1949 — Nov 3, USAF RB-29 engine trouble after takeoff, crash off Kindley US AFB, Bermuda–11

lornajarrettblanchard November 3, 1949

Compiled by Wayne Blanchard Sep 9, 2023 for upload to: http://www.usdeadlyevents.com/

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

–11 Aviation Safety Network. USAF RB-29A crash off St. George’s Isl., Bermuda, 11-3-1949.

–11 National Fire Protection Assoc. “Large Loss Fires of 1949.” Quarterly, 43/3, Jan 1950, 167.

–11 Newport Daily News, RI. “10 Fliers Die in Bermuda Crash.” 11-4-1949, 1.^[1]

Narrative Information

Air Weather Recon Association: “RB-29; 44-87750 “Hurricane Hattie” 3Nov49 373^rd RS (VLR) Wea. Kindley AFB, Bermuda

     Maj Roy H. Bruns
    Capt Cleo S. Maddox
    Capt John C. Mays
    1Lt James E. Shewey
    1Lt Andrew J. Rooks
    TSgt Clarence J. Hyatt
    SSgt Harry N. Barker
    SSgt Preston S. Treadway
    Sgt James A. Sapp
    Cpl Harry N. Carden
    Cpl Robert D. Myrman.”     ** “Hurricane Hattie”

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

National Fire Protection Assoc. “Large Loss Fires of 1949.” Quarterly, 43/3, Jan 1950, p167:

“Nov. 3 near Hamilton, Bermuda U.S. Air Force B-29 $750,000 [loss] 11 killed.

“Eleven of 14 airmen aboard a B-29 were killed when the aircraft crashed and burned 1 mile off-shore soon after take-off from Kindley Field.”[2]

(National Fire Protection Association. “Large Loss Fires of 1949.” Quarterly of the National Fire Protection Association, Vol. 43, No. 3, January 1950, pp. 167.)

Newspaper

Nov 4, Associated Press: “Hamilton, Bermuda, Nov. 4 (AP) — B-28 Superfortress, crippled by engine trouble, crashed into the sea a mile from shore Thursday night. The big plane caught fire after hitting the water and 10 of the 13 U. S. airmen aboard were killed. Four crewmen managed to jump out after the stricken bomber plowed into the waves, but one died of burns a few minutes later. The three survivors, rescued by an oil company executive in a rowboat, were taken to the U. S. Base Hospital at nearby Kindley Field with minor injuries.

“Bermudians watching from shore could hear the screams of the others trapped in the blazing ship.

“Col. Jack Merrill, Kindley Field commander, said the plane had turned back from a weather observation flight when one of its four engines failed. Losing altitude, the disabled plane approached Kindley Field but was unable to land because another plane was on the runway, Merrill said. Unable to regain altitude on three motors, the ship crashed into the sea. Witnesses said the plane smacked into the sea with terrific force, skipping over the water like a skimming stone…Escaping gasoline caught fire.

“William Gleason, operator manager of nearby Standard Oil Company docks, and two St. George residents put out in a row boat and picked up the three survivors.” (Newport Daily News, RI. “10 Fliers Die in Bermuda Crash.” 11-4-1949, p. 1.)

Sources

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

Aviation Safety Network, Flight Safety Foundation, Database, 1949. USAF RB-29A crash off St. George’s Island, Bermuda, 11-3-1949. Accessed 9-9-2023 at:

https://aviation-safety.net/wikibase/64494

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.

Newport Daily News, RI. “10 Fliers Die in Bermuda Crash.” 11-4-1949, 1. Accessed at: http://www.newspaperarchive.com/FullPagePdfViewer.aspx?img=60252486

[1] The title notes ten fatalities, but the text notes ten fatalities on the plane and one from the four who jumped.

[2] “Kindley Air Force Base was a United States Air Force base in Bermuda from 1948–1970, having been operated from 1943 to 1948 by the United States Army Air Force as Kindley Field.” (Wikipedia. “Kindley Air Force Base.”)

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