1953 — Jan 16, USAF C54 crash on approach ~Harmon AFB, Stephenville, NFLD, Can.–13-14

–13-14 Blanchard. While it appears to us that the death toll of 14 reported in the press Jan 18,
19, and 20 is accurate, we choose not to ignore the reports of 13 deaths reported by ASN,
Baugher and the NFPA. In that we have not seen a listing of fatalities, showing only
three identified victims in sources herein, we choose to show a range of 13-14.

–14 Amarillo Globe-Times, TX. “Two Texans Die in Newfoundland Crash.” 1-20-1953, p. 8.
–14 Daily Courier, Connellsville PA. “Report C-54 Crash in [NFLD] Kills All…” 1-17-1953
–14 Daily News-Record, Harrisonburg, VA. “14 Killed in Plane Crash.” 1-19-1953, p. 3.
–14 European Stars and Stripes. “14 Servicemen Die…crash of C54 off [NFLD].” 1-18-1953, 1
–14 Melbourne Age, AUS. “14 Killed in Plane Crash.” 1-19-1953, p. 1.
–13 Aviation Safety Network. USAF C-54D-5 Crash on approach, Harmon AFB, 1-16-1953.
–13 Baugher. 1942 USAAF Serial Numbers (42-70686 to 42-91973). 5-18-2011 rev.
–13 NFPA. “Fires Causing Large Loss of Life.” Handbook of Fire Protection. 1954, p. 36.
–13 NFPA. “Worst No. American Aircraft Fires – 1953.” Quarterly of…. 47/3, Jan 1954, p310.

Narrative Information

Aviation Safety Network, Flight Safety Foundation:
“Status: Information is only available from news, social media or unofficial sources.
“Date: Friday 16 January 1953
“Time: 18:37
“Type: Douglas C-54D-5-DC (DC-4)
“Operator: United States Air Force – USAF
“Registration: 42-72558
“MSN: 10663
“First flight: 1945
“Crew: Fatalities: / Occupants:
“Passengers: Fatalities: / Occupants:
“Total: Fatalities: 13 / Occupants: 14
….
“Location: 1.5 km (0.9 mls) E of Stephenville-Ernest Harmon AFB, NL…Canada
“Phase: Approach (APR)
“Nature: Military
“Departure airport: St. John’s Airport, NL…Canada
“Destination airport: Stephenville-Ernest Harmon AFB, NL…Canada
“Narrative: Crashed on rocky terrain while on finals to Harmon AFB.

(Aviation Safety Network. USAF C-54D-5 Crash on approach, Harmon AFB, 1-16-1953.)”

Baugher: “Douglas C-54D-5-DC Skymaster….72558 (c/n 10663) crashed Jan 16, 1953 on approach to Stephenville-Ernest Harmon AFB, Newfoundland. 13 killed.” (Baugher. 1942 USAAF Serial Numbers (42-70686 to 42-91973). 5-18-2011 rev.)

National Fire Protection Association: “Jan. 16, near Harmon Air Base, Nfld., U.S. Air Force, C-54, $500,000, 13 Killed.

“Residents of a nearby community were first aware of this crash when a flash lit up the sky. Mistry rain was falling at the time and the accident occurred about a mile from the Air Base just before a landing attempt. All 13 aboard were killed in the burning military transport version of the DC-4.

Newspapers

Jan 17, Daily Courier: “Stephenville, NFLD., Jan. 17. – A C-54 transport plane crashed near this village early today and the US Air Force said all 14 persons aboard were killed. The Air Force said the plane crashed about a mile from the runway of the [US] Harmon Air Force Base. It said the plane was approaching the base after a flight from Torbay Airdrome at St. Johns, Newfoundland.

“The Air Force said the pilot of the big transport called the Harmon tower and cancelled his instrument clearance. The plane then was observed by the tower after breaking through a cloud layer. The plane subsequently crashed. The ceiling at Harmon was reported as 1,700 feet with a visibility of four miles…” (Daily Courier, Connellsville, PA. “Report C-54 Crash in Newfoundland Kills All Aboard.” 1-17-1953, 1.)

Jan 17, Stars and Stripes: “Stephenville, Newfoundland, Jan. 17 (UP) – A U.S. Air Force C54 crashed into the sea off the rugged Newfoundland coastline last night, killing all 14 American servicemen aboard. The Harmon Air Base said the transport crashed just off shore as it approached for a landing. It was attached to USAF’s Northeast Air Comd. Headquartered at Ft. Pepperell, Newfoundland.

