1951 — Aug 20, USAF T-33A crash after takeoff, hits Army truck/burns, Fort Dix, NJ– 13

–19 Aviation Safety Network. USAF Lockheed T-33A takeoff crash, McGuire AFB, NJ, 8-20-1951.
[From other reports the death toll noted as 19 is clearly inaccurate – there were 13 deaths.]
–13 AP. “Cause of Crash of Plane Sought; 13 Dead, 21 Hurt.” Kingston Daily Freeman, NY, 8-21-1951, 1.
–13 INS. “Seven Man Board Probes Jet Crash.” New Castle News, PA. 8-22-1951, p. 1.
–13 NFPA. “Fires Causing Large Loss of Life.” Handbook of Fire Protection. 1954, p. 36.
–13 NYT. “Jet Crash Claims Thirteenth Victim. Cause of…Ft. Dix Disaster…” 8-22-1951, p.13.

Narrative Information

Aviation Safety Network, Flight Safety Foundation, Database, 1951:
“Date: 20-Aug-1951
“Type: Lockheed T-33A
“Owner/operator: United States Air Force (USAF)
“Registration: 49-0917
….
“Fatalities: Fatalities: 2 / Occupants: 2
“Other fatalities: 17
“….Location: 1 mi S of McGuire AFB, NJ
“Phase: Take off
“Nature: Military
….
“Narrative: Hit military truck while crashed after takeoff and caught fire. 21 injured.”

Newspapers

Aug 21, AP: “Fort Dix, N.J., Aug. 21 (AP) – Army and Air Force investigators today picked through charred debris to determine the cause of a jet plane crash which brought flaming death to 13 men and injured 21 soldiers. The 12 men killed yesterday afternoon as the Air Force trainer plane plowed into a group of soldiers in a wooded area included twin brothers and the jet’s two-man crew. Unable to gain altitude after its takeoff from nearby McGuire Air Force Base, the plane plunged ‘like a ball of fire’ on a group of army trainees preparing to return to camp for supper.

“Among the dead soldiers were Pvts. George W. and Robert W. Poole, 22-year-old twins from Camden, N.J., who were inducted into the army about four months ago. George was killed instantly. Their widowed mother, Mrs. Hazel Poole, was preparing to leave for the post hospital late yesterday when word was received that the critically injured Robert also had died.

Dead Are Named

“Fort Dix, N.J., Aug 21 (AP) – Here is the list of the identified dead in the crash of a jet training plane yesterday that claimed 13 lives.

Dead, Army

Pvt. George W. Poole, 22, Camden, N.J. [Robert Poole died in hospital.]
Pvt. Augustus O. Williams, 21, Brooklyn, N.Y.
Pvt. William Vellucci, 21, New York City
Pvt. Clifford W. Nachbaur, 22, North Bergen, N.J.
Pvt. Clifford R. Pierce, 18, RFD 1, North Franklin, Conn.
Pvt. Alexander K. Artion, 21, Jersey City, N.J.
Pvt. Ralph E. Mattson, 20 New York city.
Pvt. Francis R. Turlip, 18, Manville, N.J.
Pvt. Louis Zaccardo, 22, Greenwich, Conn.
Cpl. Gilbert Moore, 23, Richmond, Va.

Dead, Air Force

Capt. William Rauth (pilot), 31, Seattle, Wash.
Maj. Theodore Deaknye, 30, Levittown, N.Y.

(Associated Press. “Cause of Crash of Plane Sought; 13 Dead, 21 Hurt.” Kingston Daily Freeman, NY, 8-21-1951, p.1.)

Aug 22, INS: “Ft. Dix, N.J., Aug. 22 – (INS) – A seven-man investigating board resumes today in its efforts to find the cause of a jet plane crash which took 13 lives when it plunged into a group of Army trainees at Ft. Dix. The board sifted through the ashes and debris of the plane yesterday without finding anything which might indicate what caused the ship to plummet to earth shortly after takeoff Monday. The plane crashed among members of Battery B. 26th Field Artillery as they were preparing to return to barracks following a communications class in a bivouac area near McGuire Air Force Base at the post. Eleven of the trainees perished, along with the pilot of the plane – a training version of the F-80 Shooting Star – and his passenger.” (INS. “Seven Man Board Probes Jet Crash.” New Castle News, PA. 8-22-1951, p. 1.)

Sources

Associated Press. “Cause of Crash of Plane Sought; 13 Dead, 21 Hurt. Training Plane Plows Into Soldiers at Dix; Unable to Gain Altitude.” Kingston Daily Freeman, NY, 8-21-1951, p.1. Accessed 8-19-2023 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/kingston-daily-freeman-aug-21-1951-p-2/

Aviation Safety Network, Flight Safety Foundation, Database, 1951. USAF Lockheed T-33A takeoff crash, McGuire AFB, NJ, 8-20-1951. Accessed 8-19-2023 at:
https://aviation-safety.net/wikibase/108989

INS [International News Service]. “Seven Man Board Probes Jet Crash.” New Castle News, PA. 8-22-1951, p. 1. Accessed 8-19-2023 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/new-castle-news-aug-22-1951-p-1/

National Fire Protection Association. Handbook of Fire Protection (11th Ed.). Boston: 1954.

New York Times. “Jet Crash Claims Thirteenth Victim. Cause of Ft. Dix Disaster is Undetermined as Air Force Board Starts Inquiry.” 8-22-1951, 13. Accessed 8-19-2023 at: https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1951/08/22/issue.html