Pocatello

A formation of five Consolidated B-24E Liberator was on its way from Wendover AFB to Pocatello, Idaho. While cruising at an altitude of 11,100 feet, the Liberator registered 42-7183 that was in the third position was left behind so its captain increased power to regain its position in the formation. Doing so, the tail of the 42-7183 hit the left wing of the 42-7408. On impact, the number one engine of 42-7408 was sheared off and both aircraft went out of control, dove into the ground and crashed in a huge explosion. All 25 occupants on both aircraft were killed.
Crew:
2nd Lt Richard Ralph Abmyer,
Sgt Edward W. Arnold,
1st Lt Milton O. Bell,
Sgt Anton P. Brajkovich,
1st Lt Austin W. Clark,
Sgt Ralph E. Dahlkamp,
S/Sgt Joseph L. Guth,
Cpl Francis E. Hanson,
S/Sgt Hans R. Priester,
Sgt Stanley F. Roberson,
Cpl Hugh W. Robinson Jr.,
2nd Lt John D. Rogers,
2nd Lt James B. Sharp.

A formation of five Consolidated B-24E Liberator was on its way from Wendover AFB to Pocatello, Idaho. While cruising at an altitude of 11,100 feet, the Liberator registered 42-7183 that was on third position was left behind so its captain increased power to regain its position in the formation. Doing so, the tail of the 42-7183 hit the left wing of 42-7408. On impact, the number one engine of 42-7408 was sheared off and both aircraft went out of control, dove into the ground and crashed in a huge explosion. All 25 occupants on both aircraft were killed.
Crew:
Sgt Saul Becker,
Pvt Lloyd E. Fowler,
2nd Lt Ray W. Gambol,
Cpl Lawrence A. Griffin,
Sgt Clyde Hewitt,
2nd Lt James H. Hutcheson,
2nd Lt Paul J. Kohler,
2nd Lt William D. Lieber,
2nd Lt Lawrence G. McGinnis,
2nd Lt Carroll Edward Meyer,
2nd Lt John H. Moffett,
2nd Lt Richard Settineri.

The aircraft left Pocatello Airport at 0551LT on a training mission with 10 crew members on board. The program consisted on an overflight of Klamath Falls, Oregon, Fort Dick, California, then over the Pacific Ocean and eventually Hamilton Field before returning to Pocatello with an arrival scheduled in the evening. The crew contacted ground around 0820LT to confirm they overflew Klamath Falls about one hour earlier and this was the unique radio contact. Nothing further was heard from the aircraft or its crew. As the aircraft did not return to its base, SAR operations were conducted but eventually suspended after few days as no trace of the aircraft nor the crew was found. It is believed that the aircraft may have crashed into the Pacific Ocean, along the Oregon or California coast, but no trace was ever found.
Crew:
2nd Lt Donald E. Benton,
2nd Lt John J. Boniface,
2nd Lt Harry F. Brennan,
Sgt Connie C. Hagmeier,
Sgt Neil L. Hall,
2nd Lt Joseph L. Hertle,
Sgt Norman J. Moore,
Sgt Edward R. Pettrony,
S/Sgt Robert H. Schmidt,
Sgt James B. Shelton.

Crashed on landing at Pocatello Airport and damaged beyond repair. There were no fatalities.

The airplane departed Wendover AFB on a cross country navigation exercise to Pocatello, Idaho. Approaching the destination, the crew encountered poor weather conditions and became disoriented. Because the airplane was short on fuel, the crew decided to divert to Soda Springs but the local airfield was too small for such an airplane. The pilot was circling around for few minutes, letting locals lining their cars in a farm field with headlights on. While approaching the field at low level, the airplane collided with a power line and crashed. Seven crew members were killed and three others were injured.
Those killed were:
2nd Lt Donald T. Arnold,
S/Sgt Richard L. Atkinson,
S/Sgt Elmer C. Barsig,
S/Sgt George E. Clausius Jr.,
S/Sgt Floyd F. Journeay,
S/Sgt Thomas A. Smith,
S/Sgt Adolph Zuelly.

The airplane departed Pocatello on a night navigation training exercise on behalf of the 96th Bomb Group. On board were 10 crew members. A half hour later the aircraft was seen circling the town of Grace, Idaho, at very low altitude. Residents reported that the bomber then headed east toward the northern Wasatch Mountains in bad weather conditions, with poor visibility. The pilot and co-pilot sighted the mountain range at the last minute, and they pulled the plane into a steep climb to avoid colliding with an 8,500 foot peak. A violent stall followed and the aircraft plunged into a heavily timbered area of Eight Mile Canyon. Impacting in a near-vertical descent, the aircraft disintegrated, killing the ten crewmen on board. The wreckage was discovered two days later by Forest Service rangers. Because of severe snow conditions, the recovery effort wasn't completed until spring 1943. All 10 crew members were killed.
Crew:
2nd Lt Harold K. Simpson, pilot,
2nd Lt Wendell L. Sims, copilot,
Cpl Charles L. Walker Jr., flight engineer,
2nd Lt Thomas J. Wymond, navigator,
2nd Lt Chalmers G. Wenrich, bombardier,
Sgt Neal L. Slinker, assistant engineer,
S/Sgt John E. Lazansky, radio operator,
Pfc Nicholas M. Zompetti, assistant radio,
Pvt Donald W. Seaney, air gunner,
Pvt Joseph R. Hughes, air gunner.

On final approach to Pocatello Airport, crew was completing a last turn to join the glide when the aircraft stalled and crashed, bursting into flames. The aircraft was totally destroyed and all seven occupants were killed.