1944 – Mar 20, 2 USAAF B-24s crash, 42-64398/9, 42-7400/10 ~Biggs Field, El Paso, TX–19
Compiled by Wayne Blanchard; last edit 4-11-2024 for upload to: http://www.usdeadlyevents.com/
–19 AP. “19 Fliers Die in 2 Bomber Crashes.” The Bee, Danville, VA. 3-21-1944, 1.
–10 Mireles 2006. Fatal Army AF Aviation Accidents…US…, V2, July 1943-July 1944, p. 729.
Narrative Information
USAAF B-24 BuNo. [Bureau Number] 42-7400 (10 deaths):
Baugher: “Ford B-24E-25-FO Liberator….7400 (MSN) 424) Redes as RB-24E; w/o 20 Mar 1944 at Biggs Field, TX.”
Mireles: “At 1510 MWT, a Consolidated RB-24E crashed two miles south of Biggs Field, El Paso, Texas, killing the crew of ten. The airplane was taking off on a routine combat crew-training mission. Investigators stated,
[The] take-off was made to the southwest and immediately after take-off [the pilot] was seen to attempt to feather the number-one engine. He continued to climb to the southwest and continued to attempt to feather the number-one engine until he reached an altitude of 600 feet, at which time he made a turn to the left and began immediately losing altitude. He continued to descend, apparently attempting to line up on a highway running east and west, and to land on this highway. [During the landing attempt] his right wing contacted a telephone pole and the airplane was seen to plunge off the highway to the right and strike the boondocks about 200 yards from the highway. The airplane exploded and burned on contact and all personnel aboard were killed. (Mireles 2006, Vol. 2, July 1943-July 1944, p. 729.)
USAAF B-24 BuNo. [Bureau Number] 42-64398 (9 deaths):
Aviation Safety Network, Flight Safety Foundation, Database, 1944:
“Date and Time: Monday 20 March 1944; 00:01
“Type: Consolidated B-24E Liberator
“Owner/operator: United States Army Air Force (USAAF)
“Registration: 42-64398
….
“Fatalities: 9 / Occupants; 9
“Aircraft damage: Destroyed
“Location: 5 Mi E SE Biggs Field, El Paso, TX – USA
“Phase: Take off
“Nature: Military
“Departure airport: Biggs Field, El Paso, Texas
“Destination airport: Phoenix, Arizona
“Narrative: Crashed. During takeoff to the west for a nighttime navigational training
flight, the pilot had to feather the № 3 propeller. He then requested an
immediate return to the airfield, opting to approach from the north.
Overshooting, he turned to the east and then approached from the east, and
made a second landing attempt. This attempt was also missed. He then flew
to the south, and began navigating to the east to set up a third attempt at
landing. During this maneuvering, the bomber mushed into the ground and
exploded, killing all aboard.”
Newspapers
March 20, El Paso Herald Post: “Nine Army airmen were killed when a B-24 heavy bomber from Biggs Field crashed at 1 a.m. today three miles southeast of the airfield while on a combat training mission. The Biggs Field commanding officer reported that next of kin have been notified. A board is investigating. The dead:
2nd Lieut. Charles M. Cooper III, of Henderson, N.C.
2nd Lieut. Rudolph N. Medlin of Neuse, N.C.
2nd Lieut. Nicholas De Pascale of West New York, N.J.
Sgt. Frank A. Phister of Bridgeport, Conn.
Sgt. Thomas F. McCarthy of New York City.
Cpl. Walter T. Kirby of Austin.
Pfc. Donald V. Robinson of South English, Iowa.
Pfc. Joseph R. Kelley of Hilton, N.Y.
Pfc. William J. Sheridan, son of Mrs. Katherine C. Johnson of Philadelphia.”
(El Paso Herald Post. “Nine Biggs Field Men Die in Crash.” 3-20-1944, p. 1. Accessed 4-11-2024 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/el-paso-herald-post-mar-20-1944-p-2/
March 21, El Paso Herald Post: “Ten Biggs Field fliers were killed in the crash of a B-24 bomber, two miles south of Biggs Field yesterday afternoon while on a routine combat mission. Nine men were killed in a crash of a bomber near the field early yesterday. Their names were announced previously. Names of the dead in the afternoon crash:
2nd Lieut. R. F. Johnson Jr., Gary, Ind.
2nd Lieut. Oral W. Gardner, Ensign, Kans.
2nd Lieut. Eugene E. Benavides, Hebbronville.
2nd Lieut. Fred S. Wilcox Jr., Dallas.
Cpt. Lionel E. Fordyce, Wabash, Ind.
Cpl. Abel J. Locapo, North Chelmsford, Mass.
Cpl. Wm. G. Conway, Chicago, Ill.
Sgt. Richard M. Cooper, Dallas.
Cpt. Eugene A Rybka, Chicago, Ill.
Cpl. Thomas D. Nelson, Pop, Miss.
“The wife of Lieutenant Johnson was in William Beaumont General Hospital today, awaiting the arrival of a baby. She had not been told today that her husband is dead…” (El Paso Herald Post. “10 More Fliers Killed in Crash of Biggs Plane.” 3-21-1944, p. 1.)
March 21, AP: “El Paso, Tex., March 21. – (AP) — Four officers and six enlisted men comprising the entire crew of a (B-24) heavy bomber died in the crash of their Biggs Field plane yesterday afternoon two miles south of the field.
“Earlier in the day nine Army men were killed when another Biggs Field bomber crashed three miles from the field.” (The Bee, Danville, VA. “19 Fliers Die in 2 Bomber Crashes.” 3-21-1944, 1.)
Sources
Baugher, Joseph. 1942 USAAF Serial Numbers (42-001 to 42010959). 6-2-2023 revision. Accessed 4-11-2024 at: https://www.joebaugher.com/usaf_serials/1942_1.html
El Paso Herald Post. “10 More Fliers Killed in Crash of Biggs Plane.” 3-21-1944, p. 1. Accessed 4-11-2024 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/el-paso-herald-post-mar-21-1944-p-2/
El Paso Herald Post. “Nine Biggs Field Men Die in Crash.” 3-20-1944, p. 1. Accessed 4-11-2024 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/el-paso-herald-post-mar-20-1944-p-2/
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.
The Bee, Danville, VA. “19 Fliers Die in 2 Bomber Crashes.” 3-21-1944, 1. Accessed at: http://www.newspaperarchive.com/FullPagePdfViewer.aspx?img=108938714