1948 — Nov 3, USAF B-29 Bomber Crash after takeoff ~Lajes Field, Azores, Portugal–    19

Compiled by Wayne Blanchard Sep 20, 2023 for upload to: http://www.usdeadlyevents.com/

Blanchard note on fatalities: Though we show several sources noting 18 fatalities, we view the New York Times/Associated Press article as definitive in that it names the 19 fatalities as well as the one survivor.

–19  Florence Morning News, SC. “Nineteen Killed in Sea Crash.” 11-5-1948, p. 1.

–19  NYT. “19 Killed in B-29 In Azores Crash. One Air Force Man Survives…” 11-5-1948, p18.

–18  Aviation Safety Network. USAF B-29 crash on takeoff, Lajes, Azores, Portugal, 11-3-1948.

–18  Billings Gazette, MT. “18 Men Killed in Plane Crash.” 11-5-1948, p. 1.

–18  Oakland Tribune, CA. “18 Killed in Crash of B-29.” 11-4-1948, p. 1. 

Narrative Information

Aviation Safety Network, Flight Safety Foundation, Database, 1948:
“Date:                          Wednesday 3 November 1948

….

“Type:                         Boeing B-29 Superfortress

“Owner/operator:        United States Air Force

….

“Fatalities:                   18 / Occupants: 19

….

“Location:                   Lajes, Azores – Portugal

“Phase:                        Take off

“Nature:                      Military

….

“Narrative:                  Crashed in sea on take-off.

Newspapers

Nov 4, AP: “Tampa, Fla., Nov. 4. – (AP) – An Air Force B-29 crashed on a takeoff from Lagens [Lajes] Field in the Azores yesterday, killing 18 of the 20 men aboard, MacDill Field reported today. One man was missing. Another survived with major injuries, Major George Byrnes, public information officer at MacDill, said. The plane was one of a number returning to the United States from England. It was from the 307th Bomb Group based at MacDill.

“Major Byrnes said the big bomber crashed into the ocean about 500 yards offshore within a few minutes after the takeoff. The accident occurred after dark with a low cloud ceiling of about 1000 feet, not unusual for a B-29 takeoff., Major Byrnes said. There was a slight drizzle. Cause of the accident has not been determined. A board of officers has begun an investigation at the scene.

“The plane was one of 29 returning to MacDill Field after a three and a half months’ training tour in England. Major Byrnes said another of the group was reported to have landed in Bermuda because of mechanical trouble without injury to anyone. Twelve have arrived at MacDill Field.”  (Oakland Tribune, CA. “18 Killed in Crash of B-29.”  11-4-1948, p. 1.)

Nov 4, NYT/AP: “Tampa, Fla., Nov 4. (AP) – Nineteen men were killed in a B-29 crash in the Azores yesterday. There was one known survivor among the twenty United States Air Force men aboard the plane. MacDill Field here revealed that the bomber crashed about 500 yards off shore a few minutes after taking off from Lagens [sic] Air Force Base….

“The survivor in the Azores crash, S/Sgt. Henry B. Anderson of Tampa, was in a critical condition.

“The dead included [we break the following paragraph into lines and add numbering]

  1. First Lieut. Leonard Post, pilot, of Tampa;
  2. First Lieut. William Jacobs, co-pilot, of Petersburg, Fla.;
  3. M/Sgt. Robert V. Wise,
  4. William D. Branch,
  5. Albert J. Snead,
  6. N/Sgt. J. E. Carriker,
  7. T/Sgt. William P. Stubblefield,
  8. S/Sgt. Raymond J. Chaplain,
  9. M/Sgt. Franklin E. Albright,
  10. William T. Langley,
  11. S/Sgt. Francis A. Tilton and
  12. William E. Spivey, all of Tampa; Also
  13. M/Sgt. Fred R. Baker of Blytheville, Ark.;
  14. “First Lieut. James W. McGuire of Milwaukee, Wis.;
  15. John E. Cook of Dallas, Tex.; T/Sgt.
  16. Albert Castrucci of Cambridge, Mass.;
  17. S/Sgt. Jon F. Gabriszeski of Tampa;
  18. First Lieut. Theodore C. Kochimanis of Palisades Park, N.J., and
  19. First Lieut. Amado Salinas of Fort Worth, Tex.”

(New York Times. “19 Killed in B-29 In Azores Crash. One Air Force Man Survives…” 11-5-1948, p. 18.)

Nov 5, Billings Gazette: “….Normally the B-29 carries a 10-man crew. In this instance the plane, one of 29 returning to MacDill field from a training tour in England, had…ground crewmen as passengers.” (Billings Gazette, MT. “18 Men Killed in Plane Crash.” 11-5-1948, p. 1.)

Sources

Aviation Safety Network, Flight Safety Foundation, Database, 1948. USAF B-29 crash on takeoff, Lajes, Azores, Portugal, 11-3-1948. Accessed 9-20-2023 at:

https://aviation-safety.net/wikibase/214390

Billings Gazette, MT. “18 Men Killed in Plane Crash.” 11-5-1948, p. 1. Accessed at:  http://www.newspaperarchive.com/FullPagePdfViewer.aspx?img=67397637

Florence Morning News, SC. “Nineteen Killed in Sea Crash.” 11-5-1948, p. 1. Accessed at:  http://www.newspaperarchive.com/FullPagePdfViewer.aspx?img=51759972

New York Times. “19 Killed in B-29 In Azores Crash. One Air Force Man Survives…” 11-5-1948, p. 18. Accessed 9-20-2023 at: https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1948/11/05/issue.html

Oakland Tribune, CA. “18 Killed in Crash of B-29.” 11-4-1948, p. 1. Accessed at:  http://www.newspaperarchive.com/FullPagePdfViewer.aspx?img=33920743

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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