1959 — Feb 4, USAF Weather B-50 lost, out of and W of Kindley US AFB, Bermuda — 12

–12 Air Weather Recon Assoc. “Gone, But Not Forgotten.” Accessed 12-23-2011.
–12 Bakersfield Californian. “B50 Weather Plane Missing With 12 Men.” 2-4-1959, p. 1.
–12 Gettysburg Times, PA. “3 Air Force Planes Crash on Thursday.” 2-7-1959, p. 6.
–12 Lawton Constitution, OK. “Large Weather Plane Carrying 12 Down At Sea.” 2-5-1959, 23
–12 Wellsville Daily Reporter, NY. “Air, Sea Search Conducted For Missing Weather Plane,” 1

Narrative Information

Air Weather Recon Assoc: “WB-50 49-343 4 Feb 59 59th WRS Kindley AFB, Bermuda

Capt. Robert F. Aldrich
Capt. Andrew P. Stefurak
Capt. Robert A. Brown
Capt. William Potter, Jr.
1Lt Carlton S. Whitney
1Lt Frank C. King, Jr.
MSgt Donald R. Fitzgerald
TSgt Alfred E. Estes
SSgt Jack A. Parmelee, Binghamton, NY
SSgt Harvey O. Ward
A1C Franklin D. Radcliff
A3C Scott Stephens, Jr.”

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

Newspapers

Feb 4: “Washington (AP) – A B50 weather reconnaissance plane with 12 men aboard is missing in the area of Bermuda, the air force said today. Aircraft from Bermuda are searching for the plane. The missing plane was based at Bermuda, a unit of the 59th Weather Reconnaissance Squadron there.

“First advices received here did not say when the plane took off or how long it has gone unreported. However, the air force said a Japanese ship reported seeing a plane crash into the sea west of Bermuda.” (Bakersfield Californian. “B50 Weather Plane Missing With 12 Men.” 2-4-1959, p. 1.)

Feb 5: “Hamilton, Bermuda (AP) — A U.S. Superfortress weather plane and its crew of 12 were missing today and presumed down in the stormy mid-Atlantic. The big four-engine aircraft had only fuel enough to stay aloft until 3 a.m. today.

“The search centered about 300 miles northwest of Bermuda where a Japanese freighter reported
it saw a burning plane crash Wednesday morning in the Atlantic. Although the freighter said the plane appeared to be a single-engine craft, the four-engine B50 should have been in the general area at the time.

“Coast Guard planes and Navy flying boats scanning the area said conditions were foul with 40 mile-an-hour winds, rough seas, and visibility down to 1½ miles….

“The B50 Hurricane Hunter, attached to the 59th Weather Reconnaissance Squadron at Bermuda’s Kindley Air Base, set out at 6:45 a.m. Wednesday on a daily flight over the North Atlantic collecting weather data. It was due back at 7:38 p.m.

“The Superfortress was last heard from at 8:22 a.m. — 18 minutes before the Japanese freighter radioed its report of seeing a plane crash and disappear on hitting the water.

“The Coast Guard Cutter Mackinac, based in Bermuda, was racing to the position and was due on the scene this morning. The Aircraft Carrier Tarawa and six accompanying destroyers, which were on maneuvers in the North Atlantic, were ordered to join in the search.” (Lawton Constitution, OK. “Large Weather Plane Carrying 12 Down At Sea.” 2-5-1959, 23.)

Sources

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

Bakersfield Californian. “B50 Weather Plane Missing With 12 Men.” 2-4-1959, p. 1. Accessed at: http://www.newspaperarchive.com/FullPagePdfViewer.aspx?img=154240034

Gettysburg Times, PA. “3 Air Force Planes Crash on Thursday.” 2-7-1959, p. 6. Accessed at: http://www.newspaperarchive.com/FullPagePdfViewer.aspx?img=6115975

Lawton Constitution, OK. “Large Weather Plane Carrying 12 Down At Sea.” 2-5-1959, p. 23. Accessed at: http://www.newspaperarchive.com/FullPagePdfViewer.aspx?img=59628271

Wellsville Daily Reporter, NY. “Air, Sea Search Conducted For Missing Weather Plane,” 1. Accessed at: http://www.newspaperarchive.com/FullPagePdfViewer.aspx?img=135552608