Boeing KC-97 Stratotanker

The crew departed Selfridge AFB on a refuelling mission, carrying a load of 9,500 gallons of fuel. Shortly after takeoff, while in initial climb, one of the engine failed. The aircraft lost height, stalled and crashed in a huge explosion few km from the airfield. On impact, few debris scattered around and struck several houses and a mill. The aircraft disintegrated and all five crew members were killed. There were no injuries on the ground.
Crew:
Lt John C. Bibble, pilot,
Cpt Lydell M. Haygood, pilot,
T/Sgt Robert E. Derby, flight engineer,
S/Sgt Ernest J. Lemoine III, boom operator,
Lt Robert L. Lewis, navigator.

At 8:15 PM on Monday, June 27, 1960, crew T-51 of the 380th Air Refueling Squadron departed Plattsburgh AFB aboard a KC-97G for the "Fighting Fox" air refueling area over Maine. Their mission was part of a SAC Operational Readiness Inspection of the 380th Bombardment Wing code named "Jet Stream Golf". They, and a backup KC-97G, were to refuel a B-47 under simulated combat conditions. The mission was expected to last just under four hours, with both tankers returning to Plattsburgh. After a successful rendezvous with the bomber, the tanker descended to the refueling altitude of 15,500 feet and accelerated, nose down, to 190 knots. The low altitude, when compared to today's KC-135 and KC-10 operations, was one of the necessities of refueling jet bombers like the B-47 and B-52 with a reciprocating engine powered aircraft. As the B-47 closed with the KC-97 from a higher altitude in "observation" position, everything seemed fine. Logistical radio exchanges were made and the bomber began to descend and close into refueling position. As they approached, the B-47 pilot and copilot saw a long stream of flame come back toward them from the KC-97's number one engine, then suddenly disappear. A small spot of white hot glow was noted near the rear of the number one engine. Seconds later, a large ball of flame enveloped the engine and the surrounding wing area. The boom operator transmitted "breakaway, breakaway, breakaway", and the B-47 commander took up a loose formation position off the tanker's right wing. The backup tanker, above and to the rear, made radio contact asking if they were in trouble, to which Lt. Burgess, the aircraft commander calmly replied "Roger, I'm on fire". At this point, the aircraft entered a gradual left turn which continued to get steeper, and turned into a spiral or spin. It was later determined that the left wing outboard of the burning engine had failed due to fire damage, before the crew could complete the "engine fire" drill. It was later found in Howard Pond some three miles from the crash site. The B-47 commander called "bail out! bail out!" but got no reply and spotted no parachutes. Witnesses on the ground, including over three hundred moviegoers at the Rumford Point Drive-In, saw the flaming aircraft spin down with burning pieces falling off. The fuel laden tanker crashed into Jonathan Smith Mountain near Route 26 in the Town of Newry. The aircraft was totally destroyed and all five crew members were killed.
Crew:
Lt William Burgess, pilot,
Lt Lewis Turner, copilot,
Lt Raymond Kisonas, navigator,
M/Sgt Harold Young, flight engineer,
T/Sgt Robert Costello, boom operator.
Source: http://www.mewreckchasers.com/kc97art.html

During the takeoff roll, the nose gear collapsed. The airplane skidded for few dozen metres then veered off runway and collided with a fuel tank, bursting into flames. All 24 occupants evacuated, among them five were injured. The airplane was destroyed by a post crash fire.
Crew:
1st Lt William E. Novetzke, pilot,
Cpt Thomas L. Hedge, pilot,
1st Lt Thomas G. Artman, navigator,
A2C Wilbert T. Heath, boom operator.
Passengers:
S/Sgt Annas S. Thompson,
A1C Edward M. Sennett,
Maj Walter A. Arrington,
M/Sgt Robert L. Chapin,
T/Sgt Robert W. Watson,
A2C Lawrence E. Newton,
1st Lt Ronald L. Munn,
1st Lt Berthold Muecke,
A2C Eugene C. Shelton,
A1C Melvin R. Furgeson,
A2C Charles W. Samples,
A2C Lloyd C. Bray,
A1C Darr E. Martner,
A2C Clyde E. Rufener,
A3C Nroman S. Rydwell,
A2C Howard A. Betts,
A2C Ronald H Ragland,
S/Sgt James E. Briggs,
A2C Walt Coburn,
A2C Raymond A. Nelson.

On a flight from Stephenville to McDill AFB in Tampa, while cruising along the Florida coast, the crew encountered heavy winds and was forced to ditch the aircraft in rough seas about 43 miles off Cape Canaveral. Two crew members were killed and 12 others were rescued.

The aircraft, assigned to the 384th AREFS, departed from Westover AFB on a refueling mission. The KC-97 collided with a B-52 during refueling at an altitude of about 15,000 feet. The aircraft lost the whole left horizontal stabilizer and elevator, the rudder was missing and the upper fourth of the vertical stabilizer. They made a no-flap, electrical power off landing at night at Dow AFB. Two crew members on the B-52 parachuted to safety. The plane remaining crew members continued to Springfield-Westover AFB, MA (CEF) where a safe landing was made.
Source:
https://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=19591214-0

The crew was performing a refuelling training mission out from Pease AFB, New Hampshire. While flying by night at an altitude of 15,000 feet, the airplane bank left, went into a dive and eventually crashed in a field located 1,3 mile south of Andover. The aircraft disintegrated on impact and all seven crew members were killed.
Crew:
Cpt James White, pilot,
1st Lt Dean Holzworth, copilot,
1st Lt Harold High, navigator,
T/Sgt Owen Combs, flight engineer,
T/Sgt Jake Schmidt, boom operator,
T/Sgt Marion Ackermand, Scanner
A3c Phillip Darst, scanner.
Source:
http://andoverbeacon.com/index.php/12064/site-of-1959-plane-crash-receives-an-american-flag/

The crew left Walker AFB at 0630LT for a nine hours training mission consisting of a low level survey flight. After it overflew the small town of Gray Mountain at a height of about 60 feet in marginal weather conditions, the four engine aircraft hit the slope of a mountain and crashed about 35 miles of Flagstaff. The aircraft disintegrated on impact and all 16 occupants were killed. At the time of the accident, the visibility was limited due to low clouds.

Shortly after takeoff from runway 17 at Plattsburgh Airport, while climbing, the airplane lost height, stalled and crashed into Lake Champlin. Three crew members were rescued while five others were killed.

During the takeoff roll at Lajes Airport, one of the engine failed. The takeoff procedure was interrupted and an emergency braking procedure was attempted. Unable to stop within the remaining distance, the airplane overran and came to rest in flames. All seven crew members were evacuated safely while the aircraft was destroyed.

While cruising about 550 km southeast of the Azores Islands, the crew contacted ground and informed ATC about a double engine failure. The radio operator was able to give his exact position before the aircraft was ditched into the ocean. All seven crew members were evacuated safely and the aircraft floated for ten days before it was sunk by the crew of USS Wisconsin.