1947 — Dec 16, USAF B-29 Crash after Davis-Monthan Field Takeoff, near Tucson, AZ–12
Compiled by Wayne Blanchard 10-10-2023 for upload to: https://www.usdeadlyevents.com/
–12 Baugher. 1944 USAAF Serial Numbers (44-83886 to 44-92098). 10-15-2011 revision.
–12 Hope Star, AR. “12 of 20 Die in Crash of Plane in Arizona.” 12-16-1947, p. 18.
–12 NFPA. “Fires Causing Large Loss of Life.” Handbook of Fire Protection, 1954, p. 35.
–12 NFPA. “Large Loss Fires of 1947.” Quarterly, Vol. 41, No. 3, Jan 1948, p. 167.
–12 Tucson Daily Citizen, AZ. “B-29 Makes Funeral Pyre For 12 Airmen.” 12-17-1947, p. 1.
–12 Tucson Daily Citizen, AZ. “Escape Simple, Army Reveals.” 12-22-1947, p. 18.
Narrative Information
Baugher: “Bell-Atlanta B-29-55-BA Superfortress. 44-84036 (2nd BG, 49th BS) crashed after takeoff 3 mi SE of Tucson, AZ Dec 16, 1947. 12 killed, 8 survived.” (Baugher. 1944 USAAF Serial Numbers (44-83886 to 44-92098). 10-15-2011 revision.)
Newspapers
Dec 17: “Tucson, Ariz., Dec. 17 — (AP) — Twelve of the 20 crew members of a Jamaica-bound B-29 died in the flaming wreckage of the four engined bomber a few minutes after taking off from Davis-Monthan field last night, Maj. D. D. Burke, press relations officer, announced today….
“…an army board of inquiry will today begin to probe the cause of the crash.
“The base reported the ship had just taken off from the field and was being watched from the tower. It was within sight of the tower when it crashed in flames. The announcement said two planes of the 49th squadron of the 2nd bomb group at Davis-Monthan took off shortly after 7 p. m., heavily laden with fuel and bound on a non-stop flight to Vernam Field, Jamaica. One of the ships was slowly gaining altitude when it is believed to have banked in an effort to return to the field and crashed into the desert approximately five miles southwest of the base and in an uninhabited section of suburban Tucson. It caught fire almost instantly.
“Seconds later crash wagons and fire trucks had been dispatched from the base tower and rolled across the roadless, cactus studded desert toward the 50-foot flames. Arizona Highway Patrolman Walter Sheets said: ‘I saw eight men leaving the crash area, dazed and shaken. Miraculously, all were walking and did not appear to be badly hurt, although one of them was obviously suffering from burns. I didn’t bother asking them the cause of the crash, being more anxious to get them to the hospital.
“Unofficial reports said one engine, possibly two, failed a few minutes after the takeoff. Base officials say the cause will not be officially known until the inquiry board completes its investigation.
“There was no immediate explosion as the plane hit the ground, according to witnesses. The first explosion followed about 15 minutes later and a second 45 minutes after the crash, which rattled windows in Tucson as far as five miles distant.” (Hope Star, AR. “12 of 20 Die in Crash of Plane in Arizona.” 12-17-1947, p. 18.)
Dec 17: “Taking off for a nonstop navigational training flight to the tiny British island of Jamaica in the West Indies, a Davis-Monthan B-29, piloted by First Lt. John P. Priecko, crashed, burned, and exploded in billowing, black smoke a few seconds after it became air-borne Tuesday evening. The crash took the lives of 12 of the 20 U. S. air forces fliers aboard the Superfortress, it was announced by Maj. D. D. -Burke, airbase public information officer….
“One of the eight [survivors], Sgt. Thomas E. Leonard, Baltimore, Md., was listed by the base surgeon as being in a critical condition. The remaining survivors are in the hospital under observation….
“The point of impact was about two miles southwest of the airbase and only a few hundred feet beyond a group of seven residential units owned by Mr. and Mrs. Lonnie Myers, 3106 South Campbell avenue….” (Tucson Daily Citizen, AZ. “B-29 Makes Funeral Pyre For 12 Airmen.” 12-17-1947, 1.)
Dec 17: “The names of 12 men who died and eight who were injured in the crash of a Davis-Monthan field B-29 were released by airbase spokesmen Wednesday, next of kin having been notified before the names were announced. The dead, including one Tucson and one Safford resident, are:
First Lt. John P. Priecko, Donora, Pa., commander of the plane.
Capt. Bonnell P. Coachman, Donaldsonville, Ga.
First Lt. Cedric A. Tooker, Willowbrook, Calif.
Second Lt. Walter Wigley, Laguna Beach, Calif.
Capt. Harold Rosenzweig, Long Beach, N. Y.
Second Lt. Gordon B. Odiorne, Wetumpka, Ala.
First Lt. Thomas A. Ferlazo, Ozone Park, N. Y:
Second Lt. Mones J. Pleason, 44 East Valeska Road, Tucson.
Sgt. John J. Woodall, Elmira, N. Y.
Tech. Sgt. John V. Hays, 523 West 11th street, Safford.
Staff Sgt. Ernest L. Frazier, Pampa, Tex.
Master Sgt. George C. Smith, Pasadena, Calif….”
(Tucson Daily Citizen, AZ. “Names of 12 Killed Given.” 12-17-1947, 1.)
Dec 22: “The eight men who survived last Tuesday night’s B-29 crash escaped death by the simple expedient of opening a door and walking out of the plane immediately after it came to a stop, it was announced Monday by Maj. D. D. Burke, Davis-Monthan field public information officer.
“The official announcement lays to rest innumerable rumors which had been circulating since the accident that took the lives of 12 other U. S. air forces fliers. Stories had been circulating that the eight survivors were blown out the blisters on the side of the Superfort; that the tail section broke off, affording an escape route; or that their escape would be a mystery forever.
“The board of inquiry which has been investigating the cause of the crash since Wednesday morning will make no local announcement of its findings, Maj. Burke said. Its report will be forwarded to higher headquarters when it is finished.
“Sgt. Thomas E. Leonard, the one survivor whose condition was listed as “critical” after the crash, remains on the hospital’s critical list, although the base surgeon believes he will be off that list before long, the spokesman said.” (Tucson Daily Citizen, AZ. “Escape Simple, Army Reveals.” 12-22-1947, p. 18.)
Sources
Baugher, Joseph F. 1944 USAAF Serial Numbers (44-83886 to 44-92098). Oct 15, 2011 revision. Accessed 12-31-2011 at: http://www.joebaugher.com/usaf_serials/1944_6.html
Hope Star, AR. “12 of 20 Die in Crash of Plane in Arizona.” 12-16-1947, p. 18. Accessed at: http://www.newspaperarchive.com/FullPagePdfViewer.aspx?img=121733967
National Fire Protection Association. “Fires Causing Large Loss of Life.” Handbook of Fire Protection (11th Ed.). Boston, MA: NFPA, 1954, pp. 33-36.
National Fire Protection Association. “Large Loss Fires of 1947.” Quarterly of the National Fire Protection Association, Vol. 41, No. 3, Jan 1948, pp. 153-195.
Tucson Daily Citizen, AZ. “B-29 Makes Funeral Pyre For 12 Airmen.” 12-17-1947, 1. Accessed at: http://www.newspaperarchive.com/FullPagePdfViewer.aspx?img=85133535
Tucson Daily Citizen, AZ. “Escape Simple, Army Reveals.” 12-22-1947, p. 18. Accessed at: http://www.newspaperarchive.com/FullPagePdfViewer.aspx?img=85133650