Zone
Colorado

Crash of a Boeing B-17C Flying Fortress on Mt Ragged Top: 8 killed

Date & Time: Feb 6, 1941
Type of aircraft:
Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress
Operator:
Registration:
38-216
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Ladd AAF - Sacramento - Lowry AFB - Wright AFB
MSN:
2009
YOM:
1939
Location:
Mt Ragged Top
Nevada
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
8
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
8
Circumstances:
The airplane departed Ladd AAF in Fairbanks on a flight to Wright-Patterson AFB in Dayton with intermediate stops in Sacramento Air Depot and Lowry AFB in Denver. En route from Sacramento to Denver, the airplane impacted the slope of the Ragged Top Mountain located about 19 miles southwest of Lovelock. The aircraft was destroyed and all eight occupants were killed. The aircraft was equipped with the top secret Norden bombsight and sabotage was suspected as the cause of the crash, but was never proven.
Crew:
Cpt Richard S. Freeman +7.

Crash of a Martin B-10B at Lowry AFB

Date & Time: Jul 5, 1940
Type of aircraft:
Martin B-10 (Model 139 & 166)
Operator:
Registration:
34-68
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Military
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
599
YOM:
1934
Location:
Lowry AFB (Denver)
Colorado
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The airplane crashed for unknown reasons upon landing at Lowry AFB and was destroyed. Crew fate unknown.

Crash of a Douglas B-18 Bolo near Delavan: 8 killed

Date & Time: Jun 10, 1938
Type of aircraft:
Douglas B-18 Bolo
Operator:
Registration:
36-265
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Chanute - Lowry
MSN:
1653
YOM:
1936
Location:
Delavan
Illinois
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
6
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
8
Circumstances:
The twin engine airplane departed Chanute AFB (Rantoul, IL), on a flight to Lowry AFB, Denver, carrying six passengers and two pilots. En route, the crew encountered very bad weather conditions with thunderstorm activity and strong atmospheric turbulences. The airplane entered an uncontrolled descent and crashed in an open field located near Delavan. The aircraft was totally destroyed and all eight occupants were killed.
Crew:
1st Lt Norman H. Ives, pilot,
Pvt Max W. Myser,
Pvt George L. Huntsman +5.
Probable cause:
It is believed that the aircraft either was struck by lightning or disintegrated in the air due to severe atmospheric turbulences.
Subscribe to Lowry AFB (Denver)