1944 — Feb 16, USAAF B-17F out of fuel after aborted landing attempts crash, Wimauma, FL-12

Compiled by Wayne Blanchard; last edit 4-12-2024 for upload to: http://www.usdeadlyevents.com/

–12  Aviation Safety Network. USAAF B-17F fuel exhaustion crash, Wimauma, FL. 2-16-1944.

–12  Baugher, Joe. 1942 USAAF Serial Numbers (42-10960 to 42-30031). 9-8-2023 revision.

–12  INS. “Identify Twelve Who Die in Crash.” Daily Times, New Philadelphia, OH. 2-18-1944, 5.

–12  Mireles 2006. Fatal Army AF Aviation Accidents…US…, V2, July 1943-July 1944, p. 690.

Narrative Information

 

Aviation Safety Network, Flight Safety Foundation, Database, 1944, p. 17:
“Date:                          Wednesday 16 February 1944

“Type:                         Boeing B-17F Flying Fortress

“Owner/Operator:       United States Army Air Force (USAAF)

“Registration:              42-29504

….

Aircraft damage:         Destroyed

“Location:                   Wimauma, FL – USA

….

“Narrative:                  Crash-landed due to fuel exhaustion.”

 

Baugher: “….Boeing B-17F-55-BO Fortress….29504 (MSN 4618)….842nd Bomb Squadron, 488th Bomb Group, MacDill Field, Tampa, FL. Crashed after fuel exhaustion at Wimauma, FL 16Feb44 (12KIS). Salvaged 17Feb44.” (Baugher, Joe. 1942 USAAF Serial Numbers (42-10960 to 42-30031). 9-8-2023 revision.)

 

Mireles: “At 0551 EWT, a Boeing B-17F crashed at Wimauma, Florida, killing 12 fliers. The airplane took off at 2359 EWT (2-15­44) from MacDill Field, Tampa, Florida, on an instru­ment training and navigation flight. The airplane ap­proached the area of the field and at 0510 tower personnel instructed the B-17 to land. The tower was unable to receive radio transmissions from the subject airplane because of an open microphone on the tower frequency on a B-17 flying in the area. The subject air­plane made several attempts to land but was unsuc­cessful. The pilot continually overshot or was not lined up with the active runway. The pilot aborted the sec­ond to last landing, even though control tower person­nel speculated that the pilot probably could have landed on that occasion. The pilot flew a poor pattern and attempted to land but again was unsuccessful. The con­trol tower officer then ordered the subject airplane to leave the traffic pattern and wait for instructions. The airplane apparently ran out of fuel and crashed while the pilot was attempting an emergency forced land­ing. Investigation revealed that three propellers were feathered and a fourth engine was not feathered or pro­ducing power. No usable gasoline was found in the wreckage of the fuel tanks.”  (Mireles 2006. Vol. 2, July 1943-July 1944, pp. 690-691.)

 

Newspaper

 

Feb 18, INS: “MacDill Field, Fla., Feb. 18 (INS) – The names of 12 army airmen killed in the crash of a B-17 bomber were announces today by MacDill field officials. The collision occurred yesterday near Wimauma, Fla., while the heavy bomber was on a combat training flight. The dead included Private William C. Mack of Toledo, Ohio.” (INS. “Identify Twelve Who Die in Crash.” Daily Times, New Philadelphia, OH. 2-18-1944, p. 5.)

 

Sources

 

Aviation Safety Network, Flight Safety Foundation, Database, 1944, p. 17. USAAF B-17F fuel exhaustion crash, Wimauma, FL. 2-16-1944. Accessed 4-12-2024 at:

https://aviation-safety.net/wikibase/97675

 

Baugher, Joe. 1942 USAAF Serial Numbers (42-10960 to 42-30031). 9-8-2023 revision.

 

INS. “Identify Twelve Who Die in Crash.” Daily Times, New Philadelphia, OH. 2-18-1944, p. 5. Accessed 4-12-2024 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/new-philadelphia-daily-times-feb-18-1944-p-5/

 

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.