1957 — Feb 2, two USAF KB-29P refueling tankers collide, poor visibility, trng. mis. Morigny, France–13

–13 Blanchard estimated fatalities: We choose to rely on the 2nd of the Aviation Safety Network (ASN) sources noted below as well as the Bureau of Aircraft Accident Archives, which note 13 fatalities. The first ASN report noting 14 deaths includes one missing airman, which the second report does not. It seems unlikely to us that a missing crewman would not have been noted as presumed dead, if indeed missing, after several weeks of search and rescue operations. We choose to ignore the day-of-event reporting of the Associated Press, in that if is frequently the case that very early reporting turns out to be inaccurate. We cannot speculate on the reason Baugher notes 11 deaths, since all the reporting we have seen other than the AP report of Feb 2, notes either 13 or 14 deaths. [Note: we have not made a note on every source consulted.] We failed in an attempt to locate a definitive source which listed by names all of the victims, thus removing all doubt as to the number of victims.}

–15 AP. “Two U.S. Planes Collide in France, 8 Dead, 7 Missing.” Daily Gate City, Keokuk, IA, 2-2-1957, p.1.
–14 AP. “Four New Plane Crashes Bring 3-Day Toll to 47.” Sunday Times Signal, Zanesville, OH. 2-3-1957, 1.
–13 killed
— 1 missing
— 5 injured
–14 Aviation Safety Network. USAF KB-29P Superfortress collision near Morigny France 2-2-1957.
–13 killed
— 1 missing
— 5 injured
–13 Aviation Safety Network. USAF KB-29P Superfortress collision near Morigny France 2-2-1957.
–9 Superfortress registration number 44-69846
–4 Superfortress registration number 44-83906
–13 Bureau of Aircraft Accident Archives. “Crash of a Boeing KB-29P Superfortress in Morigny: 4 Killed.”
–11 Baugher. 1944 USAAF Serial Numbers (44-40049 to 44-70254). 6-19-2023 revision.

Narrative Information

Aviation Safety Network, Flight Safety Foundation, Database:
“Date: 02-Feb-1957
….
“Type: Boeing KB-29P Superfortress [refueling plane]
“Owner/Operator 4020th ARSqn United States Air Force
“Registration: 44-69846
“MSN: 10719
“Fatalities: Fatalities: 9 / Occupants: 10
“Other fatalities: 4
….
“Location: near Morigny, 20 miles from Saint-Lo (Manche), Normandy – France
“Phase: En route
“Nature: Military
“Departure airport: RAF Sculthorpe, Norfolk
“Destination airport: [Not noted.]
“Confidence Rating: Information is only available from news, social media or unofficial sources
“Narrative:

“….With 420th Air Refueling Squadron and colliding in midair with 44-83906 over Saint Lo, Normandy, France Feb 2, 1957. Total of 11 fatalities from both aircraft. According to published sources

“Two Boeing KB-29P Superfortresses, out of three from the 420th Air Refueling Squadron, USAF on a weekend training mission out of RAF Sculthorpe, UK, collide in mid-air over Normandy, France, and crash, killing 13, injuring five, with one missing. The collision, at 15,000 feet, occurred in poor visibility when the lead plane lost speed and the second plane, unable to avoid it, plowed into it. Gendarmes said that the wreckage of the two tankers fell to earth about two miles apart near the village of Morigny, 20 miles from St. Lo. The third KB-29 returned safely to base. One of the injured found shelter in a farmhouse after parachuting. One airman who jumped from the flaming wreckage died from burns after reaching the ground. Two of those hospitalized were only slightly hurt and were said to be in no danger. One of the planes carried a crew of ten, the other nine. Three of the victims were M/Sgt. Lawrence M. Grigory, A2C Arthur B. Kosier, and A3C Franklin D. Schweigert.’”

Baugher: “69846 Delivered to USAAF 13Feb45….
“Modified to KB-29P at Boeing, Seattle, WA. Reclaimed at Alexandria AAB, LA 9Jun54.
“Also listed as being with 420th Air Refueling Squadron and colliding in midair with 44-83906 over Saint Lo, Normandy, France Feb 2, 1957. Total of 11 fatalities from both aircraft.”

