1944 – Sep 27, USAAF RB-24E plane crash (icing?) 2M SW of San Jon, NM — 11
Compiled by Wayne Blanchard; last edit 3-25-2024 for upload to: http://www.usdeadlyevents.com/
— 11 Las Vegas Daily Optic, NM. “Eleven Fliers Killed; Names are Announced.” 9-29-1944, 4.
— 11 Mireles 2006. Fatal Army AF Aviation Accidents…US…, V3, Aug 1944-Dec 1945, p. 924.
— 11 Santa Fe New Mexican. “Bomber Crashes North of San Jon.” 9-28-1944, p. 1.
Narrative Information
Mireles: “At 2206, a Consolidated RB-24E flying in instrument conditions crashed 23 miles east of Tucumcari, New Mexico, killing eleven fliers. The airplane was returning to Kirtland Army Air Field, New Mexico, after completing an instrument navigation training flight to Chicago Municipal Airport, Chicago, Illinois. Investigators stated,
“The pilot filed clearance at Chicago Municipal Airport for a flight under instrument conditions from Chicago to Tucumcari, New Mexico, at 10,000 feet, and from Tucumcari to Kirtland Field, Albuquerque, New Mexico, contact flight rules. Crewmembers gave position reports over each radio fix en route, making their last report over Amarillo, Texas, which is 108 miles east of Tucumcari. No further radio contact was made, and the airplane crashed.”
“Wreckage was scattered over an area of approximately 800 feet. Investigation revealed that icing conditions existed in much of eastern New Mexico and an icing report was to be issued to the aircraft by CAA Air Traffic Control personnel when it checked in at Tucumcari. The aircraft never checked in at Tucumcari and did not receive the warning. A certified aircraft mechanic at Chicago stated that the airplane had been suffering some ‘inverter’ problems that he had helped to correct before the take-off for Kirtland Field. It was later speculated that the airplane encountered severe icing conditions and the pilots lost control.” (Mireles 2006, 924.)
Newspapers
Sep 28: “Albuquerque, Sept. 28 (AP) – Kirtland field authorities today announced that a four-engined bomber crashed two miles northwest of San Jon last night. The ship, based here, carried approximately 11 men. It was on a combat training flight. Sheriff H. W. Beasley led a party of officers and other officials from Tucumcari early today to investigate the crash.” (Santa Fe New Mexican. “Bomber Crashes North of San Jon.” 9-28-1944, p. 1.)
Sep 29, Las Vegas Daily Optic: “Albuquerque, Sept. 29. (AP) – Eleven army fliers from Kirtland Field were killed Wednesday night [Sep 27] when their four-engine army bomber crashed and burned 23 miles east of Tucumcari, the field commandant, announced. The dead were
Capt. Willis A. Teller, Westhoff. Tex.;
Capt. Ollie F. Hastings. Lawton, Okla.;
First Lt. Donald A. Edwards, Greenville, N. C.;
Second Lt. Robert G. Anderson, Chicago;
Second Lt. Ernest H. Alberty, Jr., San Gabriel, Calif.;
Second Lt. Franklin H. Cobb, Alameda, Calif.;
Second Lt. Richard D. Denison, Clinton, Ohio;
Second Lt. Jewel G. West, Jr., Lubbock, Tex.;
Sgt. Frank J. McKenna, Jr., Philadelphia;
Pfc. Frank L. Koztbik [unclear], Berwyn, Ill.;
Pvt. Robert E. Hodges, Centerville. Calif.”
(Las Vegas Daily Optic, NM. “Eleven Fliers Killed; Names are Announced.” 9-29-1944, 4.)
Sources
Las Vegas Daily Optic, East Las Vegas, NM. “Eleven Fliers Killed; Names are Announced.” 9-29-1944, 4. Accessed at: http://newspaperarchive.com/FullPagePdfViewer.aspx?img=85916798
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
Santa Fe New Mexican. “Bomber Crashes North of San Jon.” 9-28-1944, p. 1. Accessed 10-4-2012 at: http://newspaperarchive.com/FullPagePdfViewer.aspx?img=147634545