1957 — Jan 17, USAF Weather B-50 plane crash after takeoff near Eielson AFB, AK–all 12

— 12 Air Weather Recon Assoc. “Gone, But Not Forgotten.” Accessed 12-23-2011.
— 12 European Stars and Stripes. “12-Man Crew Lost in Alaska Crash of WB29.” 1-19-1957, 1
— 12 NFPA. “Large Loss Aircraft Fires of 1957.” Quarterly, Vol. 51, No. 4, April 1958, p. 289.
— 12 Pacific Stars and Stripes, Tokyo. “12 Feared Dead in B-50 Crash.” 1-18-1957, p. 11.
— 12 Provo Daily Herald, UT. “No Survivors. A.F. Plane Crashes in Alaska.” 1-17-1957, 1.
— 11 Baugher. 1946-1948 USAAF Serial Numbers. 10-15-2011 rev.

Narrative Information

Air Weather Recon Association: “WB-50 48-093 17 Jan 57 58th WRS Eielson AFB, AK

Capt. Robert E. Eichelberger
Capt. Harold W. Bales
Capt. William P. Spil
1Lt Robert E. McGough
1Lt Ralph L. Sampson
2Lt Bobby H. Spencer
MSgt Woodrow B. Russell
A1C John W. Cramer
A1C Donald D. Dodds
A2C Robert C. Glenn
A2C Thomas F. Patterson
A3C Roger D. Sigman.”

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

Baugher: “Boeing B-50D-95-BO Superfortress….093 converted to KB-50J. I have it as a WB-50D with 58 WRS which crashed and burned on takeoff from Eielson AFB, AK Jan 17, 1957 with 11 killed.” (Baugher. 1946-1948 USAAF Serial Numbers. 10-15-2011 rev.)

Newspapers

Jan 17: “Fairbanks, Alaska (UP) – A four-engine Air Force weather reconnaissance plane crashed and burned today shortly after taking off from Eielson Air Force Base and Alaska Territorial Police said there were no survivors. It was not known immediately how many men were aboard the plane, a modified B50 bomber, but Air Force officers said such a craft normally carried a crew of 12. The plane belonged to the 58th Weather Reconnaissance Squadron at Eielson AFB, 26 miles south of here. Officers at the airfield said it was starting a “loon flight” or weather reconnaissance mission over the Aleutian Island chain and the Bering Sea when the crash occurred. The plane crashed near the Moose Creek Lodge, about 3½ miles south of Eielson AFB.

“Mrs. Thomas Jones, wife of the operator of the lodge, said, “I saw a great flash when the plane struck the ground. I doubt if there were any survivors.” Flames still were visible an hour after the crash, Mrs. Jones said. A fully loaded weather reconnaissance plane carries about 10,000 gallons of gasoline when it takes off.” (Provo Daily Herald, UT. “No Survivors. A.F. Plane Crashes in Alaska.” 1-17-1957, p. 1.)

Jan 18: “Fairbanks, Alaska (UP) – A four-engine Air Force weather reconnaissance plane carrying a crew of 12 men crashed, and burned shortly after taking off from nearby Eielson Air Force Base Thursday. Air Force officers said no survivors were found. Maj. John Orr, information officer at the base, said the plane, a modified B-50 bomber, exploded and burned after it hit the ground. Wreckage was strewn across 200 yards, Orr said. The plane belonged to the 58th Weather Reconnaissance Sq. at Eielson AFB, 26 miles south of here….” (Pacific Stars and Stripes, Tokyo. “12 Feared Dead in B-50 Crash.” 1-18-1957, p. 11.)

Sources

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

Baugher, Joseph F. 1946-1948 USAAF Serial Numbers. Oct 15, 2011 revision. Accessed 1-3-2012 at: http://www.joebaugher.com/usaf_serials/1946.html

European Stars and Stripes, Darmstadt, Germany. “12-Man Crew Lost in Alaska Crash of WB29.” 1-19-1957, 1. At: http://www.newspaperarchive.com/FullPagePdfViewer.aspx?img=133422551

National Fire Protection Association. “Large Loss Aircraft Fires of 1957.” Quarterly, Vol. 51, No. 4, April 1958. Boston, MA.

Pacific Stars and Stripes, Tokyo, Japan. “12 Feared Dead in B-50 Crash.” 1-18-1957, p. 11. Accessed at: http://www.newspaperarchive.com/FullPagePdfViewer.aspx?img=138526468

Provo Daily Herald, UT. “No Survivors. A.F. Plane Crashes in Alaska.” 1-17-1957, p.1. Accessed 3-8-2023 at: : http://www.newspaperarchive.com