Kingman

The bomber left Kingman Airport on a gunnery training mission jointly with a USAF Bell P-39Q Airacobra registered 44-2378. While flying at an altitude of 12,000 feet, the pilot of the Bell misjudged the distance between both aircraft, causing the Bell to hit the left wing of the Flying Fortress. At least 15 feet of the left wing was sheared off. Out of control, both aircraft dove into the ground and crashed in a desert area located near Kingman Airport. All 15 occupants on both aircraft were killed.

The crew departed Kingman on a ferry flight to Glendale after dropping off their passengers. En route to Grand Central Airport, weather conditions deteriorated and the visibility was poor due to heavy snow falls. The aircraft impacted the slope of Mt Shay located about 30 km northeast of San Bernardino. As the aircraft failed to arrive at destination, SAR operations were initiated and the wreckage was found six days later by Dudley Steele, flying a Richfield Oil Company aircraft with Mrs. Juanita E. Burns as observer. The wreckage was spotted about eight miles from Lake Arrowhead. The aircraft was destroyed and all three crew members were killed.
Crew:
James E. 'Jimmy' Dole, pilot,
A. W. Bieber, copilot,
John W. Slaton, steward.