1963 — Jan 24, USAF B-52 stabilizer shaft breaks (turbulence), crash ~Greenville, ME– 7

— 7 Associated Press. “Two Survive Maine Crash.” Biddeford-Saco Journal. 1-25-1963, p. 1.
— 7 Aviation Safety Network. USAF B52 Stratofortress crash, Elephant Mt. Maine.
— 7 Baugher. 1953 USAF Serial Numbers. 10-27-2011 revision.

Narrative Information

Aviation Safety Network:
“Date: 24-Jan-1963
“Time: 14:52
“Type: Boeing B-52C-40-BO Stratofortress
“Owner/operator: 99th BSqn USAF (99th BSqn United States Air Force)
“Registration: 53-0406
“MSN: 16885
“Fatalities: Fatalities: 7 / Occupants: 9
….
“Location: Elephant Mountain, Maine…
“Phase: En route
“Nature: Military
….
“Narrative: Crashed on January 24 1963 into mountainous terrain after stabilizer shaft broke during low level exercise near Elephant Mountain, Greenville, Maine USA…Seven of the nine crew were killed.

Pilot, Lt. Col. Dante Bulli ejected – landed in tree – broke ankle
Co-pilot, Maj. Robert J. Morrison ejected – killed hitting tree on descent
Navigator Capt. Gerald Adler ejected fractured skull and three ribs were broken.
Lt. Col. Joe R. Simpson, Jr – killed
Maj. William W. Gabriel – killed
Maj. Robert J. Hill – killed
Capt. Herbert L. Hanson – killed
AG: T-Sgt. Michael F. O’Keefe – killed
Capt. Charles G. Leuchter – killed.”

(Aviation Safety Network. USAF B52 Stratofortress crash, Elephant Mt. Maine.)

Baugher: Boeing B-52C-40-BO Stratofortress….406 (99th BS) crashed Jan 24, 1963 near Greenville ME due to turbulence-induced structural failure at low level and vertical stabilizer broke off. Only 3 were able to eject, but one was killed when he struck a tree. 7 crew were killed.” (Baugher. 1953 USAF Serial Numbers. 10-27-2011 rev.)

Newspaper

Jan 25: “Greenville, (AP) – Wreckage of a B52 stratofortress and two survivors from its nine-man crew were found today on Elephant Mt., about 10 miles east of here. The $8 million jet bomber, out of Westover Air Force Base, Mass., had crashed head-on into a precipitous face of the 2,600-foot mountain. Bush pilot Budd Holt, who flew over at 500 feet, said the big, eight-jet plane was ‘completely disintegrated.’ The only things recognizable, he said, were a couple of tires. The two survivors were flown in helicopters to Dow Air Force Base in Bangor. There Col. William Fendell, director of information for the 8th Air Force, said one man was in a state of severe shock. The other, he said, appeared to have a broken ankle.

“Whether any other crewmen survived the crash – and biting cold that went down to an official 14 below – could not be determined immediately. Flying wardens of the Maine Fish & Game Department spotted three parachutes in the general vicinity of the crash scene. Helicopters from Dow lowered men to the chutes.

“Holt said the wreckage was only a quarter of a mile from the snow-choked trail to Horseshoe Pond, a popular fishing spot in the spring and summer. A snowplow started from Beaver Creek to break the trail open for Air Force ground rescue teams.

“Holt reported that the wreckage was scattered over about a quarter of a mile of snow-covered woods and rocks. Trees had been scorched, he said, for 500 feet north of the wreckage….

“The big 8-jet bomber, with nine men aboard, left Westover Air Force Base, Mass., on a routine training flight at noon yesterday. It was due back at 5:30 p.m., but never returned….

“One of the earliest reports of the missing plane came from Robert Emery of Milo, Maine, who was operating a snow plow near Brownsville Junction. Emery was quoted by state police as saying the plane passed over his head at a height of 200 to 250 feet. ‘I was able to watch the aircraft for about five miles,’ he said. ‘The pilot barely made it over the treetops of a nearby section of woods. He was apparently trying to bring it up to clear a mountain. He didn’t make it, however, and went straight down into a patch of woods. There was a great cloud of smoke right after the crash,’ Emery said….” (Associated Press. “Two Survive Maine Crash.” Biddeford-Saco Journal. 1-25-1963, pp. 1-2.)
Sources

Associated Press. “Two Survive Maine Crash.” Biddeford-Saco Journal. 1-25-1963, p. 1. Accessed 8-6-2022 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/biddeford-journal-jan-25-1963-p-1/

Baugher, Joseph F. 1953 USAF Serial Numbers. Oct 27, 2011 revision. Accessed 1-12-2012 at: http://www.joebaugher.com/usaf_serials/1953.html