“The plane was believed to have developed engine trouble only a mile from the Harmon base runway. An AF spokesman said it radioed Harmon tower and canceled instrument clearance. It
crashed a minute later….The nature of the plane’s mission was not specified.

“All the servicemen aboard were stationed at the Ft. Pepperell base, just outside St. John’s….” (European Stars and Stripes, Darmstadt, Germany. “14 Servicemen Die in crash of C54 off Newfoundland.” 1-18-1953, 1.)

Jan 18, Daily News Record: “Washington, Jan. 18 (AP) – The Air Force today issued a revised list of casualties in the crash of a C-54 military transport plane near Harmon Air Force Base, Newfoundland, Friday night. The plane, en route from St. John’s, crashed in misty rain a mile east of the base.

“The Air Force added one name to the list released last night in St. John’s, raising the total number of victims to 14, including one Canadian passenger. The added name was that of Airman First Class Everett N. Kenney, husband of Mary Janet Kenney, 1207 West French Place, San Antonio, Tex. He was a passenger. Others on the revised list included: Passengers: Maj. Paul W. Weikel, next-of-kin, wife, Mrs. Doris E. Weikel, 675 Monticello Drive, Falls Church, Va.” (Daily News-Record, Harrisonburg, VA. “14 Killed in Plane Crash.” 1-19-1953, p. 3.)

Jan 18, Melbourne Age, Australia: “Washington, Jan 18. The United States Air Force said a C-54 transport plane crashed yesterday, near Stephenville, Newfoundland, killing all 14 persons aboard. The Air Force said the place crashed about a mile from the runway of the Harmon Air Force base. The plane was approaching the base after a flight from Torbay aerodrome, at St. John’s Newfoundland.” (Melbourne Age, AUS. “14 Killed in Plane Crash.” 1-19-1953, p. 1.)

Jan 20, AP: “Washington, Jan. 20 (AP) – Two Texans were killed in the crash of a C54 military transport plane near Harmon Air Force Base, Newfoundland, Friday night. A revised list of the 14 dead yesterday added the name of Airman 1-c Everett Hn. Kenney…San Antonio. He was a passenger. The navigator of the plane was Capt. Sidney C. Hill, son of Mrs. Grace F. Hill, Fort Worth.” (AP. “Two Texans Die in Newfoundland Crash.” Amarillo Globe-Times. 1-20-1953, p.8.)

Sources

Associated Press. “Two Texans Die in Newfoundland Crash.” Amarillo Globe-Times, TX. 1-20-1953, p. 8. Accessed 5-25-2023 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/amarillo-globe-times-jan-20-1953-p-8/

Aviation Safety Network, Flight Safety Foundation. USAF C-54D-5 Crash on approach, Harmon AFB, 1-16-1953. Accessed 5-24-2023 at: https://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=19530116-0

Baugher, Joseph F. 1942 USAAF Serial Numbers (42-70686 to 42-91973). 5-18-2011 revision. Accessed 12-16-2011 at: http://www.joebaugher.com/usaf_serials/1942_4.html

Daily Courier, Connellsville, PA. “Report C-54 Crash in Newfoundland Kills All Aboard.” 1-17-1953, 1. At: http://www.newspaperarchive.com/FullPagePdfViewer.aspx?img=33231137

Daily News-Record, Harrisonburg, VA. “14 Killed in Plane Crash.” 1-19-1953, p. 3. Accessed at: http://www.newspaperarchive.com/FullPagePdfViewer.aspx?img=147524336

European Stars and Stripes, Darmstadt, Germany. “14 Servicemen Die in crash of C54 off Newfoundland.” 1-18-1953, 1. Accessed at: http://www.newspaperarchive.com/FullPagePdfViewer.aspx?img=133402778

Melbourne Age, AUS. “14 Killed in Plane Crash.” 1-19-1953, p. 1. Accessed 5-25-2023 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/melbourne-age-jan-19-1953-p-1/

National Fire Protection Association. “Fires Causing Large Loss of Life.” Handbook of Fire Protection (11th Ed.). Boston, MA: NFPA, 1954, pp. 33-36.

National Fire Protection Association. “Worst No. American Aircraft Fires – 1953.” Quarterly of the National Fire Protection Association. Vol. 47, No. 3, January 1954, pp. 309-315.