Crash of a Boeing B-17F-45-BO Flying Fortress near Ordway: 10 killed
Date & Time:
Jan 24, 1943 at 2305 LT
Operator:
Registration:
42-5334
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Pueblo - Pueblo
MSN:
3873
YOM:
1942
Crew on board:
10
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
10
Circumstances:
The airplane departed Pueblo Airfield at 1654LT on a night bombing exercise. In the evening, weather conditions deteriorated with limited visibility due to snow falls. It impacted the slope of a mountain left wing first and crashed in a huge explosion near Ordway. The airplane was totally destroyed and all 10 crew members were killed.
Crew:
2nd Lt Edward E. Woodward Jr., pilot,
2nd Lt Lester A. Cattron, copilot,
Sgt Charles D. McDonald, flight engineer,
S/Sgt Carl E. Simpson, radio operator,
2nd Lt Norval W. Kelley Jr., navigator,
2nd Lt Hascall J. Young, bombardier,
S/Sgt Charles J. Burns, air gunner,
2nd Lt Martin J. Walden, air gunner,
1st Lt Taylor D. Hunt, air gunner,
2nd Lt Vincent T. Larney, air gunner.
Crew:
2nd Lt Edward E. Woodward Jr., pilot,
2nd Lt Lester A. Cattron, copilot,
Sgt Charles D. McDonald, flight engineer,
S/Sgt Carl E. Simpson, radio operator,
2nd Lt Norval W. Kelley Jr., navigator,
2nd Lt Hascall J. Young, bombardier,
S/Sgt Charles J. Burns, air gunner,
2nd Lt Martin J. Walden, air gunner,
1st Lt Taylor D. Hunt, air gunner,
2nd Lt Vincent T. Larney, air gunner.
Probable cause:
Controlled flight into terrain. It is believed that at the time of the accident, weather conditions were considered as below minima.
