Country
Crash of a Boeing TB-29 Super Fortress near Talkeetna: 6 killed
Date & Time:
Nov 15, 1957 at 1822 LT
Operator:
Registration:
44-70039
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Elmendorf AFB - Elmendorf AFB
MSN:
10871
YOM:
1944
Crew on board:
10
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Circumstances:
The aircraft, a trainer conversion of a B-29 four engine bomber, and its crew were with the 5040th Radar Evaluation Squadron based at Elmendorf Air Force Base near Anchorage. On this day, they were on a routine radar-calibration training mission that was to last about 10 hours. Flying south down the Susitna Valley in bad weather, however, they strayed 27 miles off course into the Talkeetna Mountains. At 1822LT, the aircraft crashed into an unnamed glacier at an altitude of 5,600 feet and some 39 miles southeast of Talkeetna, just northeast of the Hatcher Pass. Six crew were killed while four others were injured.
Crew:
Major Robert A. Butler, †
Captain Richard O. Seaman, †
Captain Erwin Stolfich, †
Captain Edward A. Valiant, †
1st Lieutenant William J. Schreffler, †
Airman Basic James R. Roberson, †
Staff Sergeant Calvin K. Campbell,
Staff Sergeant Robert J. McMurray,
Technical Sergeant Manuel Garza,
1st Lieutenant Claire W. Johnson.
Thanks to Adam Elliott for his wonderful website and history: http://adamspictureblog.blogspot.ch/2013/02/bomber-glacier.html
Crew:
Major Robert A. Butler, †
Captain Richard O. Seaman, †
Captain Erwin Stolfich, †
Captain Edward A. Valiant, †
1st Lieutenant William J. Schreffler, †
Airman Basic James R. Roberson, †
Staff Sergeant Calvin K. Campbell,
Staff Sergeant Robert J. McMurray,
Technical Sergeant Manuel Garza,
1st Lieutenant Claire W. Johnson.
Thanks to Adam Elliott for his wonderful website and history: http://adamspictureblog.blogspot.ch/2013/02/bomber-glacier.html
Probable cause:
At the time of the accident, the aircraft was about 27 miles east of its planned course into Elmendorf. A report indicated that the aircraft had strayed off course due to a combination of factors including deteriorating weather and pilot error.
Crash of a Boeing KB-29P Superfortress in Morigny: 4 killed
Date & Time:
Feb 2, 1957
Operator:
Registration:
44-83906
Survivors:
Yes
Crew on board:
9
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
The Boeing KB-29P Superfortress left RAF Sculthorpe on a training mission to south of France. While cruising at an altitude of 15,000 feet in low visibility due to poor weather conditions, the airplane struck another USAF Boeing KB-29P Superfortress that was flying in front of it. The first KB-29, registered 44-69846, was carrying a crew of ten and lost speed for undetermined reason. Following the collision, both airplanes went out of control, dove into the ground and crashed in a field located in Morigny, about 25 km south of Saint-Lô. On the ten crew members aboard 44-69846, one survived. On board 44-83906, five crew survived while four others were killed. It appears that some of the survivors were able to bail out prior to impact. Among those killed were M/Sgt. Lawrence M. Grigory, A2c Arthur B. Kosier and A3c Franklin D. Schweigert.
Probable cause:
In-flight collision following a loss of speed of the first aircraft for undetermined reason.
Crash of a Boeing KB-29P Superfortress in Morigny: 9 killed
Date & Time:
Feb 2, 1957
Operator:
Registration:
44-69846
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
10678
YOM:
1944
Crew on board:
10
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
9
Circumstances:
The Boeing KB-29P Superfortress left RAF Sculthorpe on a training mission to south of France. While cruising at an altitude of 15,000 feet in low visibility due to poor weather conditions, the airplane lost speed and was struck by a second USAF Boeing KB-29P Superfortress registered 44-83906 that was carrying a crew of nine. Both airplanes went out of control, dove into the ground and crashed in a field located in Morigny, about 25 km south of Saint-Lô. On the ten crew members, one survived. On board the second aircraft, five crew survived while four others were killed. It appears that some of the survivors were able to bail out prior to impact.
Probable cause:
In-flight collision following a loss of speed of the first aircraft for undetermined reason.
Crash of a Boeing B-29B-55-BA Superfortress at Bergstrom AFB: 6 killed
Date & Time:
Jan 10, 1957
Operator:
Registration:
44-84029
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Bergstrom - Bergstrom
Crew on board:
9
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Circumstances:
The crew was completing a night training mission at Bergstrom AFB. On final approach, the airplane was too low and crashed in flames short of runway. Four crew members were rescued while five others were killed. Few hours later, one of the survivor died from his injuries.
