Zone
Texas

Crash of a Boeing B-17E Flying Fortress at Biggs AFB

Date & Time: Nov 25, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress
Operator:
Registration:
41-9130
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Survey / Patrol / Reconnaissance
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Biggs - Biggs
MSN:
2602
YOM:
1941
Location:
Biggs AAF (El Paso)
Texas
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 suffered an engine failure at takeoff and crashed at Biggs AFB. There were no fatalities among the crew who was supposed to perform a survey flight.
Probable cause:
Engine failure at takeoff.

Crash of a Boeing B-17E Flying Fortress at Biggs AFB: 3 killed

Date & Time: Nov 4, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress
Operator:
Registration:
41-9083
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
2555
YOM:
1941
Location:
Biggs AAF (El Paso)
Texas
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
Crashed for unknown reasons while taking off from Biggs AFB. Three crew members were killed.
Crew:
2nd Lt Robert E. Brasfield,
2nd Lt Lloyd G. Compton,
S/Sgt Garfield A. Reusch.

Crash of a Consolidated B-24A-CO Liberator at Biggs AAF

Date & Time: Oct 12, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Consolidated B-24 Liberator
Operator:
Registration:
40-2360
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
18
YOM:
1940
Location:
Biggs AAF (El Paso)
Texas
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 in unknown circumstances at Biggs AAF and was destroyed. There were no casualties.

Crash of a Boeing B-17E Flying Fortress near Las Cruces: 7 killed

Date & Time: Aug 23, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress
Operator:
Registration:
41-9091
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Desert
Schedule:
Biggs - Boise
MSN:
2563
YOM:
1941
Location:
Las Cruces
New Mexico
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
9
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
7
Circumstances:
The bomber departed Biggs AAF (El Paso) on a night navigational flight to Boise, Idaho. Soon after departure, the pilot encountered some lightning and moderate rain as he climbed through heavy cloud banks to 13,500 feet. After the pilot instructed everyone to wear their oxygen masks, the aircraft began to shake and shudder. Strong centrifugal forces held two airmen to the floor of the radio compartment. Unable to move, the two men were finally saved from the stricken bomber when the rear section of the fuselage broke apart at the radio room, tossing both men into the thundering night sky. They immediately pulled their ripcords and hit the ground within a few seconds. Out of control, the bomber crashed 24 km west of Las Cruces, killing the seven other occupants.
Those killed were:
2nd Lt James E. Hudson,
2nd Lt Frank B. Johnson,
Sgt Cato H. Myers,
2nd Lt Eugene E. Rochester,
2nd Lt Leon H. Shane,
2nd Lt William R. Simno,
2nd Lt James Van George.
Probable cause:
Investigators speculated that the plane may have been struck by lightning, but more likely was the fact that the pilot encountered some trouble near 13,500 feet and he was unable to recover. The strong centrifugal forces may have been the pilot suddenly pulling up when he saw how close to the ground he was after he saw the lights of Las Cruces in the distance. The centrifugal forces caused stress on the airframe that it could not handle and the bomber literally began to break apart in the sky.

Crash of a Lockheed B-34 Lexington at Biggs AFB

Date & Time: May 21, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Lockheed PV-1 Ventura
Operator:
Registration:
AE935
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Military
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
4278
YOM:
1942
Location:
Biggs AAF (El Paso)
Texas
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 takeoff for unknown reasons.

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

Date & Time: Dec 9, 1941 at 0900 LT
Type of aircraft:
Martin B-26 Marauder
Operator:
Registration:
40-1443
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Biggs - Edwards
MSN:
1443
YOM:
1940
Location:
Biggs AAF (El Paso)
Texas
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
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.
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