1946 — Jan 12, USN PB4Y-2 hits Homonhon Island ridge in adverse weather, Philippines–10

–10  Aviation Safety Network. USN PB4Y-2 crash on Homonhon Isl. ridge, Philippines, 1-12-1946.

–10  Baugher. US Navy and US Marine Corps BuNos Third Series (50360 to 60009) 4-13-2023 rev.

–10  U.S. Navy Patrol Squadrons. VP-119 Mishap…1940’s…12 Jan 46 A/C: PB4Y-2.

 Narrative Information

 Aviation Safety Network, Flight Safety Foundation, Database, 1946, p. 2:

“Date:                          Saturday 12 January 1946

“Type:                         Consolidated PB4Y-2 Privateer

“Owner/operator:        United States Navy (USN)

“Registration:              59584

….

“Fatalities:                   Fatalities: 10 / Occupants: 11

….

“Location:                   Homonhon Island – Philippines

“Phase:                        Maneuvering…

….

“Narrative:                   Hit top of ridge while letting down on SE leg of Letye [Leyte?] range and

crashed on Homonhon Island . 10 killed, one injured.”

Baugher: “….Consolidated PB4Y-2 Privateer….59584 (VP-100) hit top of ridge while letting down on SE leg of Letye range and crashed on Homonhon Island Jan 12, 1946. 10 killed, one injured.”

U.S. Navy Patrol Squadrons. VP-119 Mishap…1940’s…12 Jan 46: “PB4Y-2. Location:… Harmon IS…BUNO 59584. Cause: Bounced over Ridge after failing to clear it on a heading of 100 deg. Landed in gully 100yds from site, letting down on the SE leg of Leyte rng.”

“Update: “Search for missing Army C-47. Homonhon Island, 10-47N 125-42E.

“Pilot was returning from a special search for a missing Army C-47. Area of search was from the south tip of Mindoro to the northern tip of Panay. At 1330 pilot contacted Tacloban Tower and was informed Tacloban was closed in. Between 1330 & 1335, Samar Tower called pilot informing him that Samar was also closed in and to proceed to alternate airports of Cebu or Palawan. Pilot acknowledged and said he was going to Cebu.

“From his position in after section, F. C. Harris the only survivor, saw land just before crash. He felt the plane drop as if in a downdraft, then heard a surge of power as the plane tilted into a high angle of climb. Airplane failed to clear ridge and scraped along ridge loosing bomb-bay doors and #3 & #4 propellers. Plane then ricocheted over ridge on a heading of approximately one-hundred degrees, landing in a gully 100yds from site of first impact and broke into three sections. Bomb-bay tanks ignited and set off .40 cal. ammunition. Homonhon Island.

“Crew: [We break paragraph out into single lines and add numbering.]

1.      Pilot Lt William D. Regan USNR/Killed,

2.      Ens Charles R. Embry (A-1) USNR/Killed,

3.      Ens Warren A. Bright (A-1) USNR/Killed,

4.      AMM2c James W. Croft USNR/Killed,

5.      AMM3c Ellis E. Scott USNR/Killed,

6.      ARM3c Doyle M. Lewis USNR/Killed,

7.      ARM3c Robert M. Silva USNR/Killed,

8.      ARM3c Richard H. Barton USNR/Killed,

9.      ARM3c John H. Provost USNR/Killed,

10.  AOM3c Ernest W. Graf USNR/Killed… and

AOM3c Francis C. Harris USNR/Seriously inj (Fracture right arm & dislocated right shoulder).”

Sources

Aviation Safety Network, Flight Safety Foundation, Database, 1946, p. 2. US Navy Consolidated PB4Y-2 crash on Homonhon Island ridge, Philippines, 1-12-1946. Accessed 11-10-2023 at:

https://aviation-safety.net/wikibase/82147

Baugher, Joseph. US Navy and US Marine Corps BuNos Third Series (50360 to 60009). 4-13-2023 revision. Accessed 11-10-2023 at: https://www.joebaugher.com/navy_serials/thirdseries6.html

U.S. Navy Patrol Squadrons. VP-119 Mishap…1940’s…12 Jan 46 A/C: PB4Y-2. Accessed 11-10-2023 at: http://www.vpnavy.org/vp119_mishap.html