1943 – March 22, USAAF AT-18 missed approach crash, Harlingen Army AF, TX –all 10
Compiled by Wayne Blanchard; last edit 5-14-2024 for upload to: http://www.usdeadlyevents.com/
–10 Mireles 2006. Fatal Army AF Aviation Accidents…US…, V. 1 Jan 1941-Jun 1943, p. 312.
–10 Valley Morning Star, Harlingen, TX. “Ten Die in Air Base Crash.” 3-23-1943, p. 1.
Narrative Information
Mireles: “At 1240 CWT, a Lockheed AT-18 crashed while in the traffic pattern for the Army Air Field at Harlingen, Texas, killing ten fliers. The airplane had attempted a landing at the field, but it had landed in a tail-high attitude and bounced back into the air after first contact with the runway. The pilot elected to go around and he applied throttle for take-off. The airplane began turning to the left with the port wing down. The airplane reached an altitude of about 100 feet agl about 45 degrees to the left of the runway heading with the port wing down. The pilot applied full right aileron to straighten the airplane out but it stalled and rolled violently to the left to an inverted position, diving into the ground up-side down where it exploded into flames. All on board were killed instantly…”
“Killed in the crash were: [We break paragraph into single lines.]
2nd Lt. Coburn Bf. Snook, Fayetteville, New York, pilot;
F/O [Flight Officer] Wayne E. Hill, Edinburgh, Indiana, co-pilot;
Sgt. William A. Hillier, Beverly Hills, California, gunnery instructor;
SSgt. Jack B. Schiraga, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, gunnery instructor.
“Student gunners killed in the crash were:
Pvt. Walter P. Baliski, Detroit, Michigan;
Pvt. Charles H. Rahe, Cincinnati, Ohio;
Pvt. Joseph R. Martelli, Campbell, Ohio;
Pvt. Oval M. Howe, Indianapolis, Indiana;
Pvt. James E. Tate, hometown unknown;
Pvt. John W. Dickey, hometown unknown.”
(Mireles 2006. Fatal Army AF Aviation Accidents…US…, V. 1 Jan 1941-Jun 1943, p. 312.)
Newspaper
March 22, Brownsville Herald, TX: “Harlingen – An army medium size bomber crashed while landing at the edge of the Harlingen Gunnery School Monday afternoon and all the occupants perished in the accident, Captain Jack Daily, Public Relations Officer of the field told The Herald Monday afternoon. Captain Dailey said that it was the first accident of its kind in the history of the local gunnery school….” (Brownsville Herald, TX. “Bomber Crashes Wile Landing; Many Are Dead.” 3-22-1943, p. 1.)
March 23, Valley Morning Star, Harlingen, TX: “Harlingen – The first fatal accident to any aerial gunnery students at the Harlingen Gunnery School snuffed out the lives of ten officers and men shortly after noon Monday when a medium bomber crashed in landing at the air base.
“Piloted by First Lieutenant Coburn B. Snook of Fayetteville, New York, the accident also took the lives of Flight Officer Wayne E. Hill, Edinburg, Ind., Co-pilot; Gunnery Instructor Staff Sergeant Jack B. Schiraga, Philadelphia, Pa.; Special Instructor Sergeant William A. Hillier, Beverly Hills, Calif., and six gunnery students.
“The students were identified as Privates John W. Dickey, Bethany, Oklahoma; Walter P. Baliski, Detroit Michigan; James E. Tate, Grapevine, Texas; Charles H. Rahe, Cincinnati, Ohio and Orval M. Howe, Jr., Indianapolis, Ind. All were to have graduated this week.
“The airplane was returning from a routine gunnery training flight over the Gulf of Mexico and had touched the runway on its landing when the accident took place. Ground crews were unable to extricate any of the men before the plane caught fire and burned.
“A board of investigation to determine the cause has been appointed at the post.
“Lieutenant Snook leaves a wife and baby. They had been living near Combes. Sergeant Schiraga was the only other married member of the crew. His wife lives in Philadelphia….” (Valley Morning Star, Harlingen, TX. “Ten Die in Air Base Crash.” 3-23-1943, p. 1.)
Sources
Brownsville Herald, TX. “Bomber Crashes Wile Landing; Many Are Dead.” 3-22-1943, p. 1. Accessed 5-15-2024 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/brownsville-herald-mar-22-1943-p-9/
Mireles, Anthony J. Fatal Army Air Forces Aviation Accidents in the United States, 1941-1945 (Volume 1: Introduction, January 1941 – June 1943). Jefferson, NC: McFarland and Co., 2006.
Valley Morning Star, Harlingen, TX. “Ten Die in Air Base Crash.” 3-23-1943, p. 1. Accessed 5-15-2024 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/valley-morning-star-mar-23-1943-p-1/