1968 — July 28, USAF C-124A, Georgia Reserve, plane crash, 50M NW of Recife, Brazil-10

–10 ASN. Accident description. USAF Douglas C-124C Globemaster II, Recife Brazil 7-28-1968.
–10 Baugher. 1951 USAF Serial Numbers. 11-7-2011 rev.
–10 Bridgeport Post, CT. “All 10 Dead in C124 Crash. Globemaster…” 7-29-1968, p. 1.
–10 Florence Morning News, SC. “Georgia Airmen Die in Crash.” 7-30-1968, p. 1.

Narrative Information

Aviation Safety Network. Accident Description:
“….Time: ca 20:00….
“Fatalities: 10 / Occupants: 10….
“Location: 80 km (50 Mls) NW of Recife, PE (Brazil)….
“Departure airport: Paramaribo-Zanderij International Airport (PBM)…Suriname
“Destination airport: Recife-Guararapes International Airport, PE (REC)…Brazil
“Narrative: Flew into a 1890 feet high hill during descent.”

(Aviation Safety Network. Accident Description. United States Air Force, Douglas C-124C Globemaster II, 80 km NW of Recife, Brazil, 28 Jul 1968. 2-22-2007 update.)

Baugher: “Douglas C-124A Globemaster II….5178 (c/n 43588) crashed 50 mi NW of Recife, Brazil Jul 28, 1968. 10 killed. Flew into hill during descent.” (Baugher. 1951 USAF Serial Numbers. 11-7-2011 rev.)

Newspaper

July 29, United Press International: “Cape Kennedy (UPI) – An Air Force C124 Globemaster on a missile test range supply flight crashed in Brazil’s dense jungle, killing all 10 persons aboard, the Air Force reported today. The cargo aircraft, powered by four Piston engines, was last heard from at 7:50 p.m. EDT Sunday, just five minutes before it was to land at Recife, Brazil on a flight from Surinam. Its pilot gave no indication of trouble at the time.

“A spokesman at Patrick Air Force base, headquarters of the Air Force Eastern test range, said the aircraft’s wreckage was located on land near Ibuzeiro, Brazil, an estimated 27 miles from Recife. He said there were no survivors among the 10 persons on board.

“The plane left Patrick Air Force base Friday on a routine supply trip to downrange tracking stations, its final destination was the tracking station on Ascension Island in the South Atlantic. The big cargo plane, from the 445th Military Airlift wing, is part of the 700th Military Airlift squadron, a reserve unit stationed at Marietta, Ga.” (Bridgeport Post, CT. “All 10 Dead in C124 Crash. Globemaster…” 7-29-1968, p. 1.)

July 30: “Dobbins Air Force Base, Ga. (AP) – Ten airmen from Georgia, called into active duty last January because of the Korean crisis, were killed when their C124 Globemaster crashed in the jungles of South America.

“The four-engine cargo plane was en route from Dobbins Air Force Base at Marietta, Ga., to Ascension Island, approximately l,000 miles off the coast of Brazil, when the crash occurred Sunday night.

“Brig- Gen. George Wilson, commander of the 445th Military Airlift Wing, to which the aircraft was attached, said the unit was going into its 10th year without a fatal accident at the time of the crash. He said all of the men were from metropolitan Atlanta. They were called to active duty last Jan. 26. The plane flew a regular weekly mission from Dobbins to Ascension Island to carry mail, equipment and food to workers.” (Florence Morning News, SC. “Georgia Airmen Die in Crash.” 7-30-1968, p. 1.)

Sources

Aviation Safety Network. Accident Description. United States Air Force, Douglas C-124C Globemaster II, 80 km NW of Recife, Brazil, 28 Jul 1968. 2-22-2007 update. Accessed 1-6-2012 at: http://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=19680728-0

Baugher, Joseph F. 1951 USAF Serial Numbers. Nov 7, 2011 update. Accessed 1-5-2012 at: http://www.joebaugher.com/usaf_serials/1951.html

Bridgeport Post, CT. “All 10 Dead in C124 Crash. Globemaster on Supply Flight Downed in Brazil Jungle.” 7-29-1968, 1. http://www.newspaperarchive.com/FullPagePdfViewer.aspx?img=83018806

Florence Morning News, SC. “Georgia Airmen Die in Crash.” 7-30-1968, p. 1. Accessed at: http://www.newspaperarchive.com/FullPagePdfViewer.aspx?img=52063226