1944 — Feb 22, USAAF B-17F, off course/instrument conditions crash, Blue Mt., NJ —    12

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

–12  INS. “12 in Bomber Die in Crash…Jersey Mountain.” Syracuse Herald-Journal, NY. 2-23-1944, 1.

–12  Mireles 2006. Fatal Army AF Aviation Accidents…US…, V2, July 1943-July 1944, p. 697.

Narrative Information

 

Mireles: “At 1430 EWT, a Boeing B-17F flying in instrument con­ditions crashed into Kittatinny Mountain in Warren County, New Jersey, killing 12 fliers. The airplane took off from Dow Field, Bangor, Maine, on a flight back to its home base at Fort Dix Army Air Field, New Jer­sey. The airplane became lost and circled the area of Blairstown, New Jersey, for about 30 minutes before smashing into the ridge and exploding into flames….”  (Mireles 2006, Vol. 2, p. 697.)

 

Newspaper

 

Feb 23, International News Service: “Fort Dix, N.J., Feb 23 (INS) – Twelve airmen killed in the crash of an Army bomber near Millbrook, N.J., late yesterday were identified today by Fort Dix Army officials. Eleven of the victims were Americans and the 12th was a Royal Air Force navigator, riding as a passenger. The bomber crashed on Blue Mountain[1] during a heavy fog and rain and exploded after it hit the ground. The victims were: [we break para. into single lines]

 

Capt. Murphy K. Lents, 27, pilot, Toten Valley, La.;

2d Lt. Holbrook White, 22, pilot, Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.;

2d Lt. James B. Sanders, 22, pilot, Trenton, N.J.,;

2d Lt. Howard Beckman, 28, navigator, Cincinnati, O.’

Master Sgt. Theodore Hatfield, 25, engineer, Millinocket, Me.;

Sgt. Patrick G. Williams, 23, aviation mechanic, Cleveland, O.;

Sgt. George Peters, 22, assistant engineer, Cynthiance, Ky.;

Corp. John L. Diggin, 42, mechanic, Dorchester, Mass.;

Sgt. Lawrence Conroy, 23, gunner, Middletown, Conn.;

Corp. Benedict Cicone, 22, radio operator, Steubenville, O.

 

“Passengers aboard were:

 

            L:t. Arthur W. Stanley, Ridgewood, N.J., and

            Sgt. Bibb, a Royal Air Force navigator.”

 

(INS. “12 in Bomber Die in Crash Against Jersey Mountain.” Syracuse Herald-Journal, NY. 2-23-1944, p. 1.)

Sources

 

INS. “12 in Bomber Die in Crash Against Jersey Mountain.” Syracuse Herald-Journal, NY. 2-23-1944, p. 1. Accessed 4-12-2024 at:

https://newspaperarchive.com/syracuse-herald-journal-feb-23-1944-p-1/

 

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.

 

 

 

 

[1] Part of the Kittatinny Mountain ridgeline.