Crash of a Consolidated B-24J-60-CO Liberator near Westover AFB: 10 killed

Date & Time: May 27, 1944
Type of aircraft:
Consolidated B-24 Liberator
Operator:
Registration:
42-100024
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Westover - Westover
MSN:
3173
Location:
Westover AFB
Massachusetts
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
10
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
10
Circumstances:
On approach to Westover AFB, while completing a training mission, the aircraft was too low and hit the slope of Mt Holyoke located some 11 km north of the airbase. All ten crewmen were killed in the crash and the aircraft christened 'Line of Duty' was destroyed.
Crew:
2nd Lt Talbot M. Malcolm, pilot,
Sgt Arnold H. Anderson,
2nd Lt William M. Ashley Jr.
Sgt Wilburn H. Dechert, engineer,
2nd Lt Donald D. Dowden, navigator,
Sgt Ambrose D. Griffith,
2nd Lt John D. Logan,
Cpl Robert J. Ohr,
Cpl Kearney W. Padgett,
Cpl Ronald Charles Lloyd.

Crash of a Stinson UC-81J-ST Reliant at Westover AFB

Date & Time: Jul 23, 1943
Type of aircraft:
Stinson SR-9 Reliant
Operator:
Registration:
42-57226
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Military
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
5216
YOM:
1937
Location:
Westover AFB
Massachusetts
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:
Crashed on landing. Crew fate unknown.

Crash of a Lockheed RA-29 Hudson at Westover AFB

Date & Time: Apr 1, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Lockheed L-414 Hudson
Operator:
Registration:
41-23407
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
414-6224
YOM:
1941
Location:
Westover AFB
Massachusetts
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The airplane crashed for unknown reasons upon landing at Westover AFB. There were no casualties.
Crew:
Joseph W. Scannell.

Crash of a Lockheed RA-29-LO Hudson at Westover AFB

Date & Time: Mar 20, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Lockheed L-414 Hudson
Operator:
Registration:
41-23329
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
414-6146
YOM:
1941
Location:
Westover AFB
Massachusetts
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The airplane ground looped upon takeoff and crashed. There were no casualties.
Crew:
James F. Berry.

Crash of a Lockheed RA-29 Hudson at Westover AFB: 1 killed

Date & Time: Feb 21, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Lockheed L-414 Hudson
Operator:
Registration:
41-23437
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Delivery
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
414-6254
YOM:
1941
Location:
Westover AFB
Massachusetts
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
The twin engine airplane was on its way to Canada to be delivered to the Royal Air Force with registration BW575. For unknown reasons, it crashed upon takeoff from Westover AFB. At least one crew member was killed.
Crew:
George C. Salvo, pilot.

Crash of a Douglas B-18A Bolo on Mt Waternomee: 2 killed

Date & Time: Jan 14, 1942 at 2000 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas B-18 Bolo
Operator:
Registration:
37-619
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Survey / Patrol / Reconnaissance
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Westover - Westover
MSN:
2619
YOM:
1937
Location:
Mt Waternomee
New Hampshire
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
The airplane departed Westover AFB at the end of the afternoon on a maritime patrol flight off the east US coast after a German submarine have been located in this area. Following an uneventful mission, the crew returned to base in the evening. Approaching the coast, the crew noted that weather conditions deteriorated and that the visibility was low due to clouds down to 4,000 feet. The captain decided to continue the flight under the cloud layer but failed to realize that the wind was strong. While cruising at night and in snow falls, the twin engine airplane hit tree tops and crashed in a wooded area located on Mt Waternomee, in the White Mountain National Forest. SAR teams arrived on the scene two hours later and were able to evacuate five injured crew while two others were killed.
Crew:
1st Lt Anthony Benvenutto, pilot,
2nd Lt Woodrow A. Kantner, copilot,
2nd Lt Fletcher Craig, navigator,
Pfc Richard G. Chubb, flight engineer,
Pfc Noah W. Phillips Jr., radio operator, †
Pfc Raymond F. Lawrence, bomb aimer, †
Robert P. Picard, photographer.
Probable cause:
According to US military experts, it appears that the accident was caused by the fact that the crew was not conscious of his real position due to poor weather conditions. The crew thought they were approaching Westover AFB by the South while they were approaching from the North (the airplane strayed off course due to strong unfavorable winds). Due to poor weather conditions, all ground beacons and markers were out of service and the visibility was reduced due to the night associated to snow falls. In such conditions, the crew did not have any sufficient visual ground or sky heavenly references.

Crash of a Douglas B-18A Bolo at Westover AFB

Date & Time: Dec 11, 1941
Type of aircraft:
Douglas B-18 Bolo
Operator:
Registration:
39-17
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
2665
YOM:
1939
Location:
Westover AFB
Massachusetts
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 upon landing at Westover AFB and was damaged beyond repair. There were no casualties.
Crew:
Albert J. Wilsey.

Crash of a Douglas B-18A Bolo near Springfield: 4 killed

Date & Time: Nov 15, 1941
Type of aircraft:
Douglas B-18 Bolo
Operator:
Registration:
37-521
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Westover - Bangor
MSN:
2521
YOM:
1937
Location:
Springfield
Maine
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
The airplane departed Westover AFB on a transit flight to Bangor. For unknown reasons, the crew missed Bangor Airport and continued to the northeast. As the airplane ran out of fuel, the pilot attempted an emergency landing when it crashed in a dense wooded area located about 10 miles south of Springfield. All four crew members were killed.
Crew:
2nd Lt Peyton Winfred Beckham,
Cpl Jacob L. Parson,
Pfc Lee E. Rothermel,
2nd Lt Wyman O. Thompson.
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