1944 — Feb 25, USAAF B-17 & AT-6A collide 15M NW Army Air Field, Las Vegas, NV–12
Compiled by Wayne Blanchard; last edit 4-12-2024 for upload to: http://www.usdeadlyevents.com/
— 12 Mireles 2006. Fatal Army AF Aviation Accidents…US…, V2, July 1943-July 1944, p. 701.
— 12 Reno Evening Gazette, AZ. “Twelve Fliers Die in Mid-Air Crash.” 2-26-1944, p. 14.
Narrative Information
Mireles: “At 1455 PWT, a Boeing B-17G and a North American AT-6A collided in mid-air and crashed 15 miles northwest of the Army Air Field at Las Vegas, Nevada, killing 12 fliers and seriously injuring another….Both airplanes had taken off from Las Vegas Army Air Field on separate camera-gunnery missions. Investigators stated,
The best witness to the accident was another AT-6 pilot who had just completed a turn putting him in position slightly above and directly behind the B-17 hit, approximately 500 or more feet away. He saw the AT-6 involved flying to the right of the B-17, slightly ahead and approximately 700 feet above. The AT-6 executed a steep peel-off to the left, going into a curved dive toward the B-17. At this same time, the B-17 executed a shallow turn to the left also. The AT-6 struck the B-17 from about the 2 o’clock position just behind the pilot’s compartment and over the number-three engine. The witnessing pilot stated that the two airplanes seemed to fuse together for a terrific explosion. He could feel the concussion on his own airplane. The airplanes disintegrated with several large sections floating to earth in flames. The collision occurred at approximately 8,000 feet msl, about 6,000 feet above the ground. Two parachutes were involved. Upon investigation it was determined that one parachute was the pilot of the AT-6A. Several witnesses saw this parachute floating-down with the pilot and canopy burning, and smoke streaming behind. The shroud lines apparently had burned off on one side and the canopy collapsed when about 1,000 feet above the ground, allowing the pilot to fall. The pilot was killed instantly at the time of the collision. It is believed that the second parachute was a parachute pack only [and] that it was popped open by the collision with no occupant suspended by it. Several eyewitnesses stated that they could not see anyone hanging from it and that the canopy had billowed and collapsed several times and fell freely as though no weight were suspended from it. Also, no other crewmember was found who might have parachuted down. There were a total of 12 men aboard the B-17G and all were killed except one gunner riding in the waist gun position who was found in the rear section shortly after the accident, still conscious, but with several major injuries. When the airplane was disintegrating in the air, the rear section was separated at the ball turret position and this gunner came tumbling down within this section. He was stunned from the collision and does not recall any particular details except that the B-17 did not execute any noticeable maneuver before the collision.
(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, pp. 701-702.)
Newspaper
Feb 26: “Las vegan, Feb. 26 – Twelve fliers were killed and only one survivor was listed from the collision of a Flying Fortress bomber and a training plane eleven miles northwest of the Las Vegas gunnery school Friday afternoon. The crash occurred at 2 p. m. Friday, but names of the victims were not announced until today, after the relatives of the victims had been notified. The dead are:
2nd Lt. Carlton H. Kleiser, Elgin, Ill.
2nd Lt. Donald Westhaver, Wellesley Hiss, Mass.
2nd Lt. Court B. Lake, Salt Lake City.
Staff Sgt. Robert E. Warford, Peoria, Ariz.
Staff Sgt. Robert P. King, Waynesburg, Pa.
Pfc. Laverne Freeland, Mayville, Mich.
Pvt. George O. Patterson, Onarga, Ill.
Pvt. Leonard G. Patterson, Marin City, Calif.
Pvt. Robert E. L. Patterson, Hutchinson, Kans.
Sgt. Richard H. Miner, St. James Place, NY
Sgt. Joseph F. Triscori, Ravenna, Ohio
Pfc Peter Merick, Adena, Ohio
“The lone survivor was Cpl. Thomas K. Mange of Gonzales, Texas.
“The crash occurred during routine maneuvers and the army authorities at the Las Vegas gunnery school said the training plane was simulating an attack on the big B-17 bomber when the two ships collided. The bomber appeared to explode into flames before the men could parachute to safety.” (Reno Evening Gazette, AZ. “Twelve Fliers Die in Mid-Air Crash.” 2-26-1944, p. 14.)
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.
Reno Evening Gazette, NV. “Twelve Fliers Die in Mid-Air Crash.” 2-26-1944, p. 14. Accessed at: http://newspaperarchive.com/fullpagepdfviewer?img=283803&sterm=las+vegas+plane