Last edit Dec 3, 2023 by Wayne Blanchard for upload to: http://www.usdeadlyevents.com/

–13 Aviation Safety Network. USAAF Consolidated B-34H Liberator crash 13 July 1945, FL.

–13 Mireles 2006. Fatal Army AF Aviation Accidents…US…, V3, Aug 1944-Dec 1945, 1133.

Narrative Information

Aviation Safety Network, Flight Safety Foundation, Database, 1945, p. 105 (42-94956):

“Date: Friday 13 July 1945

“Time: 10:30

“Type: Consolidated B-24H Liberator

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

“Registration: 42-94956

“MSN: 1721

“Fatalities: Fatalities: 13 / Occupants: 14

….

“Location: 12 miles NW Southport, Florida – USA

“Phase: en route

“Nature: Military

“Departure airport: Tyndall Field AAF, Florida

“Destination airport: return to same

“Narrative:

“Crashed. B-24H-20-FO, 42-94956 (c/n 1721) of the 2135th Base Unit, Tyndall Field, Florida, crashed due to bad weather 12 miles (19 km) NW of Southport, Florida. The crew of fourteen men were on a training mission when stormy weather was encountered. The co-pilot, Flight Officer Johnson, had left his seat to allow several of the men to take turns at the controls. After about 30 minutes, the instructor pilot decided the weather was concerning and began heading back to base. Flying at around 6,000 feet, a dark black thundercell was entered. Severe turbulence was encountered and the airplane began to shudder and vibrate. Co-pilot Johnson, still standing behind the seated men at the controls, began to fasten his parachute. The pilot began to lose control, and the B-24 went into a dive. Johnson shouted at the flight engineer to open the escape hatch, but because of centrifugal forces, he could not open it. He then shouted for the bomb bay doors to be opened. He made his way to the bomb bay and bailed out. Ground witnesses saw the bomber come out of the clouds and zoom close to the ground and then climb back up into the clouds, where it then stalled and fell back in a spiraling descent and crash into the ground. Flt. Off. Johnson was the only member of the crew to escape.

“Killed were:

2nd Lt. Paul R. Snyder, O2061531, IN, Pilot
Flt. Off. Franklin G. Osterman, T-068120, PA, B-24 student pilot
S/Sgt. Robert E. Hill, 35375403, WV, Gunnery Instructor
Sgt. Ray E. Bollman, 16018640, IL, Flight Engineer Instructor
Cpl. Herrell C. Askew, 34451853, NC, Gunner
Cpl. Winford T. Gaskins, 34790206, IA, Gunner
Cpl. John S. Hindman, 13190254, PA, Gunner
Cpl. Donald E. Horton, 34923996, AR, Gunner
Cpl. Jack D. Howe, 15345198, IN, Gunner
Cpl. John L. Huebner, 15345198, MN, Gunner
Cpl. Norman G. Kamsch, 33899242, MD, Gunner
Cpl. Eddie L. Keeffe, 14193872, SC, Gunner
PFC Donald W. Nelson, 37300010, ND, Flight Engineer.”

Mireles: “At 1030 CWT, a Consolidated B-24H crashed at Southport Bay 25 miles southwest of Tyndall Field, Panama City, Florida, killing 13 crewmembers. Co-pilot F/O Gene P. Johnson was able to parachute to safety, suffering only minor injuries…. The aircraft took off at 0800 CWT from Tyndall Field on a gunnery mission. Investigators stated,

“After take-off, aircraft was climbed to 6,000 feet. After completion of the mission, pilot asked the co-pilot to leave the right seat. He then moved a gunnery student into the right seat, permitting him to handle the controls. This lasted for about 20 minutes. Pilot then moved another student in the right seat. The pilot then began to fly through weather that existed at 1000 CWT, giving the students instructions on using the flight instruments. Weather at this time was six to eight tenths cumulus with build-ups to 8,000 feet. Most of the clouds were rain clouds. A stratus layer was about 9,000 to 10,000 feet.

At approximately 1020 CWT, pilot decided to return to Tyndall Field and by use of radio aids picked up a heading back to base. There was a line squall between aircraft and base. By making a deviation to the right of five degrees to ten degrees, pilot headed for the blackest cloud in the squall. According to survivor, a 35-degree correction to the left and weather could have been avoided. As soon as the aircraft entered the cloud, pilot, flying in the copilot’s seat, caged the artificial horizon. Evidently to prove to the gunner that it was possible to fly actual instruments with only basic instruments. Survivor stated that turbulence was severe.

The first indication of trouble was that the aircraft began to shudder. Pilot began to lose control. Evidently aircraft went into a spiral, and began to descend at a rate of 2,500 feet per minute. At this time F/O Johnson reached down, shook the co-pilot and told everybody to snap on their parachutes. There were eight men on the flight deck. F/O Johnson was standing between pilot and copilot’s seat. The engineer was sitting in a position so that he blocked the exit to the bomb bay. F/O Johnson tried to get the engineer to open the escape door into the bomb bay. Centrifugal force was so great that the engineer could not move. Evidently the aircraft zoomed because the centrifugal force was lessened for a moment. At this time the engineer threw open the door. The engineer, another enlisted man and F/O Johnson were thrown through the door into the bomb bay. The bomb bay doors came open but F/O Johnson does not know who opened them. He snapped the other ring of his parachute and bailed out without leg straps fastened. According to witnesses who were fishing near the scene of the accident, the aircraft emerged from a cloud in a dive then pulled up into a steep climbing turn to the left. Re-entered the cloud and when it came into view again it was in a spiral to the right. Aircraft spiraled for about 120 degrees to the right then fell off into a spin making two turns before striking the ground. Aircraft disintegrated and burned upon impact. Witnesses saw no smoke or falling parts. Engines seemed to be at full throttle.” (Quoted in Mireles 2006, 1133.)

Newspaper

July 15, Panama City News Herald: “Col. Walter W. Ross, commanding officer of Tyndall Field, yesterday identified the 13 crewmen of a four-engined bomber who were killed when the huge plane crashed during a routine training flight Saturday. One man parachuted to safety when the accident occurred nine miles north of the city. He was not identified.

“The dead are:

Cpl. Eddie Leroy Keefe, 19…Orangeburg, S.C.

Cpl. George N. Kamsch, 19…Baltimore.

Pfc. Donald William Nelson, 26…North Fargo, N.D.

Cpl. Donald E. Horton, 22…Forrest City, Ark.

Cpl. John S. Hindman, 19…Franklin, Penn.

Cpl. Jack Duane Howe, 19…Los Angeles

T Sgt. Robert E. Hill, 25…Triadelphia, W.V.

Cpl. John J. Huebner, 19…Minneapolis

Sgt. Eray Edward Bollman, 26…Pittsfield, Ill.

F.O. Franklin Gilbert Soterman, 20…Pittsburgh, Penn.

Second Lt. Paul Robert Snyder, 23…Fort Wayne, Ind.

Cpl. Herrell C. Askew…Burlington, N.C.”

Sources

Aviation Safety Network, Flight Safety Foundation, Database, 1945, p. 105. USAAF Consolidated B-34H Liberator crash, 12M NW of Southport, FL, 13 July 1945. Accessed 12-3-2023 at: https://aviation-safety.net/wikibase/101015

Mireles, Anthony J. Fatal Army Air Forces Aviation Accidents in the United States, 1941-1945 (Volume 3: August 1944 – December 1945). Jefferson, NC: McFarland and Co., 2006.

1945 — July 13, USAAF B-24 enters severe turbulence, crash, Southport, ~Panama City, FL–13