1952 — Apr 9, USAF F-94 fighter and C-47 transport collide in clouds ~Otis AFB, MA–all 12

–12 Aviation Safety Network. USAF BC-47A & F-94B collide near Camp Edwards, MA 4-9-1952.
–10 USAF Douglass VC-47A (DC-3) (42.93809)
— 2 USAF Lockheed F-94B Starfire (51-5407)
–12 NFPA. “Worst Aircraft Fires of ’52—North America.” Quarterly, V46/N3, Jan 1953, p.235
–10 C-46
— 2 F-94
–12 The Herald Press (MI). “Air Collision Fatal To 12,” April 11, 1952.

Narrative Information

National Fire Protection Association: “Apr. 9, near Otis AFB, Mass., United States Air Force; 12 killed, $250,000

“Fire resulted when a F-94 and a C-47 collided in mid-air over a bombing range near Otis Air Force Base. A fire warden in a State Fire Tower observed the accident and gave the alarm as the burning aircraft fell to earth and started six forest fires. Ten men in the C-48 were killed and two in the fighter.” (NFPA. “Worst Aircraft Fires of ’52—North America.” Quarterly, V46/N3, Jan 1953, p.235.)

Newspaper

April 11: “Camp Edwards, Mass, April 10 (AP) — An unexpected cloud formation was blamed today for the crash of two air force planes traveling at better than 500 miles an hour over Cape Cod. Twelve air force men were killed. The last of the bodies weren’t recovered until several hours after the planes crashed in flaming explosion yesterday

“A C-47 out of Stewart air force base, Newburgh. N. Y, carried 10 men. An F-94 fighter carried two men. Both planes were on training flights. Capt. Robert J Stephenson. public relations officer at this camp’s Otis air force base, said one of the two pilots apparently was blinded by billowy clouds which floated over the camp.” (Saint Joseph Herald Press (MI). “Air Collision Fatal To 12,” April 11, 1952.)

Sources

Aviation Safety Network, Flight Safety Foundation. USAF BC-47A and F-94B collide near Camp Edwards, MA 4-9-1952. Accessed 6-8-2023 at:
https://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=19520409-2

National Fire Protection Association. “Worst Aircraft Fires of ’52—North America.” Quarterly of the National Fire Protection Association, Vol. 46, No. 3, January 1953, pp. 231-241.

The Herald Press, St. Joseph, MI. “Air Collision Fatal To 12,” April 11, 1952, p. 16. Accessed 6-8-2023 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/st-joseph-herald-press-apr-11-1952-p-2/