Topeka

The crew was performing a training flight in Topeka. For unknown reason, the aircraft landed on its belly and came to rest. There were no casualties but the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

The airplane departed Topeka on a routine navigation exercise to Pueblo, Colorado. While cruising at an altitude of 5,000 feet in clouds, the crew encountered severe icing conditions when the airplane suffered a catastrophic structural failure on the tail section. The vertical stabilizer, the fin and the rudder detached, causing the airplane to enter a dive and to crash in an open field located 5,6 km northwest of White City, bursting into flames. A crew parachuted to safety and was uninjured while 11 other occupants were killed.
Crew:
1st Lt Robert Clyne, pilot, †
1st Lt Norman A. Kendall, copilot, †
2nd Lt Joseph P. Hulder Jr., navigator, †
2nd Lt Clifford A. Smallwood, bombardier, †
S/Sgt Vernon A. Larson, flight engineer, †
T/Sgt Thomas P. Merlino, radio operator. †
Passengers:
Lt Maleckas,
2nd Lt Aldon A. Alleman, pilot, †
F/O James G. Masters, pilot, †
2nd Lt John Sedor, navigator, †
S/Sgt Leonard F. McNabb , flight engineer, †
S/Sgt Gustave Dzingoski, radio operator. †

After takeoff from Topeka Airport, the four engine airplane crashed on hilly terrain. All nine crew members were killed.
Crew:
2nd Lt Ralph M. Dienst,
2nd Lt James H. Edwards,
2nd Lt Charles W. Fischer Jr.,
2nd Lt James W. Holmes,
S/Sgt Willis T. Barnes,
S/Sgt Max Barron
S/Sgt Merlin O. Brager,
S/Sgt Aubrey M. Large,
S/Sgt James C. Price.