1944–Jan 22, USAAF planes, B-17 and AT-6A, collide Gulf 3M N Little Marco Pass, FL-10
Compiled by Wayne Blanchard; last edit 4-15-2024 for upload to: http://www.usdeadlyevents.com/
–10 AP. “Ten Crewmen Involved in Plane Crash.” Sarasota Herald-Tribune, FL. 1-24-1944, 3.
–10 Mireles 2006. Fatal Army AF Aviation Accidents…US…, V2, July 1943-July 1944, p. 665.
Narrative Information
Mireles: “At 1627 EWT, a Boeing B-17F and a North American AT-6A collided in mid-air over the Gulf of Mexico three miles north of Little Marco Pass, Florida, killing the crew of ten aboard the B-17. AT-6A pilot 2Lt. Joseph E. O’Flaherty received minor injuries parachuting to safety. The B-17 was part of a nine-ship formation that had taken off from Buckingham Army Air Field, Fort Myers, Florida, on a simulated bombing mission of the Army Air Field at Naples, Florida. A flight of AT-6 airplanes took off from Naples to intercept the B-17s, which were flying at about 4,000 feet indicated altitude. The flight of AT-6 ‘fighters’ successfully intercepted the B-1.7s and each made several passes at the B-17s. The subject AT-6A drove on the subject B-1717 from behind and pulled up to the left to break off. Instead of breaking off at 250 yards, the AT-6A pilot closed in so close that he was unable to avoid a collision. The port wing of the AT-6A, which was in a steep left bank, struck the port wing of the B-17. The B-17 fell off on the left wing and entered a slow spin to the left until it struck the water and exploded.” (Mireles 2006. Fatal Army AF Aviation Accidents…US…, V2, July 1943-July 1944, p. 665.)
Newspaper
Jan 24, AP: “Fort Myers, Fla., Jan. 24 – (AP) Six men are dead and four others are missing as the result of a collision six miles north of Coller City, Fla., Saturday afternoon of a Flying Fortress and a fighter ship, the Buckingham Army Air field has announced. Collision caused the Flying Fortress to crash into the Gulf of Mexico, while the pilot of the fighter plane parachuted to safety, the air field said. By late Sunday night six of the bodies of the Fortress’ crew had been recovered and identified by the public relations office as:
Second Lieut. Robert Gordon Pritchard, 24, pilot, the husband of Mrs. Katherine B. Pritchard of (206 15th St.) Racine, Wis.
Second Lieut. Aveheverettte Lamb, 24, co-pilot, the son of Mrs. B. L. Lamb of (3603 Azaelle St.) Tampa Fla., and husband of Mrs. Mary E. Lamb of (904 Euclid Ave.) Fort Myers, Fla.
Aviation Student William T. Gavaris, 23, Gunnery student, husband of Mrs. Constance K. Gavaris of (2592) Creston Ave.) the Bronx, New York.
Aviation Student Henry A. Ganey, Jr., 22, gunnery student, son of Mr. and Mrs. Henry Ganey of (992 Lockwood Ave.) Chicago, Ill.
Aviation Cadet James L. Higgins, 21, gunnery student, of (357 Union St.) Jersey City, N.J.
Sgt. Don O. Johnson, 23, air firing instructor, husband of Margaret Johnson of (2829 West 15th st.) Oklahoma City, Okla.
“The fighter pilot, the only known survivor of the accident, was identified as Sec. Lieut. Joseph E. O’Flaherty, 27.) (Associated Press. “Ten Crewmen Involved in Plane Crash.” Sarasota Herald-Tribune, FL. 1-24-1944, p. 3.)
Sources
Associated Press. “Ten Crewmen Involved in Plane Crash.” Sarasota Herald-Tribune, FL. 1-24-1944, p. 3. Accessed 4-15-2024 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/sarasota-herald-tribune-jan-24-1944-p-3/
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.