1955 — May 25, USAF B-36J breaks-up in severe thunder storm ~Sterling City, TX –all 15

— 15 USAF Aircraft Accident Report. Aircraft number 52-2818A (AF Form 14).

Narrative Information

Baugher: “Convair B-36J-5-CF Peacemaker….2818 (c/n 374) broke up in midflight during severe thunderstorm May 25, 1955 and crashed near Sterling City, TX. All aboard killed. There were rumors that an atomic bomb had been aboard, and the bodies of the crew stayed in the wreckage for 3 days until the nuclear weapon could be retrieved and taken away.” (Baugher. 1952 USAF Serial Numbers. 10-29-2011 revision.)

USAF: A Strategic Air Command bomber, out of Walker Air Force Base, Roswell, NM, with a crew of 15. (USAF AAR, p. 1 of 12)

“Round robin mission from Walker Air Force Base, New Mexico: Aircraft passed through area of severe thunderstorm activity at about 2245C to 2300C hours, giving normal report at 25,000 indicated, 1,000 on top at 18 miles South of San Angelo radio, upon contact with San Angelo, Texas, radio at 2244C hours. Aircraft was seen descending and was observed to have crashed at approximately 2300 hours, with a large explosion. Distribution of fragments of the aircraft indicates that the aircraft partially disintegrated in the air. There was no known distress signal and the crew members apparently had little opportunity to evacuate that aircraft prior to ground contact.” (USAF AAR, p. 5.)

From Weather Officer section: “The air throughout Texas had been unstable with considerable thunderstorm activity for two days prior to the accident….Storm detection from Lubbock, Midland, Big Spring, Abilene and San Angelo, Texas indicated that as the colder dry air behind the front reinforced the inactive squall line, a large line of thunderstorms developed and built rapidly from small, isolated cells at 2100C to a continuous line of over two hundred miles in length at 2300C, and that this line moved in a generally easterly direction to 2330C. The width of the line during its strongest stages was 20 miles with hail reported by several witnesses in the Garden City and Sterling City area.” (USAF AAR, p. 3 of 12)

From History of the Flight: “Abbott 27 took off at 1219 CST, 25 May 1955, from Walker Air Force Base on a routine operational training mission, round robin, Walker AFB DRT Durant, Oklahoma DRT Greenville, Texas DRT Dallas, Texas DRT Oklahoma City; Oklahoma DRT Walker AFB, Roswell, New Mexico….

“The last known radio contact with Abbott 27 was report of Hobbs and Roswell weather transmitted by San Angelo. This was approximately 2249 CST.

“Abbott 27 crashed…at approximately 2305 CST. The first report of the crash was telephoned by …an eye witness of the crash, to the Sheriff’s office at Sterling City, Texas just prior to 2310 CST. The crash occurred in the southwest corner of Glasscock County, Texas, on the Drennon Ranch, approximately 18.5 miles southwest of Sterling City, Texas.” (USAF AAR, p. 4 of 12)

“The aircraft was completely destroyed by impact, explosion and fire at an approximate cost of $3,500,000 (without special modification)….

“Portions of the aircraft disintegrated in flight and the resultant debris fall-out pattern extended in a long narrow pattern extending approximately 25 miles in length and 3 miles in width along a course of 66 [degrees] true….” (USAF AAR, p. 5 of 12)

“The pilot was briefed before take-off on Severe Weather Advisory No. 296. The pilot received and acknowledged Hobbs and Walker AFB Weather and Radar Report shortly after 2245 CST.

“Center wing panels and tips, jet pods and pylons, rudder, stabilizers, ailerons, elevators and miscellaneous debris disintegrated or separated from the aircraft while in flight….

“Trees located at the rear of the aircraft were not broken, indicating a nearly vertical descent….” (USAF AAR, p. 5 of 12)

Sources

Baugher, Joseph F. 1952 USAF Serial Numbers. Oct 29, 2011 revision. Accessed 1-7-2012 at: http://www.joebaugher.com/usaf_serials/1952.html

United States Air Force. Aircraft Accident Report. Aircraft no. 52-2818A. Accessed at: http://www.texaswreckchasing.com/Reports/Military/B-36/Sterling%20City/Sterling%20City%20B-36.pdf