Crash of a Boeing B-50D-110-BO Superfortress near Lebanon: 16 killed

Date & Time: Jul 13, 1950 at 1454 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
49-0267
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Biggs - Biggs
MSN:
16043
YOM:
1949
Location:
Crew on board:
16
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
16
Circumstances:
The crew was performing a navigational exercice out from Biggs AFB, Texas. While cruising at an altitude of 7,000 feet, the aircraft went into a spin and crashed in a vertical attitude in a huge explosion in a field located southwest of Lebanon. All 16 crew members, among them four officers, were killed. The impact and the blast tore a hole in the ground that was about 18 feet deep and at least 75 feet wide.
Crew (97th BW):
1st Lt Harvey E. Martin, pilot,
Cpt John F. Adams Jr., pilot,
Apt Paul E. Anderson Jr.,
S/Sgt Ellis E. Smith,
S/Sgt James A. Travis,
S/Sgt Russell E. Moore,
Sgt Alcide Danos,
Pfc George L. Martin,
T/Sgt Charles W. Pickett,
T/Sgt Joseph Veid,
T/Sgt Vernon W. Diggle,
S/Sgt W. O. Timmons,
S/Sgt James M. Tennille Jr.,
S/Sgt Thomas James Mullen 2.
Probable cause:
The exact cause of the accident could not be determined with certainty. However, it was reported that the loss of control occurred while the aircraft was cruising just below the base of a thunderstorm area.

Crash of a Boeing B-50A-30-BO Superfortress in Savannah: 11 killed

Date & Time: Dec 22, 1949 at 2117 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
47-110
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Chatham – Biggs
MSN:
15794
YOM:
1947
Crew on board:
11
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
11
Circumstances:
Five minutes after its takeoff from Chatham AFB, the aircraft went out of control and crashed in a swampy area located along the Savannah River. All 11 crew members were killed.
Crew:
Cpt George V. Scaringen, pilot,
Cpt. Andrew G. Walker, pilot,
Lt Rogers Hornsby Jr.,
1st Lt Robert W. Beckman, bombardier,
Cpt Anthony C. Colandro, radar navigator,
1st Lt James W. Johnson Jr., flight engineer,
T/Sgt Leonard B. Hughes, flight engineer,
S/Sgt Fred W. Cunningham, radio operator and gunner,
S/Sgt Manson L. Gregg, gunner,
S/Sgt Garnell W. Myers, gunner,
S/Sgt Billy C. Bristol, gunner.

Crash of a Fairchild C-82A Packet near Clinton: 4 killed

Date & Time: Oct 17, 1948
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
45-57797
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Biggs - Eglin
MSN:
10167
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
30
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
The aircraft was part of a convoy of seven C-82's flying from Biggs AFB (El Paso) to Eglin AFB, Florida. En route, the crew encountered technical problems with an engine and the captain decided to attempt an emergency landing. He reduced his altitude, avoided trees and elected to make a belly landing in an open field. The aircraft hit a fence, slid for several yards and came to rest. A part of the fuselage was broken and four passengers were killed, a fifth was seriously injured. The aircraft was written off.
Probable cause:
Technical issue on one engine.

Crash of a Douglas DC-3 Dakota IV on Mt Pinos: 5 killed

Date & Time: Mar 13, 1945
Operator:
Registration:
KN345
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Biggs - Sacramento
MSN:
15913/32661
YOM:
1945
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
The aircraft was performing a flight from Biggs AFB, El Paso, to Sacramento, California. While cruising by night in stormy weather, the aircraft hit tree tops and crashed on the Mt Pinos located some 14 miles west of Lebec. All five occupants were killed. The wreckage was found by walkers on 13MAY1945 only.
Crew:
Peter Antrobus, pilot
Floyd E. George, copilot
Frank S. Holmes, navigator
Edward Watkins, radio operator
Passenger:
Max K. Nelson.

Crash of a Consolidated B-24J-60-CO Liberator near Biggs AAF: 2 killed

Date & Time: May 20, 1944
Operator:
Registration:
42-100002
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Biggs - Biggs
MSN:
3150
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
Shortly after take off from Biggs AAF, while climbing, the four engine aircraft crashed in unknown circumstances in a desert area located some 6 miles northeast of the airbase. Two crew members were killed while four others were injured.

Crash of a Martin B-26-MA Marauder at Biggs AAF: 4 killed

Date & Time: Dec 9, 1941 at 0900 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
40-1443
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Biggs - Edwards
MSN:
1443
YOM:
1940
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
Shortly after take off from Biggs AAF, the port engine failed. The crew elected to return for an emergency landing when the airplane crashed near the airbase, bursting into flames. Four crew members were killed and three others were injured. The aircraft was on its way to Muroc Dry Lake near Edwards AFB, California.
Crew (22nd BG):
Maj Mark K. Lewis, Jr., pilot, †
Maj David P. Lauback, navigator, †
S/Sgt Michael A. Miullo, crew chief, †
Cpl Francis J. Rizzio, radio operator †, +3.
Probable cause:
Failure of the left engine after takeoff.