1950 – June 14, USAF B-25 crash, top of Spruce Mountain, 5M NW of Circleville WV–all 9

–9  AP. “Crew of Nine Killed in State Plane Crash.” Raleigh Register, WV, 6-14-1950, p. 1.

–9  Aviation Safety Network. USAF B-25 crash on mountain top 5M NW Circleville WV, 6-14-1950.

Narrative Information

Aviation Safety Network, Flight Safety Foundation, Database, 1950:

“Date:                          14-Jun-1950

“Type:                         North American B-25J Mitchell

“Owner/operator:        United States Air Force (USAF)

“Registration:              44-31106

….

“Fatalities:                   Fatalities 9 / Occupants: 9

“Other fatalities:          0

….

“Location:                   5 mi NW of Circleville, WV

“Phase:                        En route

“Nature:                       Military

….

“Narrative:                  Crashed on mountain top at Monongahela Nacional Forest.”

Newspaper

June 14, AP: “By The Associated Press

“Elkins – An Air Force B-25 with a crew of nine struck in the mountains near the West Virginia-Virginia border today and all on board were killed. The plane was from the Olmsted field base at Middletown, PA., near Harrisburg [NE of crash site]. The crash occurred around Circleville in Pendelton County, W.Va., in a craggy area miles from any town.

“A mountain resident heard the crash about 4 a.m. The plane left the Olmsted base at 2:24 a.m. and was headed for Offutt Field in Nebraska [due west of Middletown PA]. It was due there at 7:44 a.m.

“The Pennsylvania base announced:

We definitely confirmed that the plane involved is the one missing between here and the Offutt Air Force Base, Nebraska. All nine bodies have been recovered.

“All aboard were military personnel.

“The plane hit on the top of Spruce Mountain, about 170 miles south of its base. Spruce Mountain is one of the highest points in West Virginia, surrounded by other mountains for scores of miles around. The mountain is in the Big Monongahela National Forest.

“The Civil Aeronautics Administration sent a rescue detain into the rugged area. A group of investigators was dispatched from Billing Air Force Base in Washington….

“Circleville is about 20 miles from the Virginia border, in the heart of the Blue Ridge Mountains.”

(AP. “Crew of Nine Killed in State Plane Crash.” Raleigh Register, WV, 6-14-1950, p. 1.)

Sources

Associated Press. “Crew of Nine Killed in State Plane Crash.” Raleigh Register, WV, 6-14-1950, p. 1. Accessed 9-1-2023 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/raleigh-register-jun-14-1950-p-1/

Aviation Safety Network, Flight Safety Foundation, Database, 1950. USAF B-25 crash on mountain top 5M NW Circleville WV, 6-14-1950. Accessed 9-1-2023 at:

https://aviation-safety.net/wikibase/112218

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