March AFB

While cruising in marginal weather conditions on a flight from Offutt AFB to March AFB, the airplane hit the slope of Mt San Gorgonio located about 29 miles northeast of March AFB. The wreckage was spotted few hours later and all 13 occupants have been killed. Four days later, a US Marine Corps' Sikorsky crashed in the same area while taking part to the rescue operations, killing two of its three crew members.

The crew was engaged in a training sortie from March AFB when the heavy bomber collided in unclear circumstances with a USN Vought F4U-4 Corsair registered 81218 from VMA-251 flying out from MCAS El Toro. The 4 plane Corsair formation was on a GCI and Camera Gunnery flight. Apparently they were asked by the B-29s to make head on gunnery passes. The first three Corsairs did so, but the fourth, piloted by 2nd Lt Joe K. Jensen did not. Following the collision, both aircraft crashed into the Pacific Ocean about 30 miles west of Oceanside. The pilot of the Corsair was killed as well as 11 crew members from the Superfortress, six other have been rescued.

The crew was performing a local training flight at March AFB. On final approach, the airplane crashed for unknown reasons near houses located 3 km short of runway, bursting into flames. Three crew members were killed and eight others were injured.
Crew:
Cpt Charles W. Gatchel, instructor pilot, †
1st Lt R. C. Dunlap, pilot,
1st Lt Billy Lee, pilot, †
T/Sgt W. S. Bradley, †
S/Sgt W. J. Wright, flight engineer,
S/Sgt Joseph Guida, radar scanner,
S/Sgt F. J. Ryan, radar scanner,
Sgt Robert E. Erickson, radar scanner,
Sgt Joseph Pecka, radar scanner,
Cpl P. J. Hanratty, radar scanner,
Pfc J. C. Hall, radio operator.

While cruising by night at an insufficient height, the airplane hit the slope of a hill located in the region of Fairfiled, Solano County. The aircraft was destroyed and all three crew members were injured, one of them seriously.

While performing a routine training flight from March AFB, the crew encountered an unexpected situation and all 14 occupants were forced to abandon the aircraft that dove into the ground and crashed in a desert area located 20 miles northeast of Desert Center. There were no injuries but the aircraft was destroyed.

While cruising at an altitude of 11,500 feet in poor weather conditions, the aircraft hit the slope of a mountain located west of Lee Vining. The wreckage was found on September 23, 1945. All three occupants have been killed.
Crew:
2nd Lt Cargill L. Beach,
1st Lt Raymond Moore,
S/Sgt Jack E. Moran.

While on a local night exercise, the airplane crashed in unknown circumstances 3 km west of March AFB. Four crew members were killed.
Crew:
2nd Lt Robert L. Alexander,
2nd Lt Leroy E. Webb,
S/Sgt Jimmie T. Cauley,
S/Sgt Aulton A. Collins.

The airplane departed March AFB on a routine training exercise. En route, it suffered a catastrophe structural failure, lost its tail section and crashed in a mountainous area located near Lytle Creek. All five crew members were killed.
Crew:
Cpt Marvin J. Frum, pilot,
2nd Lt Marshall E. Oberg, copilot,
T/Sgt Merle F. Draper, flight engineer,
S/Sgt Fred Bedford, radio operator,
S/Sgt Russell P. Boyd, air gunner.

Shortly after takeoff from March AFB, the airplane crashed, bursting into flames. There were no casualties.

The airplane crashed for unknown reasons while taking off from March AFB. There were no casualties.
Crew:
Warren R. Gray.