Those killed were:
Lt Ronald Rosetti,
Lt Robert E. Smith,
Sgt Edward Clifford Clemmons,
Sgt Thomas Salazar,
A2c Michael Bryan McIntosh,
Lt Don Anderson Berg.
Those killed were:
Lt Ronald Rosetti,
Lt Robert E. Smith,
Sgt Edward Clifford Clemmons,
Sgt Thomas Salazar,
A2c Michael Bryan McIntosh,
Lt Don Anderson Berg.
Crash of a Boeing KB-29P Superfortress near Talkeetna: 8 killed
Date & Time:
Dec 26, 1956
Operator:
Registration:
44-84149
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Elmendorf – Eielson
Crew on board:
8
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
8
Circumstances:
Nineteen minutes after his departure from Elmendorf AFB, while cruising at an altitude of 4,200 feet, the crew contacted ATC when the airplane struck Mt Bald located about 11 miles east of Talkeetna. As the airplane was fully loaded with fuel, a huge explosion occurred on impact. The aircraft was destroyed and all eight crew members were killed.
Crew (508th Air Refueling Squadron):
1st Lt Thomas H. Patton, pilot,
2nd Lt James D. Dellinger, copilot,
1st Lt Lionel E. Reid, navigator,
1st Lt Luther G. Lamm,
M/Sgt Otto D. McAdams,
T/Sgt Thurman C. Rainer,
S/Sgt John B. Pyland,
A2c William P. Hodgson.
Crew (508th Air Refueling Squadron):
1st Lt Thomas H. Patton, pilot,
2nd Lt James D. Dellinger, copilot,
1st Lt Lionel E. Reid, navigator,
1st Lt Luther G. Lamm,
M/Sgt Otto D. McAdams,
T/Sgt Thurman C. Rainer,
S/Sgt John B. Pyland,
A2c William P. Hodgson.
Crash of a Boeing B-29 Superfortress near Randolph AFB: 1 killed
Date & Time:
Apr 3, 1956 at 1512 LT
Operator:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Randolph - Randolph
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
The crew was completing a local training flight at Randolph AFB. While flying at low height at a speed of 140 mph, the aircraft struck a 160-foot high telecommunications tower and crashed in a field, bursting into flames. The wreckage was found in Selma, north of the airbase. A crew member was killed while five others escaped uninjured.
Crew:
1st Lt L. R. Hildebrand +5.
Crew:
1st Lt L. R. Hildebrand +5.
Crash of a Boeing B-29A-45-BN Superfortress near Owen: 10 killed
Date & Time:
Jun 10, 1955 at 2330 LT
Operator:
Registration:
44-61780
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Molesworth – Stuttgart
MSN:
11257
YOM:
1944
Crew on board:
10
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
10
Circumstances:
The crew was performing a flight from RAF Molesworth, Cambridgeshire, to Stuttgart. While approaching Stuttgart-Echterdingen Airport by night, the crew was contacted by ATC and rerouted to Fürstenfeldbruck Airbase near Munich due to insufficient visibility caused by foggy conditions. Few minutes later, while cruising at low height, the airplane hit the slope of Mt Teckberg located about 1,5 km east of Owen. All ten crew members were killed.
Probable cause:
Controlled flight into terrain.
Crash of a Boeing B-29A-40-BN Superfortress in Naha: 10 killed
Date & Time:
Apr 28, 1955
Operator:
Registration:
44-61677
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Kadena - Kadena
MSN:
11154
YOM:
1944
Crew on board:
10
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
10
Circumstances:
The crew was engaged in a local training sortie out from Kadena AFB. After completing low-level maneuvers, the crew was trying to get height when, flying in clouds, the airplane struck a hill located 5 km southeast of Naha. The airplane disintegrated on impact and all ten crew members were killed.
Crew (581st Air Resupply Group):
Victor C. Marston 9.
Crew (581st Air Resupply Group):
Victor C. Marston 9.
Crash of a Boeing B-29-90-BW Superfortress near Nagoya: 5 killed
Date & Time:
Apr 8, 1954
Operator:
Registration:
44-87742
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
12545
YOM:
1944
Crew on board:
11
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from Nagoya-Komaki Airport, while on a refueling mission, the aircraft suffered an engine failure. Six crew members were able to bail out before the airplane crashed in a huge explosion about 25 km southwest of the airport. The five crewmen who remained in the aircraft were killed.
Probable cause:
Engine failure.
