1951 — Oct 15, USAF Stratofreighter lost, north Atlantic, Azores to Westover AFB, MA– 12

–12 Aviation Safety Network. USAF C-97A Stratofreighter lost, North Atlantic, 15 Oct 1951.
–12 Baugher. 1949 USAF Serial Numbers. 8-17-2011 rev.
–12 Planecrashinfo.com. “1951…Accident Details…Military – USAF…October 15, 1951…”
–11 Record-Argus, Greenville, PA. “Boeing Military Transport Down.” 10-16-1951, p. 2.

Narrative Information

Aviation Safety Network Database:
“Date: Monday 15 October 1951
“Type: Boeing C-97A Stratofreighter
“Operator: United States Air Force – USAF
“Registration: 49-2602
“MSN: 16224
….
“Total: Fatalities: 12 / Occupants: 12
“Aircraft damage: Missing
….
“Location: North Atlantic
“Phase: En route (ENR)
“Nature: Military
“Departure airport: Terceira-Lajes Airport, Azores…Portugal
“Destination airport: Springfield-Westover AFB, MA…
“Narrative:

“The Boeing C-97A fight originated in Frankfurt-Rhein-Main AFB (FRF), Germany and departed at 08:36 UTC, October 14, 1951. It flew directly to Lajes AFB (LFB), Azores where it landed at 16:03 UTC. After refueling, the Stratofreighter took off again at 18:51 UTC. Because of the loss of the Loran set, two radio compasses and radio altimeter, the crew decided to return to Lajes AFB where it landed again at 20:19 UTC. Because of the crew duty and rest scheduling, the plane stayed overnight and took off at 08:43 UTC, October 15. The airplane never arrived at its destination and was declared missing over the North Atlantic.” (Aviation Safety Network, Flight Safety Foundation. USAF C-97A Stratofreighter lost, North Atlantic, 15 October 1951.)

Baugher: “Boeing C-97A Stratofreighter….2602 missing over North Atlantic Oct 15,1951 with 12 aboard.” (Baugher. 1949 USAF Serial Numbers. 8-17-2011 rev.)

Newspaper

Oct 16: “Washington, Oct. 16 – (AP) – Rescue patrols rose at dawn from Air Force bases around the North Atlantic to scan the waves for a big plane lost yesterday out of the Azores with 11 men. Through the night some 50 planes had roamed the skies along a great circle route from Westover Air Force Base, near Boston, listening for any repetition of a faint SOS heard yesterday, and looking for any peril light from the sea.

“The lost craft, a C-97 Boeing military transport, left Leges Air Force Station in the Azores – Portuguese Islands in the East Atlantic – at 3:45 a.m. (EST) yesterday. It headed for Westover Field, where it was due at 2:22 p.m. (EST). It was carrying 3 ½ tons of mail and four tons of other cargo.

“It was last heard from definitely at 4:28 a.m., less than an hour after it was airborne. Its radio report indicated it was flying through turbulent air, probably a thunderstorm.

“At 2:52 p.m., EST, Kindley Air Force Base at Bermuda picked a weak radio mumble from the air. The base could not say from what quarter the signal came, nor what it said. Executives at Westover however, called it an SOS from the big ship, indicating it had been ditched in the sea.

“This was disclosed at 6:30 p.m. EST, when Westover announced the transport must then be presumed down because it had carried enough gas to keep it aloft only until 6:20 .m.

“The time of the SOS – some 30 minutes after the plane was to have landed at Westover – indicated it could be down anywhere along the 2,436 mile route it was to follow from Lages to Westover.

“The Air Force has released the names of the 11 crew members and notified their next of kin.” (Record-Argus, Greenville, PA. “Boeing Military Transport Down.” 10-16-1951, p. 2.)

Sources

Aviation Safety Network, Flight Safety Foundation. USAF C-97A Stratofreighter lost, North Atlantic, 15 Oct 1951. Accessed 6-21-2023 at:
https://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=19511015-1

Baugher, Joseph F. 1949 USAF Serial Numbers. Aug 17 2011 revision. Accessed at: http://www.joebaugher.com/usaf_serials/1949.html

Planecrashinfo.com. “1951…Accident Details…Military – USAF…October 15, 1951…” Accessed at: http://www.planecrashinfo.com/1951/1951-51.htm

Record-Argus, Greenville, PA. “Boeing Military Transport Down.” 10-16-1951, p. 2. Accessed at: http://www.newspaperarchive.com/FullPagePdfViewer.aspx?img=130095483