1943 — Sep 2, USAAF B-24E fire/landing crash 1M E Army Air Base Sioux City, IA –all 10

Compiled by Wayne Blanchard; last edit 4-27-2024 for upload to: http://www.usdeadlyevents.com/

–10  AP. “10 Airmen Killed In Night Crash.” The Daily Times Herald, Carroll, IA. 9-3-1943, p1

–10  Mireles 2006. Fatal Army AF Aviation Accidents…US…, V2, July 1943-July 1944, p. 501.

Narrative Information

Mireles: “At 2340 CWT, a Consolidated B-24E attempting a landing crashed one mile east of the Army Air Base at Sioux City, Iowa, killing the crew of ten. Investigators stated,

“B-24E #42-7237 took off from Sioux City AAB at 2049 on a local training flight. The ship was scheduled to land at 2400. At 2336, the pilot called in for landing instructions and was watched by the tower officer while on the downwind leg. As the tower officer watched, the airplane burst into flames and spun into the ground. The fire did not appear to be an engine fire but rather a major fire in the fuselage. When the pilot called in for landing instructions he was in the traffic pattern. There were no indications of trouble”.”   (Mireles 2006, V2, p. 501.)

Newspaper

Sep 3, AP: “Sioux City (AP) – All ten members of the crew of an army bomber from the Sioux City air base were killed in a crash last night about three miles east of Sergeant Bluff while making a routine training flight, Lieut. Austin W. Marshall, public relations officer at the base, announced today. The dead are:

Second Lieut. Emory R. Watson, Ft. Myers, Fla.

Second Lieut. Herbert F. Schultz, Boston, Mass.

Second Lieut. Robert M. Seltzer, Newark, N.J.

Second Lieut. Earl G. Adkinson, Portland, Ore.

Sgt. Roy J. Forehand, Bonifay, Fla.

Sgt. G. D. Freeman, Danielsville, Ga.

Sgt. Everett E. Crabtree, Lucasville, Ohio.

Sgt. Robert Hunter, Eufaula, Okla.

Sgt. Walter E. Gaddis, Topeka, Kas.

Sgt. Rodney E. Kraus, North College Hill, Ohio.

“An investigation was begun by army authorities to determine the cause of the crash. The plane burned a short time after it landed and a siren sounded at 12:15 a.m. today in Sergeant Bluff to help bring under control a fire which was believed to have started from the mishap. One report was that a nearby farm building was set afire. The services of the fire fighters, however, were not needed at the scene.

“It is understood that the crash occurred shortly before midnight in the farmyard of what is known as the ‘Orie Wilson farm.’ Army base spokesmen said that the plane at the time of the accident was on a ‘routine training flight.’

“Three ambulances, dispatched to the scene, took the bodies of the victims to the air base..

“Following the crash, soldiers threw a cordon around the area.” (Associated Press. “10 Airmen Killed In Night Crash.” The Daily Times Herald, Carroll, IA. 9-3-1943, p.1.)

Sources

Associated Press. “10 Airmen Killed In Night Crash.” The Daily Times Herald, Carroll, IA. 9-3-1943, p.1. Accessed 4-27-2024 at:

https://newspaperarchive.com/carroll-daily-times-herald-sep-03-1943-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.