1959 — July 22, Plane Explosion and Crash, USAF KC-97, near East Andover, NH — 7
–7 Aviation Safety Network. Boeing KC-97G Stratofreighter, USAF, Wednesday 22 July 1959.
–7 Lowell Sun (John J. Maloy), MA. “7 Killed in N.H. Plane Crash.” 7-22-1959, p. 1.
–7 Nat. Fire Protect. Assoc. “Large Loss of Life Fires of 1959.” Quarterly, July 1960, p. 28.
Narrative Information
Aviation Safety Network: “The KC-97G air tanker was operating on a night time training mission of the 509th Air Refueling Squadron out of Pease AFB. The crew of another KC-97 flying behind the accident airplane reported seeing flames on the left wing while at an altitude of 15,000 feet. The airplane fell to the left and descended until it struck the ground.
“The cause of the accident was a turbocharger bearing failure which caused it to come apart and rupture fuel lines or cells.” (Aviation Safety Network. Boeing KC-97G Stratofreighter, USAF, Wednesday 22 July 1959.)
NFPA: “An airborne explosion plus an explosion at time of ground impact was responsible for the seven deaths of the crew aboard this KC-97 tanker. The aircraft came down in an open field but fog made it difficult to pinpoint the crash area which was 65 miles from the Air Base and 1700 feet off a side road between Andover and Concord, N. H.
“The accident occurred at 1:44 A.M. and local fire departments reached the scene about 2 o’clock. The Air Base Fire Department was not advised until 3:25 and then they had to travel the 65 miles to reach the scene. Fortunately, the Air Base had conducted a school on handling such incidents for the civilian Fire Departments in the area and this training was of considerable value to the Andover Fire Department during this emergency.
“The victims all received fatal burns but the evidence also indicates that the explosions were of sufficient force to inflict fatal injuries to the five crew members and two military passengers aboard the aircraft. No further information has been released on the cause of the initial airborne fire which was responsible for the ensuing crash.” (NFPA. “Large Loss of Life Fires of 1959.” Quarterly, July 1960, p. 28.)
Newspaper
July 22: “Andover, N.H., July 22 (UPI) — All seven men aboard perished early today when an Air Force tanker plane burst into flames and crashed like a fiery cornet into a hay field. The big KC-97, which was on an aerial refueling mission, roared low over a cluster of homes and exploded as it slammed into the earth….
“The burning plane out of Pease Air Force base at Portsmouth, N.H., 45 miles away, turned the pre-dawn darkness into daylight….
“The crash occurred before the plane and a sister ship were to refuel B-47’s over the Laconia area, the Air Force said. The ill-fated tanker presumably was loaded with gasoline for the refueling operation. Crewmen of the sister ship said the $1,250,000 KC97 erupted into flames while flying at an altitude of 15,000 feet. They said the left wind was afire and that the plane began to descent rapidly. The sister ship was flying about a mile behind the flaming propeller-driven plane.
“The plane thundered over rooftops of four homes and crashed with an ear-splitting explosion in the forest ringed hay field of Budd Keyser….George Anderson said the impact of the crash knocked him out of bed….
“The plane was attached to the 509th Air Refueling squadron at Pease AFB. First indication of trouble came when the sister ship notified the air base of fire aboard the craft at 1:44 a.m.
“Several orange parachutes were found in the wreckage which was scattered over an area about 70 yards long and 80 yards wide. An Air Force official at the scene said some of the crewmen may have grabbed parachutes in an effort to bail out before the plane hit the ground….
“Portsmouth, N.H., July 22 (AP) – The Air Force today listed the victims of the plane which crashed at Andover, N.H., as follows:
Capt. James H. White of Cambridge, Mass., wife Priscilla; three children…
1st Lt. Harold C. High of Duluth, Minn.’ Wife, Barbara; two children…
1st Lt. Dean H. Holzworth, Route 1, Worland, Wyo.’ Wife, Mary Lou; one child…
Tech. Sgt. Marion C. Ackerman, Route 2, Vevay, Ind.; divorced; two children…
Airman 3C Phillips K. Daret, Norman, Okla., unmarried…
Tech. Sgt. Owen Q. Combs, Bloomfield, Ind.’ wife, Terri; three children…
Tech. Sgt. Jake Schmidt, Riverton, Wyo.; wife, Edna; two children…”
(Lowell Sun (John J. Maloy), MA. “7 Killed in N.H. Plane Crash.” 7-22-1959, p. 1.)
Sources
Aviation Safety Network. Boeing KC-97G Stratofreighter, USAF, Wednesday 22 July 1959. Flight Safety Foundation. Accessed 2-11-2020 at: https://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=19590722-0
Lowell Sun (John J. Maloy), MA. “7 Killed in N.H. Plane Crash.” 7-22-1959, p. 1. Accessed at: http://newspaperarchive.com/fullpagepdfviewer?img=55276666&sterm=air+force+andover
National Fire Protection Association. “Large Loss of Life Fires of 1959.” Quarterly of the NFPA, Vol. 53, July 1960.