Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress | Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives

The crew was performing a meteorological reconnaissance mission over the North Pacific Ocean. While cruising off Kiska Island, Aleutian Islands, the aircraft crashed into the sea in unknown circumstances, killing all six occupants.

Crash of a Boeing B-17B Flying Fortress in Walla Walla: 5 killed

Date & Time: Jul 15, 1942

Type of aircraft:

Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress

Operator:

Registration:

41-24631

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Training

Survivors:

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Walla Walla - Walla Walla

MSN:

3316

Location:

Walla Walla

Washington

Country:

United States of America

Region:

North America

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Circumstances:

Shortly after take off from Walla Walla AFB, while climbing, the aircraft went out of control and crashed 5 miles southeast of the airport. All five crew members were killed.

Crash of a Boeing B-17E Flying Fortress off Horn Island: 3 killed

Date & Time: Jul 13, 1942 at 0232 LT

Type of aircraft:

Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress

Operator:

Registration:

41-2655

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Bombing

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Schedule:

Horn Island - Horn Island

MSN:

2466

YOM:

1941

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

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Circumstances:

Shortly after a night take off, while in initial climb, the aircraft stalled and crashed into the sea some 300-400 meters off shore. Three crewmen were killed while six others were rescued. A first B-17 registered 41-2636 crashed at the same location and in similar circumstances two minutes earlier.
Crew:
Lt Paul D. Lindsay, pilot,
Lt Edward R. Budz, navigator, †
Sgt Ralph Dietz, air gunner,
Sgt Vernon O. Elder, air gunner,
S/Sgt Houston A. Rice, †
S/Sgt James E. Houchins. †

Crash of a Boeing B-17E Flying Fortress off Horn Island: 2 killed

Date & Time: Jul 13, 1942 at 0230 LT

Type of aircraft:

Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress

Operator:

Registration:

41-2636

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Bombing

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Schedule:

Horn Island - Horn Island

MSN:

2447

YOM:

1941

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

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Circumstances:

Shortly after a night take off, while in initial climb, the aircraft stalled and crashed into the sea some 300-400 meters off shore. Two crewmen were killed while three others were rescued. A second B-17 registered 41-2655 crashed at the same location and in similar circumstances two minutes later.

Crash of a Boeing B-17E Flying Fortress in Noonamah: 3 killed

Date & Time: Jun 30, 1942

Type of aircraft:

Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress

Operator:

Registration:

41-9014

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Humanitarian

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Plain, Valley

Schedule:

Kendari - Batchelor

MSN:

2486

YOM:

1941

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

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Circumstances:

The crew was returning to Batchelor following an evacuation flight from Kendari, Indonesia. After being hit by enemy fire, the crew elected to return to his base in Australia but while flying between Darwin and Batchelor by night, the crew encountered engine problems. The captain was forced to feather the engine number 3 while the engine number 4 failed shortly later. The captain attempted to make an emergency landing when the aircraft nosed down and crashed near Noonamah, north of Batchelor. Three crew members were killed while both others were injured.
Crew (19th BG):
Cpt Weldon Smith, pilot,
Lt Everett Davis, bombardier,
Sgt Glover J. Burke,
Sgt Robert French,
Sgt Bryson West.

Probable cause:

Engine failure.

Crash of a Boeing B-17E Flying Fortress in Greenland

Date & Time: Jun 28, 1942

Type of aircraft:

Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress

Operator:

Registration:

41-9108

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

MSN:

2580

YOM:

1941

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

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Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

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Circumstances:

Crashed in unknown circumstances somewhere in Greenland while being transferred from the US to Europe. There were no casualties but the aircraft christened 'Alabama Exterminator' was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of a Boeing B-17E Flying Fortress in Whenuapai: 11 killed

Date & Time: Jun 9, 1942 at 0130 LT

Type of aircraft:

Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress

Operator:

Registration:

41-2667

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Whenuapai - Laverton

MSN:

2478

YOM:

1941

Location:

Whenuapai AFB (Auckland)

Auckland Council

Country:

New Zealand

Region:

Oceania

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Shortly after take off from Whenuapai AFB, in Auckland, while in initial climb by night, the four engine aircraft christened 'Texas Tornado' stalled and crashed in a huge explosion. All eleven occupants were killed, among them an officer of the US Navy and an officer of the French Navy. The aircraft was on its way to RAAF Laverton, in Melbourne.
Crew (2nd Bomb Squadron):
Col Richard E. Cobb, pilot,
Cpt Joseph Bruce, copilot,
2nd Lt Edward H. Hoffman, navigator,
T/Sgt C. P. Brunson, wireless operator,
T/Sgt J. F. Lopez, flight engineer,
Sgt Harry Cohn, air gunner,
Cpl James Herriotts, air gunner,
Cpl John R. Clanton, air gunner,
Pvt Curtis L. Childers, air gunner.
Passengers:
Lt William E. Hurst, US Navy,
Cpt J. C. A. Gilbert, French Navy.