Bureau of Aircraft Accident Archives:
“Date & Time: Feb 2, 1957
“Type of Aircraft: Boeing B-29 Superfortress [USAF]
….
“Location: Morigny, Manche
“Crew on board: 9
“Crew fatalities: 4
….
“Circumstances:

“The Boeing KB-29P Superfortress left RAF Sculthorpe on a training mission to south of France. While cruising at an altitude of 15,000 feet in low visibility due to poor weather conditions, the airplane struck another USAF Boeing KB-29P Superfortress that was flying in front of it. The first KB-29, registered 44-69846, was carrying a crew of ten and lost speed for undetermined reason. Following the collision, both airplanes went out of control, dove into the ground and crashed in a field located in Morigny, about 25 km south of Saint-Lô. Of the ten crew members aboard 44-69846, one survived. On board 44-83906, five crew survived while four others were killed. It appears that some of the survivors were able to bail out prior to impact….” (Bureau of Aircraft Accident Archives. “Crash of a Boeing KB-29P Superfortress in Morigny: 4 Killed.”)

Newspapers

Feb 2, AP: “St. Lo, France (AP) — Two U.S. Air Force KB29 aerial tankers crashed and exploded Saturday at a height of almost three miles over this World War II battleground area, killing eight crewmen and injuring four.

“Seven others were listed as missing but at least one survivor among the total crew list of 19 parachuted to safety.

“The two huge four-engine planes converted to refuel jet intercontinental planes of the Strategic Air Command were part of a three-plane training flight that left England Saturday morning. The third plane returned safely to the base at Sculthorpe.

“The man who parachuted was taken to an isolated farm house in the Normandy region.

“The U.S. consulate at Cherbourg said the planes were flying at about 15,000 feet when one lost speed and the second apparently crashed into it.” (Associated Press. “Two U.S. Planes Collide in France, 8 Dead, 7 Missing.” The Daily Gate City, Keokuk, IA, 2-2-1957, p. 1)

Feb 3, AP: “By Associated Press
“Four more American planes crashed Saturday [2nd] at home and abroad, increasing the death toll in a three-day series of air tragedies to at least 47. Nearly 150 persons were injured. Nine planes, ranging from single-seater jet fighters to a huge airliner carrying 101 persons, were destroyed in seven unrelated accidents. Two of the crashes involved in-flight collisions….

“Latest in the series of disasters were the crash of an F9F Panther jet on the side of Mt. Baldy southeast of Palmdale, Calif, and the collision of two U.S. Air Force KB29 aerial tankers in the air above a Normandy field near St. Lo, France and the crash of an Air Force F86 jet during a landing at Hanscom AFB Bedford, Mass., killing the pilot….

“The aerial tankers were from the American air base at Sculthorne [Sculthorpe], England. Their collision three miles above a World War II battlefield killed 13 crewmen, injured five others and left one missing….” (AP. “Four New Plane Crashes Bring 3-Day Toll to 47.” Sunday Times Signal, Zanesville, OH. 2-3-1957, 1.)

Feb 5 (AP): “Washington (AP) – An Iowan was among those listed by the defense department Monday as having been killed in the collision of two tanker planes near St. Lo, France, last Friday. He was S-Sgt. Francis R. Buffum, son of Mr. and Mrs. Alma Daniel Buffum who live near Missouri Valley, Iowa….” (Associated Press. “Iowan Dead In Air Tanker Crash.” Creston News Advertiser, IA. 2-5-1957, p. 1.)
Sources

Associated Press. “Four New Plane Crashes Bring 3-Day Toll to 47.” Sunday Times Signal, Zanesville, OH. 2-3-1957, 1. Accessed 7-7-2023 at:
https://newspaperarchive.com/sunday-times-signal-feb-03-1957-p-1/

Associated Press. “Iowan Dead In Air Tanker Crash.” Creston News Advertiser, IA. 2-5-1957, p. 1. Accessed 7-7-2023 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/creston-news-advertiser-feb-05-1957-p-1/

Associated Press. “Two U.S. Planes Collide in France, 8 Dead, 7 Missing.” The Daily Gate City, Keokuk, IA, 2-2-1957, p. 1. Accessed 7-7-2023 at:
https://newspaperarchive.com/keokuk-daily-gate-city-feb-02-1957-p-1/

Aviation Safety Network, Flight Safety Foundation, Database. USAF KB-29P Superfortress refueling planes collide near Morigny, France, 2-2-1957. Accessed 7-6-2023 at:
https://aviation-safety.net/wikibase/171593

Baugher, Joseph. 1944 USAAF Serial Numbers (44-40049 to 44-70254). 6-19-2023 revision. Accessed 7-6-2023 at: https://www.joebaugher.com/usaf_serials/1944_4.html

Bureau of Aircraft Accident Archives. “Crash of a Boeing KB-29P Superfortress in Morigny: 4 Killed.” Accessed 7-7-2023 at:
https://www.baaa-acro.com/crash/crash-boeing-kb-29p-superfortress-morigny-4-killed