1964 — Apr 18, two USAF C119 Flying Boxcars collide 6M NE, Clinton County AFB, OH–17

–17 AP. “Toll Reaches 17. AF Seeks Crash Cause.” Post-Standard, Syracuse, NY. 4-20-1964, p1.
–17 Aviation Safety Network. USAF C-119 Flying Boxcars collide near Clinton Co. AFB, OH.

Narrative Information

Aviation Safety Network, Flight Safety Foundation, Database:
“Date: Saturday 18 April 1964
“Time: 20:50
“Type: Fairchild C-119C Flying Boxcar
“Operator: United States Air Force – USAF
“Registration: 50-138
“MSN: 10456
….
“Total: Fatalities: 10 / Occupants: 10
“Collision casualties: Fatalities 7
….
“Location 10 km (6.3 mls) NE of Clinton County Air Force Base, OH
“Phase: Approach (APR)
“Nature: Military
“Departure airport: Clinton County Air Force Base, OH
“Destination airport: Clinton County Air Force Base, OH
“Narrative: Two C-119 Flying Boxcar planes of the 302 Troop Carrier Wing collided
while on approach to the Clinton County Air Force Base, Ohio, USA. Both
crashed. The aircraft were returning after an aborted night time paradrop mission as weather was deteriorating.”

Newspapers

April 19, UPI: “Wilmington, Ohio (UPI) Two C119s apparently collided in flight Saturday night about 10 miles away from the nearby Clinton County Air Force Base while approaching for a landing, killing about 14 of the 19 aboard. The base spokesman said the planes carried 10 Air Force reservists on weekend training and nine Army paratroopers out of Fort Campbell, Ky. He said the extent of the casualties was not officially known, as he had received no word from the investigating team at the scene. A newsman at the scene said there were 14 dead, and that 17 of those aboard had been accounted for. Three servicemen were reported injured, two critically, and taken to the Wilmington Memorial Hospital for treatment.

“Paul Bennett, a farmer living about a quarter of a mile from the crash scene about five miles from here, said he was sitting in his kitchen when he heard ‘a terrific explosion, ran to the front door and saw flames come from one plane as it crashed to the ground.’ The farmer said he ran to the telephone, called the base and ran to the crash scene where one plane burned furiously. The other flying boxcar, he said, was lying crumpled up about 100 yards away. Bennett said the survivors were around the plane which did not burn. He said he also saw three men wearing parachutes around the planes, bot demolished. ‘Bodies were scattered all over the ground,’ Bennett said. The highway patrol post said there were ‘five or six dead men on the ground’ when their officers arrived and ‘three were hurt, two critically.’

“The base spokesman said some of the paratroopers might have parachuted to safety, which would account for several of those on the planes being missing in the darkness. The C119s normally have a five-man crew, which would be the 10 Air Force reservists from this base….

“One of the planes was said to have crashed near Melvin, five miles east of here, and the other one closer to the base.

“The aircraft apparently were returning to the base, after a night flight was cancelled due to bad weather, and were trying to land at the same time. They were on the approach for the northeast runway when they crashed at 8:53 p.m. EST….” (UPI. “Two Air Force Planes Crash After Collision.” The Times Recorder, Zanesville, OH. 4-19-1964, p. 1.)

April 20, AP: “Wilmington, Ohio (AP) – Air Force officers were still trying to determine Sunday [Apr 19] why two C119 Flying Boxcars crashed Saturday night killing 17 men. A spokesman at Clinton County Air Force Base here who refused to be identified said it appeared the two planes ‘may have collided while on their approach to the airfield.’….Both planes were based at Clinton County AFB. Two survivors of the 19 men aboard the two planes were reported in ‘fairly satisfactory’ condition. Originally, three survived the fiery crash, but one of these died during the night at Clinton Memorial Hospital.

“The planes had been on a regular weekend paratroop training mission. Nine of the men were members of the 2nd Special Service Group of 1st Special Forces, 20th Army Corps, from Ft. Hayes, Ohio. These nine all were paratroopers. Others on the plane were crew members attached to the 907th Troop Carrier Group, 302nd Troop Carrier Wing at Clinton. Nine were Air Force Reserves while one man was in the Air Force, assigned to the 9th Air Force and based at Shaw AFB in North Carolina. Each plane carried a five-man crew with four paratroopers in one C119 and five in the other. One of those who survived reportedly was a paratrooper who was able to get his chute open in time….” (Associated Press. “Toll Reaches 17 – AF Seeks Crash Cause.” The Post-Standard, Syracuse, NY. 4-20-1964, p. 1.)

Sources

Associated Press. “Toll Reaches 17 – AF Seeks Crash Cause.” The Post-Standard, Syracuse, NY. 4-20-1964, p. 1. Accessed 7-12-2023 at:
https://newspaperarchive.com/syracuse-post-standard-apr-20-1964-p-2/

Aviation Safety Network, Flight Safety Foundation, Database. USAF C-119 Flying Boxcars collide midair 6.3M NE of Clinton Co. AFB, OH, 18 April 1964. Accessed 7-12-2023 at: https://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=19640418-1

UPI. “Two Air Force Planes Crash After Collision.” The Times Recorder, Zanesville, OH. 4-19-1964, p. 1. Accessed 7-12-2023 at:
https://newspaperarchive.com/zanesville-times-recorder-apr-19-1964-p-1/