1947 — Dec 31, USAF B-29 weather recon. plane engine loss/crash after takeoff, Elmendorf AFB, AK–9

Compiled by Wayne Blanchard 10-5-2023 for upload to: https://www.usdeadlyevents.com/

–9  Air Weather Recon Assoc. “Gone, But Not Forgotten.” Accessed 12-23-2011

–9  AP. “B-29 Bomber Meets Disaster Near Anchorage.” Daily Alaska Empire, Juneau AK. 12-31-1947, 1.

Narrative Information

“B-29   44-62200  31 Dec 47  375th RS (VLR) Wea.  Elmendorf AFB, AK

    1Lt  Joseph E. Finkey
    1Lt  William N. Green
    1Lt  Paul G. Jordan
    2Lt  Donald DeNeau
    MSgt  James D. Matthew
    TSgt  George W. Bessire
    SSgt  David C. Brown
    Sgt  Edward C. Decker
    Cpl  Earl P. Domangue.”

(Air Weather Recon Assoc. “Gone, But Not Forgotten.” Accessed 12-23-2011)

Newspaper

Dec 31, AP: “Anchorage, Alaska, Dec. 31. – (AP) – An Air Force B-29 with nine aboard apparently met disaster two minutes after leaving Elmendorf Field on a routine long range weather observation flight shortly after midnight today, and field authorities said a search would be concentrated in thee area where a ‘blinding flash’ was seen. The big plane took off at 12:11 a.m. (5:11 a.m. Eastern Standard Time) on a routine mission to the San Francisco Bay area. At 12:33 the pilot radioed the field’s control tower: ‘No. 3 engine out. Stand by.’ A few seconds later, the Public Relations officer reported, personnel in the tower saw a ‘blinding flash.’

“There has been no contact with the plane since that time. Aerial observation attempts have been thwarted by a steadily falling snow. Disaster was believed to have struck the plane over the Lost Lake and Point McKenzie areas, directly west of Anchorage.

“It is the second B-29 crash in Alaska within eight days. Another on a long-range navigation training mission crashed in isolated Northwester Alaska Dec. 23 and two crew members, believed dead, are still being sought….” (Assoc. Press. “B-29 Bomber Meets Disaster Near Anchorage. Disappears 2 Minutes After Hop.” Daily Alaska Empire, Juneau, AK. 12-31-1947, 1.)

Sources

Air Weather Recon Assoc. “Gone, But Not Forgotten.” Accessed 12-23-2011 at:  http://www.awra.us/gallery-may05.html

Associated Press. “B-29 Bomber Meets Disaster Near Anchorage. Disappears 2 Minutes After Hop.” The Daily Alaska Empire, Juneau, AK. 12-31-1947, p. 1. Accessed 10-5-2023 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/the-daily-alaska-empire-dec-31-1947-p-1/