1962 — May 22, USN WV2 radar intel. plane break-up/crash ~Markt Schwaben, Germany– 26

— 26 Baugher. US Navy…Marine Corps BuNos Third Series (130265 to 135773). 10-7-2011.
— 26 Gero, David. Military Aviation Disasters: Significant Losses Since 1908. 1999, p. 81.
— 26 Post-Standard, Syracuse, NY. “Onondaga Hill Airman Killed.” 5-23-1962, p. 1.
— 26 VW-1 All Hands Alumni Association. “Aircraft of VW-1…Constellations…” 10-11-2010

Narrative Information

Baugher: “131390 (c/n 1049A-4310) converted to WV-2Q. Crashed (VQ-2) near Markt Schwaben, Germany May 22, 1962 when tail empennage tore off in flight. All 26 onboard killed.” (Baugher. US Navy…Marine Corps BuNos Third Series (130265 to 135773). 10-7-2011.)

Gero:
“Date: 22 May 1962 (c.11:40)
“Location: Near Markt Schwaben, West Germany
“Operator: US Navy
“Aircraft type: Lockheed WV-2Q (131390)

“The four-engine radar intelligence aircraft, which was on a navigational training exercise, crashed and burned about 10 miles (15km) east of Munich, after experiencing catastrophic structural failure. All 26 American servicemen aboard, including four Army personnel designated as observers, perished.

“Departing earlier in the morning from Rhein-Main Air Base, near Frankfurt, the WV-2 had last acknowledged ascending out of flight level 170 before twice broadcasting the message, ‘Munich, 131390…Request emergency landing at your field, immediately~ Over’. The aircraft began to disintegrate at an approximate altitude of 18,000ft (5,500m), the break-up, which was almost instantaneous, involving the separation of the empennage, followed by the left wing and all but oner power plant. Major components were scattered over an area of approximately 10 square miles (15 sq km), although the dispersal of classified documents that were being carried aboard it extended more than 40 miles (65km).

“It was of the opinion of an investigative board that the initial fracture in the fuselage of 1313390 resulted from a combination of a large sized force imposed on the aft section at a time the cabin had been substantially pressurized. This led to an explosive decompression and the more general disintegration of the aircraft. The nature of the emergency that occurred prior to the break-up, and which prompted the distress message, could not be determined, but was definitely not related to a control system malfunction. Possible reasons for the original emergency included an in-flight fire in the forward fuselage area, or an uncontrollable propeller. It was noted in the accident report, however, that the latter would be expected to have caused some internal damage to the power plant, which should have been evident upon examination. The weather was not a factor.

“In the recommendations portion of the report, it was noted that administrative procedures of the squadron that operated the WV-2 were considered lacking to assure the required inspections of aircraft, and that 84 discrepancies in 131390 had been recorded in pilots’ and maintenance forms, even though no definite trends towards a possible cause or factor in the crash could be made from this information. It was further noted that while also not a precipitating element in its loss, the WV-2 had been some 2,300lm (1,050kg) overweight.” (Gero, David. Military Aviation Disasters: Significant Losses Since 1908. 1999, p. 81.)

VW-1: “22 May 1962 – crashed near Markt Schwaben, Germany, returning from a mission along Czech border; rear cargo door failure caused in-flight tail separation, resulting in crash, explosion and fire; all 26 aboard were killed.” (VW-1 All Hands Alumni Association. “Aircraft of VW-1. The Constellations – Page 1, BuNos 124438-135758.”)

Newspapers

May 22, AP: “Ebersberg, Germany (AP) – A four-engine U.S. Navy transport plane crashed and burned near this south Bavarian town today. American military police reported from the scene at least 20 persons were killed. A U S Army spokesman at Munich said the WV2 Constellation apparently exploded in the air and lost its tail section before it hit the ground in an open field. German eyewitnesses reported seeing the aircraft roll over in the air several times before crashing. Wreckage was strewn over a wide area. Witnesses said some of the bodies were badly burned or mangled.

“First to reach the scene was the mayor of Markt Schwaben. He said he and other would-be rescuers were unable to get close to the plane because of the flames. German firefighters finally brought the fire under control….

“The U.S. Air Force European headquarters at Wiesbaden identified the plane as a Navy transport flying between Rota, Spain, and Frankfort.

“An alarm brought 14 German fire engines to the scene 10 miles east of Munich close to the village of Markt Schwaben.

“Mathias Wolf, who works in the community hall at Markt Schwaben, gave this eyewitness account of the crash. ‘The plane crashed from an altitude of about 9,000 feet out of a completely clear sky. It was not yet on fire while in the air. The plane rolled over several times in the air and then crashed a couple of hundred yards from our village. There was an explosion as if an atomic bomb had dropped.’….

“Except for the tail section, which landed several miles from the main crash site, the wreckage was confined to a relatively close area, an Army spokesman said….

“Flames from the wreck could be seen from miles around… Police reported there were apparently no survivors.” (Gettysburg Times, PA. “Report at least 20 Die When Navy Plane Crashes and Burns in S. Bavaria.” 5-22-1062, 1.)

May 23, AP: “Ebersberg, Germany (AP)….The plane carried 22 Navy officers and men and 4 Army personnel, authorities said….All bodies were reported recovered….

“A fish hatchery worker said the plane had plummeted toward earth with a shrill and frightening howl, and then, ‘There was a terrible explosion and flames shot up’….” (Post-Standard, Syracuse, NY. “Onondaga Hill Airman Killed.” 5-23-1962, p. 1.)

Sources

Baugher, Joseph F. US Navy and US Marine Corps BuNos Third Series (130265 to 135773). Oct 7, 2011 update. Accessed at: http://www.joebaugher.com/navy_serials/thirdseries15.html

Gero, David. Military Aviation Disasters: Significant Losses Since 1908. UK and Newbury Park, CA: Patrick Stephens Limited, an imprint of Hayes Publishing, 1999.

Gettysburg Times, PA. “Report at least 20 Die When Navy Plane Crashes and Burns in S. Bavaria.” 5-22-1062, 1. At: http://www.newspaperarchive.com/FullPagePdfViewer.aspx?img=6133257

Post-Standard, Syracuse, NY. “Onondaga Hill Airman Killed…One of 26 Victims in Germany.” 5-23-1962, p. 1. At: http://www.newspaperarchive.com/FullPagePdfViewer.aspx?img=18464439

VW-1 All Hands Alumni Association. “Aircraft of VW-1. The Constellations – Page 1, BuNos 124438-135758.” 10-11-2010 update. Accessed 11-16-2011 at: http://vw1assoc.tripod.com/vw1aircraft_connies_p1.html#W131390