1944 — Jan 2, USAAF B-17G breaks-up, poor weather, McClellan Field, Sacramento, CA–13
Compiled by Wayne Blanchard; last edit 4-16-2024 for upload to: http://www.usdeadlyevents.com/
— 13 Mireles 2006. Fatal Army AF Aviation Accidents…US…, V2, July 1943-July 1944, p. 633.
— 13 Mohave Museum of History and Arts. “Kingman Army Airfield.” 2008.
Narrative Information
Mireles: “At 1418, a Boeing B-17G flying in very poor weather broke up in flight and fell on McClellan Field, Sacramento, California, killing 13 passengers and crewmembers. Pilot-rated passenger Maj. James H. Wergen was violently flung out of the bomber and received minor injuries parachuting to safety. The airplane took off from McChord Field, Tacoma, Washington, on an administrative flight to Los Angeles, California, and was not scheduled to land at McClellan Field. McClellan Field tower personnel said that the airplane did not contact the tower while flying over the field at cruising altitude. Investigators stated,
“The pilot of this airplane was flying on instruments in heavy icing conditions at the time of the accident. Apparently the airplane iced up causing the loss of control, which resulted in a violent spin to the left causing the airplane to shed its wings outside of the outboard engines on both sides; as a result of wing separation, the fuel cells and connecting lines were separated apparently spraying gasoline which ignited causing a violent explosion resulting in the body of the aircraft continuing to the ground in flames.”
“The B-17 was heard flying at high altitude in the overcast by personnel at McClellan Field. The airplane was next seen to tumble out of control from the overcast without wings at about 1,500 feet agl. The main wreckage was in flames as it plunged to the ground. Small bits of wreckage rained down on the base for a few minutes following the accident. The wings were found a mile and a half from the area where the main wreckage fell. Much of the wreckage fell on the south end of the McClellan Field installation and some debris actually came to rest on the active runway. No one on the ground was injured or killed. Weather at the time of the accident was reported as heavy rain, low ceilings and poor visibility. Severe icing was reported at various altitudes.” (Mireles 2006, Vol. 2, July 1943-July 1944, p. 633.)
Mohave Museum of History and Arts: “On January 2,1944, a B17 flying near McClellan Field, California, disintegrated in bad weather. Of the thirteen men killed in the resulting crash, eleven were from Kingman.” (Mohave Museum of History. “Kingman Army Airfield.” 2008.)
Sources
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.
Mohave Museum of History and Arts. “Kingman Army Airfield.” 2008. Accessed 10-28-2011 at: http://www.mohavemuseum.org/kaaf.htm