1941 — Dec 12, Explosion, Melt Unit, Iowa Ordnance Plant, Burlington, IA                 —     13

Compiled by Wayne Blanchard; last edit 9-21-2024 for upload to: http://www.usdeadlyevents.com/

–13  Cedar Rapids Gazette, IA. “Plan Quick Repair at Burlington.” 12-14-1941, p. 1.

–13  Charleston Gazette, WV. “Carelessness Fights On Side of U.S. Foe,” March 30, 1942, 2.

–13  Daily Hawk-Eye Gazette, Burlington, IA. “Deaths May Total 13 in Plant Blast.” 12-13-1941, p1.

–13  Moran. Explosive Accident Summary: [WW] II. DoD Explosives Safety Board, 1992, 116.

–13  Moran. Explosive Accident Summary: [WW] II. DoD Explosives Safety Board, 1992, 130.

Narrative Information

Moran:  “Five days after the attack on Pearl Harbor, the first World War II melt tower detonated at Iowa, killing 13 and injuring 53.”  (Moran, Edward P. Jr. Explosive Accident Summary: World War II. DoD Explosives Safety Board, Aug 1992, pp. 115-116.)

“Iowa Ord Plant…Burlington, IA…12/12/41…LAP…Mortar, 81mm…Melt Pour…13 [dead]…53 [injured].”  (Moran, Edward P. Jr. Explosive Accident Summary: World War II. DoD Explosives Safety Board, Aug 1992, p. 130.)

Newspapers

Daily Hawk-Eye Gazette, Burlington, IA. “Blast Kills 9 Plant Workers.” 12-12-1941, p. 1:
“An explosion, described by Col. K. F. Adamson, commanding officer, as ‘terrific’ completely razed the melt loading building of the No. 1 shell loading line at the Iowa ordnance plant at 1:05 o’clock this afternoon, killing at least nine persons and injuring approximately 20 more. Adamson’s statement was announced officially at 3 o’clock, after he and all commissioned officers of the ordnance department had made a hurried survey of the devastation. Dead and injured were being removed as rapidly as possible. ‘There is no reason to believe sabotage was responsible for the explosion,’ an official source said late today. However, a rigid investigation will be launched immediately. An official investigation party is due here tonight by plane from Washington.

“The loading line was handling 81-millimeter shells, it was stated. Approximately 75 persons, it was estimated, were working in the building when the explosion occurred. Colonel Adamson’s office at 3 o’clock, said the commanding officer personally estimated the dead at nine…..

“At a late hour it was known there were 13 casualties at Burlington hospital, seven at Mercy and none at St. Francis. Pearly J. Pettit, Lansing, Ia., was listed at Mercy hospital as among the dead….

“The building that blew up was a 3-story structure of reinforced concrete with some brick side walls. The entire top was blown off and the sidewalls partially demolished. Debris dropped into the interior of the building and is believed to have been responsible for a large number of injuries. Colonel Adamson said that there was apparently no danger to other buildings. A heavy guard has been thrown around the area….

“The explosion, it was reported through some sources, was in or near a melting vat. There are numerous circumstances that could cause a blow, it was reported, such as hot steam lines, carelessness or sabotage, but the latter was discounted officially….

“Adamson’s office reported officially at 3:30 it had been determined 52 persons were assigned to the building but it had not yet been determined if all were inside at the time. The explosion was listed as having occurred at 1:05 just after the lunch hour when some of the workers may have still been outside the structure….

“The explosion was heard 12 to 15 miles from Burlington, as well as in all parts of Burlington and West Burlington. Windows shook in Burlington and at farms five to 10 miles away. At the police department, doors shook so violently, the desk sergeant asked ‘who threw that chair and hit our door?’….”

Daily Hawk-Eye Gazette, Burlington. “Deaths May Total 13 in Plant Blast.” 12-13-1941, p.1:

“Five men, killed in a blast which wrecked the melt load building on the first shell loading line at the Iowa ordnance plant Friday afternoon, have been identified; parts of bodies of two others, as yet unidentified, are at Giles funeral home, and eight other employes are listed officially as unaccounted for. About 40 were injured, some seriously.

“Listed as missing were Dwight Strawhacker, 20, Burlington; Tracy A Perry, 54, West Burlington; Virgil Hopkins, 3o, [unclear locality]; Gora Gore, 34, Bloomfield; R. I. McKay, 44, Washington, IA; Louis E. Robbins, Keosauqua; J. D. Stuteville [unclear], 31, Chariton, Ia.; Wayne P. Hoefle [unclear], 36, Ft. Madison, an inspector for the war department.

“Thus the death list, as a result of the explosion, may reach 13 or more in the opinion of ordnance plant officials, although it was regarded as possible that some reported unaccounted for may be alive and located later. Whether the parts of two bodies, unidentified at Giles funeral home are of any of the men listed as missing had not been determined at mid-afternoon….

Casualty List

“Known Dead

Pearly J. Pettit, 48, Lansing, Ia., lived at Danville.

Ellsworth Schillerstrom, 50, Agency, Ia.

John K. Cummings, 36, Bunch, Ia.

Woodrow W. Wehrle, 26, Rome, Ia.

Lyle M. Teal, 27, Keosauqua, Ia.

[J. D. Stuteville. Updated list of identified dead, Daily Hawk-Eye Gazette, 12-15-1941, 1.]

….”

Cedar Rapids Gazette, IA. “Plan Quick Repair at Burlington.” 12-14-1941, p. 1.

“Burlington (AP) – Plans for early resumption of full production at the Iowa ordnance plant here were being laid Saturday night as the probable death roll in Friday’s blast totaled 13 or more….Several more men, among the 21 persons taken to hospitals here following the explosion in the melting unit of the group one shell loading line, remained in critical condition….”

Sources

Cedar Rapids Gazette, IA. “Plan Quick Repair at Burlington. Death Toll Is Now Believed To Total Thirteen Or More.” 12-14-1941, p. 1. Accessed 9-21-2024 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/cedar-rapids-gazette-dec-14-1941-p-114/

Charleston Gazette, WV. “Carelessness Fights on Side of U.S. Foe,” 3-30-1942.  Accessed at:  http://www.newspaperarchive.com/FullPagePdfViewer.aspx?img=40389391

Daily Hawk-Eye Gazette, Burlington, IA. “Blast Kills 9 Plant Workers.” 12-12-1941, p. 1. Accessed 9-21-2024 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/burlington-daily-hawk-eye-gazette-dec-12-1941-p-1/

Daily Hawk-Eye Gazette, Burlington, IA. “Damaged Loading Line Operations May Be at Work Again in 3 Weeks.” 12-15-1941, p. 1. Accessed 9-21-2024 at: https://newspaperarchive.com/burlington-daily-hawk-eye-gazette-dec-15-1941-p-1/

Daily Hawk-Eye Gazette, Burlington, IA. “Deaths May Total 13 in Plant Blast.” 12-13-1941, p.1. Accessed 9-21-2024: https://newspaperarchive.com/burlington-daily-hawk-eye-gazette-dec-13-1941-p-1/

Moran, Edward P. Jr. Explosive Accident Summary: World War II. DoD Explosives Safety Board, Aug 1992. Accessed 4-19-2013: http://www.dtic.mil/cgi-bin/GetTRDoc?AD=ADA507027