1955 — July 13, USAF KC-97G tanker fire after takeoff and crash near Cressy, CA –all 10

–10 AP. “Tanker Plane Crash near Merced Kills 10.” Independent Journal, San Rafael, CA. 7-13-1955, 1.
–10 Aviation Safety Network. “ASN Wikibase Occurrence # 161387.”
–10 NFPA. “Summary of Large Loss Aircraft Fires.” Quarterly…NFPA, 49/3, Apr 1956, p394.

Narrative Information

Aviation Safety Network:
“Date: 13-Jul-1955
“Type: Boeing KC-97G Stratotanker
“Owner/operator: United States Air Force (USAF)
“Registration: 52-2637
“MSN: 16668
“Fatalities: Fatalities: 10 / Occupants: 10
“Other fatalities: 0
….
“Location: 2,3 mi NW of Cressy, CA
“Phase: En route
“Nature: Military
“Departure airport: Castle AFB, CA
“Destination airport:
“Narrative: Crashed few minutes after take-off due to mechanical failure.”
(Aviation Safety Network. “ASN Wikibase Occurrence # 161387.”)

Newspaper

July 13, AP: “Merced (AP) – Ten men were killed today when a ‘tanker’ plane crashed within minutes of taking off from Castle Air Force Base near here. Fire broke out on the four-engine KC97 as it reached an altitude of about 1,500 feet. It crashed almost immediately and exploded as it hit the ground about 15 miles northwest of Merced. The flames fired the grain field into which the plane fell.

“The tanker, a military version of the Stratocruiser, was on a routine refueling mission from Castle. The crash occurred at 6:32 a.m. PDT. The refueler was to have intercepted a flight of bombers on a fueling test.

“The first report on the crash was a telephone call to the sheriff’s office from the rancher on whose property the plane fell. ‘Bodies were strewn all over the field,’ he said.

“The KC97 tankers are used to refuel jet bombers and interceptors and can carry more than 6,000 gallons of jet fuel.

“One of the four engines fell in a field about a mile from the plane wreckage.

“As the big ship exploded, debris was scattered over more than an acre of ground. It fired a barley field, burning five or six acres.

“The explosion jarred houses in Modesto, 28 miles away, and the jolt felt like an earthquake to residents of El Capitan and Cressey, about five miles from the crash.

“As Air Force officers began evaluating the reports of eyewitnesses, the impression grew that two of the crew took to parachutes. They were killed but their bodies escaped the flames that blackened and charred the other men.” (AP. “Tanker Plane Crash Near Merced Kills 10.” Independent Journal, San Rafael, CA. 7-13-1955, 1.)

Sources

Associated Press. “Tanker Plane Crash Near Merced Kills 10.” Independent Journal, San Rafael, CA. 7-13-1955, 1. Accessed 4-10-2023 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/san-rafael-daily-independent-journal-jul-13-1955-p-1/

Aviation Safety Network, Flight Safety Foundation. “ASN Wikibase Occurrence # 161387.” Accessed 4-10-2023 at: https://aviation-safety.net/wikibase/161387

National Fire Protection Association. “Summary of Large Loss Aircraft Fires.” Quarterly of the National Fire Protection Association, Vol. 49, No. 3, April 1956, pp. 393-295.