1945 — Apr 16, USAAF B-29 ferry flight too-low approach hits water Pango Bay, Guam –all 12

Compiled 12-19-2023 by Wayne Blanchard for: http://www.usdeadlyevents.com/ 

–12  Army Air Forces. Report of Major Accident. “Pago Bay…1/16/45…” May 1, 1945.

–12  Aviation Safety Network. USAAF B-29 landing crash ferrying personnel from Kwajalein.

Narrative Information

 

Army Air Forces. Report of Major Accident. “Pago Bay…1/16/45…” May 1, 1945:

 

“Aircraft went in the ocean about one hundred and fifty (150) yards off the coast of Guam. Aircraft was recovered.

….

“On 16 April 1945, B-29 42-94021 was flying by A.T.C. routing from Kwajalein to Depot Tower, with ultimate destination North Field, Guam. Pilot called Army Airways communication system at 1356 and gave his position report. That was the last transmission received from aircraft 42-94021.

 

“Upon investigation it was learned from eyewitnesses from both air and ground, that aircraft made a normal glide and water landing with all four engines apparently operating normal. Aircraft flight path was from the North East and almost directly down wind. Waves were large on the ocean surface  and aircraft made contact with the crest of the wave and plowed nose down into another wave, turning over on its back and bursting into flying [flames?] upon impact. Aircraft sank below the surface of the water within three to five minutes. One wing broke off from the aircraft in the middle of the #1 engine nacelle, drifted into shore and lodged on a coral reef. Fuselage apparently went down in deep water as no trace of remains have been found, with the exception of small articles. Although some of the witnesses report possible survivors, all personnel on board at the time of the accident are still missing. The entire area of the crash has been searched on several occasions and with the help of the Navy, divers were sent to try and locate aircraft remains without success.

 

“It has been impossible to determine what caused the plane to crash insofar as insufficient remains were found to facilitate proper investigation.”

 

[Section E “Personnel Involved” notes as “Fatal” the same twelve names noted by ASN below.]

 

Aviation Safety Network, Flight Safety Foundation, Database, 1945, p. 70:

“Date:                          Monday 16 April 1945

“Time:                         14:00 LT [local time]

“Type:                         Boeing B-29A Superfortress

“Owner/operator:        60th BSqn / 39th BGp USAAF

“Registration:              42-94021

“MSN:                         4728

“Fatalities:                   Fatalities: 12 / Occupants: 12

….

“Location:                   Sea…Pango Bay – [9m west of Deport Field AAF] Guam

“Phase:                        Landing

“Nature:                      Military

“Departure airport:      Kwajalein Atoll, Marshall Islands

“Destination airport:   Andersen AAF, Guam

“Narrative:

 

“….Written off (destroyed) when crashed into Pacific Ocean: hit crest of a wave while low flying at Pango Bay, 9 miles west of Deport Field AAF, Guam, while on ferry flight from Kwajalein Atoll, Marshall Islands, on April 16, 1945. All 12 crew killed. According to the following excerpt from the official USAAF Major Accident Report # 45-4-16-507:

 

“1st Lt John D. O’Reilly, his crew and one passenger while en route from Kwajalein to Depot Field AAF Tower; ultimately destination North Field, Guam was lost on 16 April 1945 at approximately 14:00 Guam time….

 

Captain Robert H. Mitchell, U.S. Marine Corps Reserve, from Marine Transport Squadron 952 witnessed the accident and gave the following statement:

 

“Just after taking off Agana on a routine instrument flight, I observed a four-engine plane off the east coast of Guam. This plane was about six hundred (600) feet, paralleling the coastline, when first observed and was in a gentle glide.

 

The plane was observed to continue its glide to the water. Upon impact with the water, the plane skipped once, exploded upon next impact and burning….

 

James A. Kane, Gunner’s Mate 1/C 49th Seabees, also witnessed the accident, Approximately 13:56 16 April 1945 while on a project on Triangle Point, I noticed a B-29 flying low over the water headed directly into Pago Bay from approximately due east. My first reaction was that it was another plane just flying low – but wondered how a ship of that size would clear the terrain of the island. Aircraft continued to lose altitude and finally made contact with water without attempting to change altitude. Aircraft flight path was at 5 degree decent with top of water. Aircraft burst into flames upon impact. All but one wing tip submerged within two or three minutes. It was hard to determine whether or not anyone was able to escape, from where I was viewing the accident.”

 

“Crew of B-29 #42-94021:

 

1st Lt John D. O’ Reilly Airplane Commander
2nd Lt Jack G. Wampack Pilot
2nd Lt Harry F. Stallings, Jr Navigator
2nd Lt John A. Rauzi Bombardier
2nd Lt Phillip S. Munson Radar Observer
M/Sgt Roy V. Duncan Flight Engineer
S/Sgt Anthony J. Scaffidi Radio Operator
Sgt Peter G. Navarra CFC Gunner
Cpl Walter M. Rusin Right Gunner
Cpl Stewart J. Reid Left Gunner
Cpl Raymond M. Stoll Tail Gunner
Cpl Bertrand H. Constantine Passenger.”

 Baugher: “….Boeing B-29A-20-BN Superfortress….94021 MSN 7428…. Crashed into ocean 9 mi off Guam Island while on ferry flight from Kwajalein Apr 16, 1945.  All crew killed.”

 

Sources

 

Army Air Forces. Report of Major Accident. “Pago Bay…1/16/45…” May 1, 1945. Accessed 12-19-2023 at: http://39th.org/39th/docs/reports/crew11accidentreport.pdf

 

Aviation Safety Network, Flight Safety Foundation, Database, 1945, p. 70. USAAF B-29 too-low landing crash ferry from Kwajalein, hitting wave, Pango Bay, Guam, 4-16-1945. Accessed 12-19-2023 at: https://aviation-safety.net/wikibase/98492

 

Baugher, Joseph F. 1942 USAAF Serial Numbers (42-91974 to 42-110188). 8-7-2023 revision. Accessed 12-19-2023 at: