1944 – July 11, off-course USAAF B-17G crash, thunderstorm, Deer Mt. ~Rangeley, ME–10
Compiled by Wayne Blanchard; last edit 3-31-2024 for upload to: http://www.usdeadlyevents.com/
–10 AP. “Army Believes…Ten Killed in Maine Bomber Crash.” Biddeford Journal, MA. 7-14-1944, 1.
–10 Charleroi Mail, PA. “Begin Descent of Maine Mtns. With Airmen’s Bodies.” 7-17-1944, 4.
–10 Mireles 2006. Fatal Army AF Aviation Accidents…US…, V2, July 1943-July 1944, p. 854.
— 9 Baugher. 1943 USAAF Serial Numbers (43-5109 to 43-52437). 11-7-2011 rev.
Narrative Information
Baugher: “Boeing B-17G-75-BO Fortress….38023 crashed into Deer Mountain, Cupsuptic, ME July 11, 19944. All 9 aboard killed.” (Baugher. 1943 USAAF Serial Numbers (43-5109 to 43-52437). 11-7-2011 revision.)
Mireles: “At 1330 EWT, a Boeing B-17G flying in thunderstorms and poor visibility collided with 3,455-foot Deer Mountain near Rangeley, Maine, killing the crew of ten. The B-17 had taken off from Kearney, Nebraska, on a routine training flight to Bangor, Maine. The airplane was off course and apparently lost. Witnesses on the ground stated that the airplane had circled the Rangeley area for an hour and a half before disappearing into the clouds. The airplane never arrived at Bangor and a search was commenced. The airplane was spotted from the air on 7-13-44 at about 1630 EWT. Because of difficult terrain, investigators did not reach the wreck site until 7-15-44. The airplane smashed into the mountain approximately 500 feet from the peak in a 70-degree bank to the left with all four engines producing power. Wreckage was scattered over an area of 800 feet. Investigators noted that severe thunderstorms were in the area and heavy clouds obscured mountain at the time of the crash.” (Mireles 2006, p. 854.)
Newspapers
July 13: “Army Air Base, Kearney, Neb., July 13. – Ten crew members of a B-17 bomber, who left Kearney Monday night for the east have not been heard from since early Tuesday, Lt. Col. Cornelius W. Cousland, base commander, said today.” (The Altoona Mirror, PA. “Air Crew Missing.” 7-13-1944, p. 10.)
July 14, AP: “Manchester, N.H., July 14. – (AP) – An Army search and rescue squad hacked its way through dense woods today toward the wreckage of a B-17 Flying Fortress on a hill north of the Rangeley Lakes in Maine. Fragments of the bomber were spotted from the air yesterday after an extensive search by 109 Army and Civil Air Patrol planes and an undisclosed number of Navy and Royal Canadian Air Force craft. Wreckage first was seen by an observation plane from Grenier field, Manchester, N.H., and Army authorities said it seemed ‘almost impossible that anybody survived the crash.’ Planes of this type carry a crew of 10 men.
“Army officials said the bomber reported in at Syracuse, N.Y., at 10:10 a.m., Tuesday en route for Dow Field at Bangor, Me. It communicated by radio with Grenier Field at 11:55 a.m., and then was not heard from again.
“Major Norman Vaughn, in command of a search and rescue section based at Presque Isle, Me., flew over the wreckage late yesterday and mapped out a route for the rescue party. The Army listed the 10-man crew of the bomber as ‘missing.’” (Associated Press. “Army Believes Crew of Ten Killed in Maine Bomber Crash.” Biddeford Daily Journal, MA. 7-14-1944, p. 1.)
July 17, United Press: “Rangeley, Me., July 17 – (UP) – Rescue parties began the descent of heavily-wooded Deer Mountain with the bodies of the 10 crew members of a B-17 Fortress which crashed on the northern ridge of the peak, presumably on Tuesday afternoon [July 11]. The rescue parties, under direction of Maj. Norman Vaughn, reached the scene of the crash after a daylong trek through the dense underbrush. They found the wreckage of the plane and remains of the victims scattered over a wide area.” (Charleroi Mail, PA. “Begin Descent of Maine Mtns. With Airmen’s Bodies.” 7-17-1944, p. 4.)
Sources
Associated Press. “Army Believes Crew of Ten Killed in Maine Bomber Crash.” Biddeford Daily Journal, MA. 7-14-1944, p. 1. Accessed 3-31-2024 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/biddeford-daily-journal-jul-14-1944-p-1/
Baugher, Joseph F. 1943 USAAF Serial Numbers (43-5109 to 43-52437). Nov 7, 2011 revision. Accessed 12-18-2011 at: http://www.joebaugher.com/usaf_serials/1943_2.html
Charleroi Mail, PA. “Begin Descent of Maine Mountains with Airmen’s Bodies.” 7-17-1944, 4. Accessed at: http://www.newspaperarchive.com/FullPagePdfViewer.aspx?img=25230311
Mireles, Anthony J. Fatal Army Air Forces Aviation Accidents in the United States, 1941-1945 (Volume 2: July 1943 – July 1944). Jefferson, NC: McFarland and Co., 2006.
The Altoona Mirror, PA. “Air Crew Missing.” 7-13-1944, p. 10. Accessed 3-31-2024 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/altoona-mirror-jul-13-1944-p-10/