Columbus AFB (Kaye Field)

Shortly after takeoff from Columbus AFB, while climbing, the aircraft went into a cloudy area when control was lost. The airplane inverted then crashed in a huge explosion in a field located few km north of the airbase. All nine crew members were killed.
Crew:
Maj Carl M. Funk, pilot,
Cpt Elbert J. Andoe, copilot,
2nd Lt Leonard J. LeRose, copilot,
1st Lt Anthony J. Linzi, navigator,
1st Lt Harry L. Grebe, navigator,
Cpt Harry E. Bell, navigator,
Cpt Fred R. Curtis, radio operator,
1st Lt Liam Rafferty, electronic warfare officer,
M/Sgt Lacy Potter, air gunner.

The crew left Columbus AFB, Mississippi, on a routine refuelling mission of a USAF Boeing B-52 Stratofortress. Registered 57-0036, the B-52 was carrying a crew of eight. At an altitude of 32,000 feet, both aircraft collided in unclear circumstances and dove into the ground before crashing near Leitchfield. All four crew member on board the KC-135 were killed. On board the B-52, four crew members were killed while four others were able to bail out and were found alive. Both aircraft were destroyed upon impact.
Crew:
1st Lt Harold E. Helmick, pilot,
S/Sgt Paul E. Thomasson 2.

Crashed in unknown circumstances 6,5 km north of Columbus AFB (Kaye Field). The pilot who was performing a solo training flight was killed.
Crew:
F/O Frank H. Giesse.

The twin engine airplane crashed in unknown circumstances 1,500 metres north of Columbus AFB (Kay Field). Both crew members were killed.
Crew:
Avc John J. Gallagher,
Avc Edwin C. Gatchell.

The twin engine airplane crashed on landing and was damaged beyond repair. There were no casualties.

The twin engine airplane crashed upon takeoff from Columbus AFB while on a local training sortie. Both pilots were killed.
Crew:
Pfc Frank W. Peat,
Avc Arthur E. Reisman.

The airplane crashed upon landing at Columbus AFB and was destroyed. There were no casualties.

Crashed upon takeoff and destroyed. There were no casualties.

The crew departed Columbus AFB (Kay Field), Mississippi, on a training exercise with two USAAF Curtiss-Wright AT-9 Jeep. While cruising at an altitude of 2,000 feet north of the airbase, the instructor gave a signal to change the formation to a V-formation from echelon right. In such a move, the third airplane is supposed to move over and the second should maintain position. In this case, the second airplane, the AT-9 41-12259 of 427th School Squadron, moved over to the left until the pilot, realizing his mistake, began to move back and collided with the third aircraft, the AT-8 41-19 of 426th School Squadron, which was moving into the empty number two position. The tail of the AT-9 came in contact with the bottom of the AT-9 fuselage and the starboard propeller of the AT-9 contacted the fuselage of the AT-9. The AT-9 fell to the ground out of control and crashed at 1000LT about 12,8 km north of Columbus AFB (Kay Field). Both crew members, Air Cadet Forrest J. Johnston Jr and Air Cadet Raeburn Francis Gordon were killed. The AT-8 Bobcat leveled out momentarily but its pilots, Air Cadet Desmond N. Fairbairne and Air Cadet Hoover Edwards, discovered that they had no elevator control, bailed out and parachuted to safety. The bobcat crashed in a field also located about 13 km north of the airbase. The instructor, 2nd Lt Richard N Azar, though that the AT-8 pilot might have missed two formation change signals, prompting the pilot of the AT-9 to move over against procedure.

For unknown reasons, the pilot was forced to make an emergency landing nearby Columbus AFB (Kaye Field). The airplane was damaged beyond repair and there were no casualties.