1944 — June 8, USAAF B-25s collide, homes burn, kill 10 civilians, Kalihi, Honolulu, HI–14

Compiled by Wayne Blanchard; last edit 4-4-2024 for upload to: http://www.usdeadlyevents.com/

—  14  Galveston Daily News, TX.  “14 Dead After Bombers Collide.” 6-10-1944, p. 5.

—  14  Schmitt, Robert C.  Catastrophic Mortality in Hawaii. 2-2-2009, p. 70.

—  14  Young, Peter T. “Kalihi Air Crash.” Images of Old Hawai’i. 6-8-2025.

Narrative Information

Young, Peter T. “Kalihi Air Crash.” Images of Old Hawai’i. 6-8-2025:

“That was in Europe [UK/US Normandy landings]…in the Islands, the then greatest number of fatalities from a single fire occurred in Kalihi on June 8, 1944.

“Fires have from time to time burned down large sections of Honolulu, but loss of life had been light. Three of the largest fires – the Esplanade fire of 1877 and Chinatown fires of 1886 and 1900 – caused significant property damage, but no one was killed.

“However, on that fateful day in 1944, two Army medium B-25 bombers collided in midair and plunged into a congested residential area, setting fire to 11 or 12 dwellings. Ten women and children perished in the burning buildings. All four crewmen died in the crash (including Lt James L Pauley and John H Davis.) (Schmitt) ‘The women and children were trapped and fatally burned when their homes were ignited by the flaming wreckage of one bomber that crashed in the middle of an arterial route to Pearl Harbor. One other child was critically burned.’

“ ‘Witnesses said the planes collided about 1,000-feet in the air, coming together at right angles. The left wing was broken off one and the tail sheared off the other.’ ‘The wingless bomber plummeted to Dillingham Boulevard, its flaming wreckage setting fire to houses on both sides of the street. The tailless plane fell on a small open spot in an area of small homes.’

“ “All the city’s fire-fighting equipment was called out. The fires blocked traffic for nearly four hours.’ (Galveston Daily News Texas June 10, 1944)

“Members of the Chun family were in the list of the casualties. The mother, Ester, and two children Marilyn (age 4) and Donald (age 2) died that day….

Newspapers

June 8, International News Service: “Honolulu, June 8. – (INS) — Seven civilians and four army airmen were killed today when two medium bombers crashed in midair over Honolulu. One of the bombers crashed in the city on the Pearl Harbor highway and exploded, demolishing a gas nation and two houses. Utility wires and traffic were disrupted. The second plane, according to police reports, landed in a cluster of houses, miraculously causing little damage to the plane, the crew of which was saved. A number of civilians suffered minor injuries.” (Long Beach Independent, CA.  “Bombers Collide, 11 Die in Honolulu.” 6-9-1944, p. 12.)

June 9, Associated Press: “Honolulu, June 9. (AP) — The death toll in the collision of two army medium bombers Thursday, which set fire to 11 homes in the Kalihi district, stood at 14 today, including ten women and children. The women and children were trapped and fatally burned when their homes were ignited by the flaming wreckage of one bomber that crashed in the middle of an arterial route to Pearl Harbor. One other child was critically burned. One mother, Mrs. Esther Chung, 22, lost her life along with her daughter, Marily and infant son, Donald.

“Witnesses said the planes collided about 1000 feet in the air, coming together at right angles. The left wing was broken off one and the tail sheared off the other. The wingless bomber plummeted to Dillingham boulevard, its flaming wreckage setting fire to houses on both sides of the street.  The tailless plane fell on a small open spot in an area of small homes. The fire was quickly checked there.

“Army authorities explained that the planes were being ferried and there were only two men on each. All four were killed. Their identities were withheld until next of kin could be notified.
All the city’s fire-fighting equipment was called out. The fires blocked traffic for nearly four hours.”  (Galveston Daily News, TX.  “14 Dead After Bombers Collide.” 6-10-1944.)

Sources

Galveston Daily News, TX. “14 Dead After Bombers Collide.” 6-10-1944, p. 5. Accessed at:  http://www.newspaperarchive.com/FullPagePdfViewer.aspx?img=45253087

Long Beach Independent, CA. “Bombers Collide, 11 Die in Honolulu.” 6-9-1944, p. 12. Accessed at: http://www.newspaperarchive.com/FullPagePdfViewer.aspx?img=45326906

Schmitt, Robert C. Catastrophic Mortality in Hawaii. 2-2-2009, 86 pages. Accessed 9-20-2012 at: Catastrophic Mortality in Hawaii – eVols – University of Hawaii. Accessed at: http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=1&ved=0CB4QFjAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fevols.library.manoa.hawaii.edu%2Fbitstream%2Fhandle%2F10524%2F150%2FJL03074.pdf%3Fsequence%3D2&ei=UPSvVK2bLoO4yQTO74L4DA&usg=AFQjCNHER9A57xAr6d0m9mJcnsc4F2Z8Gg&bvm=bv.83339334,d.aWw

Young, Peter T. “Kalihi Air Crash.” Images of Old Hawai’i. 6-8-2025. Accessed 4-4-2024 at: https://imagesofoldhawaii.com/kalihi-air-crash/