO: 59618 Cause: Fighter affiliation; 260 deg 2mi, from Master Field. Subject aircraft NAS Miami cleared for take-off on runway #220 at Master Field; the pilot made a normal take-off and retracted gear immediately. While the plane was making a shallow turn to starboard in accordance with existing course rules, Control Tower personnel at Master Field observed a fire in the planes #3 engine, Control Tower personnel informed pilot of this condition and that all runways were clear for landing. Pilot did not acknowledge these transmissions. Observers saw the aircraft continue in a climbing turn and to approximately 700 to 800-ft, the right turn increasing, and the fire becoming more intense.
“The aircraft began to lose altitude with the starboard wing still low, at approximately 300-ft, one crew member was seen to bail out. Plane continued to lose altitude and struck the earth in a slight, nose-down attitude exploding on impact. “Strike” Crew & pass:
Pilot Lt. J. G. William USNR/Killed,
Ens. R. Bradburn A-V(N) USNR/Killed,
Ens. L. L. Roof A-V(N) USNR/Killed,
AMM3c N. D. Stockman USN/Killed,
AMM3c A. A. Cassiol USNR/Killed,
ARM3c J. D. Robinson USNR/Killed,
AOM1c R. E. Schlenker USNR/Killed,
AOM2c F. Fleischer USNR/Killed,
AOM1c C. E. Volk USNR/Killed,
AOM3c R. V. Peterman USNR/Killed,
AOM3c E. W. Chapman USNR/Killed,
AOM3c J. E. McInytre USNR/Killed,
PHOM1c C. H. McClure USNR/Killed,
AOM1c T. H. Oswald USNR/Killed, and
AOM2c W. J. DeRoche USNR/Bailed out safely.
(VPNavy.org. U.S. Navy Patrol Squadrons. “VP-4 Mishap…1940’s”)
Newspaper
Sep 12, Associated Press: “Miami, Fla., Sept. 12 (AP) – Fourteen Navy men died today in the crash of a big, four-engined Privateer which, with one engine afire, was being guided to cleared runways by radio. One man escaped by leaping with his parachute. The man who jumped was W. J. De Roche (address unavailable immediately), aviation ordnanceman, who attempted to rescue his comrades but was driven away by flames and exploding ammunition.
“Naval authorities gave this description of the tragedy: The big plane with 15 men aboard took off from the naval air station on a regular training flight and as it gained the air observers in the control tower saw that its No. 3 engine was afire. ‘Your engine is afire,’ the pilot was told by radio. ‘You will land immediately on any runway. All runways are being cleared for you.’ Every plane in the vicinity was ordered out of the way of the distressed craft as the pilot acknowledged the message and began to turn back toward the field. ‘The aircraft circled and made a normal, three-engine approach. At about 500 feet with smoke getting into the cabin, one man was observed to parachute to safety. No one else left the plane,’ the Navy reported. The aircraft suddenly dived, crashed and exploded. There were no other survivors….” (Gettysburg Times, PA. “14 Killed in Plane Crash.” 9-12-1945, p. 1.)
Sources
Associated Press. “14 Killed in Plane Crash [USN PB4Y, FL].” Gettysburg Times, PA. 9-12-1945, p. 1. Accessed at: http://www.newspaperarchive.com/FullPagePdfViewer.aspx?img=3000792
Aviation Archaeology Investigation & Research. “PB4Y USN Aircraft Airframe History List.” Accessed 11-29-2011 at: http://www.aviationarchaeology.com/src/USN/PB4Y.htm
Aviation Safety Network, Flight Safety Foundation, Database, 1945, p. 119. US Navy Consolidated PB4Y-2 Privateer engine fire landing attempt crash, 12Sep1945. Accessed 11-27-2023 at: https://aviation-safety.net/wikibase/170753
Baugher, Joseph F. US Navy and US Marine Corps BuNos Third Series (50360 to 60009). 4-13-2023 revision. Accessed 11-27-2023 at: http://www.joebaugher.com/navy_serials/thirdseries6.html
VPNavy.org. U.S. Navy Patrol Squadrons. “VP-4 Mishap…1940’s.” Accessed 12-3-2011 at: http://www.vpnavy.org/vp4_mishap.html