1948 — Dec 22, USAF B-50 crash (congealed oil in manifold?) near Fairbanks, AK –all 10
Compiled by Wayne Blanchard Sep 20, 2023 for upload to: http://www.usdeadlyevents.com/
— 10 Aviation Safety Network. USAF B-50 crash 6M SSW of Eielson AFB, AK, 12-22-1948.
— 10 Chester Times, PA. “B-50 Probe Begun; 10 Killed in Crash.” 12-24-1948, p. 9.
— 10 Daily Capital News, Jefferson City, MO. “US B-50 Crashes…” 10-14-1949, 2.
— 10 Titusville Herald, PA. “B-50 Crash in Alaska Fatal to Ten.” 12-24-1948, p. 1.
Narrative Information
Aviation Safety Network, Flight Safety Foundation, Database, 1948:
“Date: 22-Dec-1948
“Type: Boeing B-50A-10-BO Superfortress
“Owner/operator: 63rd BSqn /43d BGp United States Air Force
“Registration: 46-106
“MSN: 15736
“Fatalities: Fatalities: 10 / Occupants: 10
“Other fatalities: 0
….
“Location: 6 miles SSW of Eielson AFB, Alaska – USA
“Phase: Unknown
“Nature: Military
“Departure airport: Eielson AFB, Alaska
“Destination airport: Eielson AFB, Alaska
“Narrative:
“The B-50A (pilot William J. Valentine) was one of the first five aircraft of this type deployed overseas from Davis-Monthan AFB, AZ. The remaining aircraft were grounded after the crash until the cause could be determined. It appeared that the congealing of oil in the small-sized tubing of the aircraft’s manifold pressure regulator had caused the crash and modified regulators were subsequently installed in all B-50s.”
Newspapers
Dec 23, Associated Press: “Fairbanks, Alaska, Dec. 23. – (AP) — Ten men were killed last night in the first crash of one of the Air Force’s big new four-engined B-50 bombers. The 60-ton sky giant, an improved version of the B-29 Superfortress which flattened Japanese industry, crashed and burned on a training flight from the Eielson Air Force base. The charred wreckage was sighted from the air today in a timbered area ten miles south of the Eielson base. Two Ladd Field helicopters flew to the scene and returned to report all aboard had been killed.
“The Air Force took over the plane only two months ago, ordering a substantial quantity to form the backbone of its heavy bombardment fleet. All of its performance data has not been released, but the plane carries a bigger load faster than the B-29. Its four engines each turn up 3,500 horsepower, compared to 2,000 for the earlier model. It has a normal gross weight of 120,000 compared to 106,000 for the B-29.
“The plane, flown north for tests under severe Arctic conditions, was believed to have crashed soon after its takeoff at 9 p. m. yesterday. No message was received from it after it took to the air.
“The crash was the first for the B-50s, Air Force spokesman said, although not the first accident. On Nov. 10, two days after a group of five B-50s arrived from Tucson, Ariz., one was hit near the Eielson Field runway by a C-47 which veered into it. Six of the B-50 crew were killed.
“The wreck scene was two miles south of the Tanana river. Ground parties were prevented from crossing the river to reach it late today because of the running water, but will do so tomorrow morning.
“The plane was assigned to the 43rd Bomb Group, based at the Davis-Monthan Air Force base, Tucson. Davis-Monthan officials said the crashed B-50 was one of five scheduled to return to Tucson Dec. 24 to spend Christmas at their home base.
“The B-50s were the first of three such groups to be flown north in rotation before March 15 for Arctic flying tests.
“The weather was clear last night during the flight, with the temperature 15 below zero. The Eielson base was formerly known as the Mile 26 Field, located 26 miles from here.” (Titusville Herald, PA. “B-50 Crash in Alaska Fatal to Ten.” 12-24-1948, p. 1.)
Dec 24, International News Service: “Fairbanks, Alaska (INS) – An official investigation is underway today into the crash of the Air Force’s big new four-engined B-50 bomber in which 10 men were killed. The giant plane, on a routine training flight Thursday [Dec 23] from the Air force base near Fairbanks, crashed and burned 10 miles south of the field.
“The bomber was spotted by one of more than 20 planes put into the air when the missing plane was long overdue at Fairbanks on a training flight. Two helicopters were dispatched to the scene immediately and reported that none of the bomber crew of 10 had survived.
“The B-50 was one of five such planes which arrived in Alaska about two months ago for training under Arctic flying conditions….” (Chester Times, PA. “B-50 Probe Begun; 10 Killed in Crash.” 12-24-1948, p. 9.)
Oct 14, 1949, Daily Capital News, Jefferson City, MO: “A B-50 bomber crashed near Fairbanks, Alaska, last Dec. 22, killing all ten men aboard.” (Daily Capital News, Jefferson City, MO. “US B-50 Crashes in England with Live Bomb Load.” 10-14-1949, p. 2.)
Sources
Aviation Safety Network, Flight Safety Foundation, Database, 1948. USAF B-50 crash 6M SSW of Eielson AFB, AK, 12-22-1948. Accessed 9-20-2023 at:
https://aviation-safety.net/wikibase/153616
Chester Times, PA. “B-50 Probe Begun; 10 Killed in Crash [Near Fairbanks, AK].” 12-24-1948, p. 9. Accessed at: http://www.newspaperarchive.com/FullPagePdfViewer.aspx?img=96562058
Daily Capital News, Jefferson City, MO. “US B-50 Crashes in England with Live Bomb Load.” 10-14-1949, 2. At: http://www.newspaperarchive.com/FullPagePdfViewer.aspx?img=90770071
Titusville Herald, PA. “B-50 Crash in Alaska Fatal to Ten.” 12-24-1948, p. 1. Accessed at: http://www.newspaperarchive.com/FullPagePdfViewer.aspx?img=104691378
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