1947 — Jan 27, USAAF B-29 takeoff crash (engine trouble), Kirtland Field, NM –all 12

lornajarrettblanchard January 27, 1947

Compiled by Wayne Blanchard 10-16-2023 for upload to: https://www.usdeadlyevents.com/

–12 AP. “Sole Survivor of Plane Crash Dies of Injuries.” Las Vegas Daily Optic, NM. 1-30-1947, p.1.

–12 Aviation Safety Network. USAAF B-29 take off crash Kirtland AAF, 27 Jan 1947.

–12 Wikipedia. List of Accidents and Incidents Involving Military Aircraft (pre-1950).[1]

–11 AP. “Blame Motor Trouble for B-29 Crash,” Iowa City Press-Citizen.1-28-1947, p. 1.

–11 AP. “Lone Survivor of Air Mishap is Conscious.” Las Vegas Daily Optic, NM. 1-29-1947, 1.

–11 NFPA. “Large Loss Fires of 1947…Transportation.” Quarterly, V41, N3, Jan 1948, p. 167.

Narrative Information

Aviation Safety Network, Flight Safety Foundation, Database, 1947: (USAAF B-29.)[2]

“Date: Monday 27 January 1947

….

“Type: Boeing B-29 Superfortress

“Owner/operator: United States Army Air Force (USAAF)

“Registration: 42-65385

….

“Fatalities: Fatalities: 12 / Occupants: 13 [Incorrect[3]

….

“Location: Kirtland AAF / 1/4mi S – USA

“Phase: Take off

….

“Narrative: Crashed.”

National Fire Protection Association: “Jan. 27 [1947] near Albuquerque, N.M. U.S. Air Forces. Fire at impact caused destruction of a B-29 aircraft. Eleven of twelve occupants were killed.”[4]

(National Fire Protection Association. “Large Loss Fires of 1947…Transportation.” Quarterly of the NFPA, Vol. 41, No. 3, Jan 1948, p. 167.)

Wikipedia: “27 January – United States Army Air Force Silverplate B-29-36-MO Superfortress, 44-65385, of the 428th Base Unit, Kirtland Army Air Field, New Mexico, for Los Alamos bomb development testing, crashed immediately after take-off from Kirtland on routine maintenance test flight. No specific cause is documented, a fire in one engine and the pilot’s failure to compensate for loss of power is believed to have caused the accident. Twelve crew KWF [killed while flying[5]].” (Wikipedia. List of Accidents and Incidents Involving Military Aircraft (pre-1950).)

Newspaper

Jan 28, AP: “Albuquerque, N.M. (AP)—Engine trouble was officially advanced today as the likely cause of a B-29 Super-Fortress crash which carried 11 men to fiery deaths at the army’s Kirtland Field. Laden with secret equipment, the big ship wavered on the takeoff, climbed no more than 200 feet and cracked up and burned in a narrow gully Monday just south of the field’s mile and a half-long main runway. One member of the 12-man crew survived, rescued by a pair of GI firefighters. Hospital attendants gave him a fair chance to recover….

“Col. Perry M. Hoisington, Kirtland commandant, reported one engine of the plane was seen smoking and probably caught fire. He ventured a guess that another on the same side also many have gone out of commission. This, he observed would have left the pilot…without directional control.” (AP. “Blame Motor Trouble for B-29 Crash,” Iowa City Press-Citizen. 1-28-1947, p. 1.)

Jan 29, AP: “Albuquerque, Jan. 29, (AP) – T-Sgt. Francis L. Podleski, lone survivor of a B-29 crash at Kirtland Field Monday afternoon, has regained consciousness at intervals long enough to inquire about the fate of his 11 fellow crew members, all of whom died in the flaming craft. Kirtland Field authorities said there ahs been some improvement in Podleski’s condition and quoted physicians as saying the crisis would be passed tonight and tomorrow….

“Bodies of four of the 11 who were killed when engine trouble was encountered in a takeoff have been sent to their homes for burial.” (Associated Press. “Lone Survivor of Air Mishap is Conscious.” Las Vegas Daily Optic, NM. 1-29-1947, p.1.

Jan 30, AP: “Albuquerque, Jan. 30, (AP) – T-Sgt. Francis L. Podleski, 33, of Albuquerque, sole survivor of a B-29 crash at Kirtland Field Monday in which 11 other crew members lost their lives, died at U.S. Veterans Hospital today. Podleski was badly burned when the big ship, one of its engines afire plunged into an arroyo a moment after lifting from the runway. He was pulled from the flaming wreckage y a couple of GIs who risked their lives in the rescue effort. A veteran of ore than 20 years in the Air Forces, Podleski is survived by his wife and two sons of Albuquerque, and his mother, Mrs. Mary Podleski, Alberta, Mich.” (Associated Press. “Sole Survivor of Plane Crash Dies of Injuries.” Las Vegas Daily Optic, NM. 1-30-1947, p.1.)

Sources

Aviation Safety Network, Flight Safety Foundation, Database, 1947. USAAF B-29 take-off crash Kirtland AAF, 27 Jan 1947. Accessed 10-15-2023 at:

https://aviation-safety.net/wikibase/98575

Associated Press. “Blame Motor Trouble for B-29 Crash.” Iowa City Press-Citizen, IA. 1-28-1947, p. 1. Accessed at: http://www.newspaperarchive.com/FullPagePdfViewer.aspx?img=13820588

Associated Press. “Lone Survivor of Air Mishap is Conscious.” Las Vegas Daily Optic, NM. 1-29-1947, p.1. Accessed 10-15-2023 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/las-vegas-daily-optic-jan-29-1947-p-1/

Associated Press. “Sole Survivor of Plane Crash Dies of Injuries.” Las Vegas Daily Optic, NM. 1-30-1947, p.1. Accessed 10-16-2023 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/las-vegas-daily-optic-jan-30-1947-p-1/

National Fire Protection Association. “Large Loss Fires of 1947…Transportation.” Quarterly of the NFPA, Vol. 41, No. 3, Jan 1948, p. 167.

Wikipedia. “List of Accidents and Incidents Involving Military Aircraft (pre 1950). 8/4/2009 at: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_accidents_and_incidents_involving_military_aircraft_(pre-1950)

[1] As is too frequently the case with Wikipedia, there is no source cited for its 27 January 1947 entry.

[2] Cites two sources, neither of which work: (1) http://www.aviationarchaeology.com/src/db.asp and (2) The Indian Express 29 January 1947, p4.

[3] There were 11 immediate deaths followed by the death of T-Sgt. Francis L. Podleski, 33, or burns died Jan 30.

[4] Killed immediately in the crash were 11 of the 12 crew. The 12^th victims died on Jan 30 from burns in a hospital.

[5] Not precisely correct. See footnote 3, above. The last survivor (crewman 12) died on Jan 30.