1949 — Dec 22, USAF B-50 fire after takeoff and crash, Argyle Island ~Savannah, GA–all 11
Compiled by Wayne Blanchard Sep 7, 2023 for upload to: http://www.usdeadlyevents.com/
–11 AP. “Eleven Perish in Wreckage…Savannah…” Florence Morning News, SC. 12-23-1949, 1.
–11 Aviation Safety Network. USAF B-50 crash 5 mi N of Savannah, GA, Dec 22, 1949.
–11 National Fire Protection Assoc.. “Large Loss Fires of 1949.” Quarterly, 43/3, Jan 1950, 167.
–11 Tucson Daily Citizen, AZ. “Body of Tucson Flier Recovered,” Jan 14, 1950, p. 10.
Narrative Information
Aviation Safety Network, Flight Safety Foundation, Database, 1949:
“Date: Thursday 22 December 1949
“Time: 21:17
“Type: Boeing B-50A-30-BO Superfortress
“Owner/operator: United States Air Force (USAF)
“Registration: 47-110
“MSN: 15794
“Fatalities: Fatalities: 11 / Occupants: 11
….
“Location: 5 mi N of Savannah, GA
“Phase: Initial climb
“Nature: Military
“Departure airport: Chatham AFB, GA [Savannah]
“Destination airport: Biggs AFB, TX
“Narrative: Crashed into marsh of Savannah river about five minutes after take-off.”
National Fire Protection Association Quarterly, Vol. 43, No. 3, January 1950, p. 167:
“Dec. 22 near Savannah, Ga. U.S. Air Force B-50 $850,000, 11 killed
“All eleven crew members were killed when a B-50 plunged in flames into a water-soaked rice field. Rescue crews had to use special equipment to reach the scene due to the marshy conditions of the ground.”
Newspaper
Dec 23, Associated Press: “Savannah, Ga. – (AP) ….An Air Force B-50 bomber flamed through the sky and plunged into an’ old, water-soaked, rice field last night. There were no survivors. Eleven crewmen died in the flames. Report of the number of men aboard came from Chatham Field, the plane’s home base.
“Chatham Field’s commanding officer…said a B-50 took off from his field at 9:12 p. m. and had not reported since. The colonel said it was ‘assumed that the craft down in the middle of the Savannah National Wildlife Refuge was the one from Chatham.
“The report of no survivors came from the first to arrive at the scene of the crash, Edgar S. Jaycock, superintendent of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, and a wild life staff member, J. H. Dean. Both said they arrived at the crash scene on Argyle Island within 40 minutes but were unable to get close because of the terrific flames. Dean said he finally was able to spot two bodies in the wreckage which was strewn for a 1,000 feet around.” (AP “Eleven Perish in Wreckage… Savannah…” Florence Morning News (SC). 12-23-1949, 1.)
Sources
Associated Press. “Eleven Perish in Wreckage Of Savannah Plane Crash” Florence Morning News, SC, 12-23-1949, p. 1. Accessed at: http://www.newspaperarchive.com/FullPagePdfViewer.aspx?img=51792933
Aviation Safety Network, Flight Safety Foundation, Database, 1949. USAF B-50 crash 5 mi N of Savannah, GA, Dec 22, 1949. Accessed 9-7-2023 at: https://aviation-safety.net/wikibase/153621
National Fire Protection Association. “Large Loss Fires of 1949.” Quarterly of the National Fire Protection Association, Vol. 43, No. 3, January 1950, pp. 151-170.
Tucson Daily Citizen, AZ. “Body of Tucson Flier Recovered,” Jan 14, 1950, p. 10. Accessed at: http://www.newspaperarchive.com/PdfViewerTags.aspx?img=85052881&firstvisit=true&src=search¤tResult=13¤tPage=0&fpo=False
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