1948 — Jan 30, USAF B-17 plane crash, Cheval Blanc Mountain, Southern France — 9
Compiled by Wayne Blanchard Sep 27, 2023 for upload to: http://www.usdeadlyevents.com/
— 9 Altoona Mirror, PA. “Third Plane is Believed Lost in Alps Tragedy.” 1-31-1948, p. 1.
— 9 Aviation Safety Network, Flight Safety Foundation, Database, 1948. USAF B-17, 1-30-1948.
— 9 European Stars and Stripes, Germany. “`I’ve Got to Get Altitude’.” 2-3-1948, 1.
— 9 Oakland Tribune, CA. “Bodies Removed From U.S. Plane.” 2-1-1948, p. 9.
— 9 Oakland Tribune, CA. “One U.S. Air Crewman’s Life Saved by Ex-German Flier.” 2-1-48
— 9 Oakland Tribune CA. “Two Missing Crash Victims’ Bodies Found.” 2-2-1948, 6.
Narrative Information
Aviation Safety Network, Flight Safety Foundation, Database, 1948 (USAF b-17, 1-30-1948):
“Date: Friday 30 January 1948
“Type: Boeing SB-17G Flying Fortress
“Owner/operator: United States Air Force (USAF)
“Registration: 44-83787
….
“Fatalities: Fatalities: 9 / Occupants: 10
…
“Location: Montagne du Cheval-Blanc, Basses-Alpes or – France
“Hase: En route
“Nature: Military
“Departure airport: Istres-Le Tubé Air Base
“Destination airport: ?
“Narrative:
“On early morning of 30 January 1948, a search plane located the wreckage of a C-47 that had crashed on the 27th of the same month. The plane waited there for a while, awaiting a B-17 that was to take some photos. But the Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress struck the Montagne du Cheval-Blanc, just behind the ridge. The aircraft exploded instantly, and crashed some 1000m from the C-47 debris. There were only 2 survivors…. But the pilot, one of them, was not located until March 25th, and had died because of his severe injuries and because of cold.
“Probable Cause:
Strong winds from the north, causing strong downdrafts.
The photographers asked the pilot to descend dangerously low.
The pilot was surprised by the winds and misjudged the descent.
8 of 10 people located on board the accident aircraft were in the forward part, causing a huge imbalance.”
European Stars and Stripes
Feb 2, S&S: “Digne, France, Feb. 2 (S&S) – ‘The last thing I heard the pilot say was, ‘I’ve tot to get some altitude.’ The words are those of S/Sgt. Angelo A. LaSalle, lone survivor of two American plane crashes in the French Alps near here which claimed the lives of 21 persons. ‘We turned to the left,’ continued LaSalle, ‘but as wee passed over the peak, a downdraft caught us and our left wingtip dragged. I saw it and tried to kick a hole in a plexiglass window so I cound get jump. Then the plane cartwheeled…’
“Nine men died in the crash of the B17, on which LaSalle had been assistant engineer. It smashed on the crest of White Horse Mountain…while on a rescue mission, and had just circled above the wreckage of the C47 it had been hunting.
“The C47 crashed Tuesday while en route from Istres, France to…Italy, with four crewmen and eight dependents – three women and five children who planned to join American Occupation Forces in Trieste….” (European Stars and Stripes, Darmstadt, Germany. “`I’ve Got to Get Altitude’.” 2-3-1948, 1.)
Sources
Altoona Mirror, PA. “Third Plane is Believed Lost in Alps Tragedy.” 1-31-1948, p. 1. Accessed at: http://www.newspaperarchive.com/FullPagePdfViewer.aspx?img=73992842
Aviation Safety Network, Flight Safety Foundation, Database, 1948. USAF B-17 strikes Montagne du Cheval-Blac, France, 1-30-1948. Accessed 9-29-23 at: https://aviation-safety.net/wikibase/140141
European Stars and Stripes, Darmstadt, Germany. “`I’ve Got to Get Altitude’.” 2-3-1948, 1. Accessed at: http://www.newspaperarchive.com/FullPagePdfViewer.aspx?img=133377733
Oakland Tribune, CA. “Bodies Removed From U.S. Plane.” 2-1-1948, p. 9. Accessed at: http://www.newspaperarchive.com/FullPagePdfViewer.aspx?img=46783856
Oakland Tribune, CA. “One U.S. Air Crewman’s Life Saved by Ex-German Flier.” 2-1-1948, 9. Accessed at: http://www.newspaperarchive.com/FullPagePdfViewer.aspx?img=46783856
Oakland Tribune, CA. “Two Missing Crash Victims’ Bodies Found.” 2-2-1948, p. 6. Accessed at: http://www.newspaperarchive.com/FullPagePdfViewer.aspx?img=43151710
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