1945 — July 17, USAAF B-17 AP approach crash at night, heavy rain ~Smoky Hill AAB, Salina, KS–10
Last edit Dec 2, 2023 by Wayne Blanchard for upload to: http://www.usdeadlyevents.com/
–10 AP. “Topekan is 10th Victim of B-17 Crash.” The Emporia Gazette, KS, 7-18-1945, p. 1.
–10 Mireles 2006. Fatal Army AF Aviation Accidents…US…, V3, Aug 1944-Dec 1945, p. 1135.
Narrative Information
Baugher: “42-38084/38213….Douglas-Long Beach B-17G-30-DL Fortress….38142 (MSN 8928)….247th Base Unit (Operational Training Unit), Smoky Hill Field, Salina, KS. Crashed in bad weather two miles northeast of Smolen, KS, 17Jul45.”
Mireles: “At 0220 CWT, a Boeing B-17F crashed two and one-half miles south of Smoky Hill Army Air Base, Salina, Kansas, killing ten crewmembers and seriously injuring three others…. The airplane had taken off at about 2315 CWT (7-16-45) from Selman Field, Monroe, Louisiana, and was returning to Smoky Hill Army Air Base after having completed an administrative flight to Maxwell Field, Montgomery, Alabama. The airplane arrived in the area of Salina at about 0200 and encountered a line of severe thunderstorms, which contained heavy rain and abundant lightning. Investigators stated,
“When over the city of Salina at 1,800 feet, the pilot called the Control Tower and gave his altitude and position and requested transportation for [13] men. The Tower operator answered, giving the pilot the 0130 weather at Salina. Immediately afterward the pilot called the tower and stated that he had the runway lights in sight and was making an approach to land. At this time the Tower operator contacted Weather, requesting the current weather, as it was apparent that the 0130 weather [did not reflect the] the true conditions. He also requested the weather to see about closing the field. The pilot then reported that he was not quite lined up with the runway due to heavy rain and was ‘going around.’ The Weather Station then contacted the Tower operator and [closed the field]….Tower operator attempted to contact the pilot to inform him that the field was closed. No contact could be made. At this time the ceiling was 200 feet, visibility one-quarter mile with very heavy rain and severe lightning.
“A few minutes later Tower operator saw a faint glow, which appeared to be about two miles south of the field and reported it over the crash alarm system….Upon questioning the pilot later, he stated that everything appeared normal until a blinding flash appeared, which he thought was lightning. This was the last thing the pilot remembers until after the crash. From investigation at the scene of the crash and from statements of surviving personnel, it is the opinion of the Accident Classification Committee that the pilot, after starting his go-around and while making a shallow turn to the left, either became blinded or was struck by lightning, causing him to lose control. The left wing tip hit the ground, then the number-one propeller, then number-two propeller, fairly evenly spaced, bearing out the fact that the airplane apparently hit in a fairly flat position. After this initial contact the aircraft continued in a slight left bank and disintegrated, with the main body of the wreckage coming to rest on the Missouri Pacific Railroad tracks.” (Quoted in Mireles 2006, p. 1135.)
Newspapers
July 17 (AP): “Salina, Kas., July 17 – (AP) – A four engine plane, identified as a B-17 from the Smoky Hill army air field here, crashed on the Missouri Pacific right-of-way 3 miles south of the base at 3 a.m. today. No information was released immediately on the number of fatalities. Col. William J. Bohnaker, commandant of the field, said names of the victims would be withheld until next of kin have been notified.” (Associated Press. “Crash Near Salina.” The Sedalia Democrat, 7-17-1945, p. 1.)
July 18, AP: “ Salina, July 18 (AP) – Second Lt. M. W. Dawson, husband of Mrs. Louis Dawson, Topeka, died today, the 10th victim of the crash of a B-17 bomber from the Smoky Hill Army air field three miles south of the base Tuesday [July 17].” (Associated Press. “Topekan is 10th Victim of B-17 Crash.” The Emporia Gazette, KS, 7-18-1945, p. 1.)
Sources
Associated Press. “Crash Near Salina.” The Sedalia Democrat, 7-17-1945, p. 1. Accessed 12-2-2023 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/sedalia-democrat-jul-17-1945-p-1/
Associated Press. “Topekan is 10th Victim of B-17 Crash.” The Emporia Gazette, KS, 7-18-1945, p. 1. Accessed 12-2-2023 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/emporia-gazette-jul-18-1945-p-1/
Baugher, Joseph F. 1942 USAAF Serial Numbers (42-30032 to 42-39757). April 10, 2023 revision. Accessed 12-2-2023 at: http://www.joebaugher.com/usaf_serials/1942_2.html
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.