Zone
Texas

Crash of a Beechcraft AT-10-BH Wichita at Biggs AFB

Date & Time: Mar 28, 1943
Type of aircraft:
Beechcraft AT-10 Wichita
Operator:
Registration:
41-9394
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
820
YOM:
1942
Location:
Biggs AAF (El Paso)
Texas
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crashed on takeoff and damaged beyond repair. There were no fatalities.

Crash of a Consolidated B-24D-20-CO Liberator at Biggs AFB

Date & Time: Mar 25, 1943
Type of aircraft:
Consolidated B-24 Liberator
Operator:
Registration:
41-24206
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
1001
YOM:
1942
Location:
Biggs AAF (El Paso)
Texas
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crashed on takeoff and damaged beyond repair. There were no fatalities.

Crash of a Boeing B-17F-55-BO Flying Fortress at Biggs AFB: 10 killed

Date & Time: Feb 26, 1943 at 2119 LT
Type of aircraft:
Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress
Operator:
Registration:
42-29528
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Biggs - Biggs
MSN:
4642
YOM:
1942
Location:
Biggs AAF (El Paso)
Texas
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
11
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
10
Circumstances:
The airplane departed Biggs AFB on a night training exercise. Shortly after takeoff, the pilot lost control of the airplane that lot height and crashed near the airfield. Ten crew members were killed and the pilot was seriously injured.
Crew:
2nd Lt Edward M. Kelley, pilot,
F/O Charles G. Novak, copilot, †
Sgt Victor A. Berreth, flight engineer, †
S/Sgt Melvin P. Simms, assistant flight engineer, †
1st Lt James W. Bishop, navigator, †
Sgt Adelbert J. Burke, radio operator, †
Sgt Woodrow W. Erwin, assistant radio operator, †
2nd Lt Ernest F. Pasqua, bombardier, †
S/Sgt Joseph P. Baucom, air gunner, †
Sgt Robert M. Parchman, air gunner, †
Sgt Howard T. Speak. †
Probable cause:
The pilot stated to investigators that while following approximately 30 seconds behind another B-17 departing, he could not see the horizon after the end of runway lights. His vision followed the leading aircraft's lights and he began flying by instruments. Apparently the lead's propeller turbulence had caused his aircraft to drift to the right, and not gaining elevation, the bomber flew into rising, rough terrain. Investigators noted that had the landing lights been used during takeoff, the accident may have been avoided.

Crash of a Consolidated B-24D-35-CO Liberator near Chaparral: 2 killed

Date & Time: Feb 19, 1943 at 1540 LT
Type of aircraft:
Consolidated B-24 Liberator
Operator:
Registration:
42-40139
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Biggs - Biggs
MSN:
1216
YOM:
1943
Location:
Chaparral
New Mexico
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
8
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
The crew departed Biggs AAF on a local training exercise. En route, the engine n°3 propeller governor failed. As the pilot encountered control difficulties, the crew was instructed to bail out. Six crew members parachuted to safety then the airplane entered an uncontrolled descent and crashed near Chaparral, some 24 km north of Biggs AAF. The pilot and the navigator, still on board, were killed.
Crew:
1st Lt Oscar Lee Cantrell Jr., pilot,
2nd Lt John Nelson Gessinger, navigator.
Probable cause:
Failure of the propeller governor on the engine n°3.

Crash of a Boeing B-17F-45-BO Flying Fortress at Biggs AFB: 5 killed

Date & Time: Feb 18, 1943
Type of aircraft:
Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress
Operator:
Registration:
42-5326
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
3865
YOM:
1942
Location:
Biggs AAF (El Paso)
Texas
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
Crashed for unknown reasons while taking off from Biggs AFB. All five occupants were killed.

Crash of a Consolidated B-24D-CO Liberator at Biggs AFB

Date & Time: Feb 4, 1943
Type of aircraft:
Consolidated B-24 Liberator
Operator:
Registration:
41-11818
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
314
YOM:
1941
Location:
Biggs AAF (El Paso)
Texas
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crashed while taking off from Biggs AFB and damaged beyond repair. There were no fatalities.

Crash of a Consolidated B-24D-15-CO Liberator at Biggs AFB

Date & Time: Feb 4, 1943
Type of aircraft:
Consolidated B-24 Liberator
Operator:
Registration:
41-24078
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
873
YOM:
1942
Location:
Biggs AAF (El Paso)
Texas
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crashed on landing at Biggs AFB and damaged beyond repair. There were no fatalities.

Crash of a Boeing B-17E Flying Fortress at Biggs AFB

Date & Time: Nov 25, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress
Operator:
Registration:
41-9130
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Survey / Patrol / Reconnaissance
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Biggs - Biggs
MSN:
2602
YOM:
1941
Location:
Biggs AAF (El Paso)
Texas
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The airplane suffered an engine failure at takeoff and crashed at Biggs AFB. There were no fatalities among the crew who was supposed to perform a survey flight.
Probable cause:
Engine failure at takeoff.

Crash of a Boeing B-17E Flying Fortress at Biggs AFB: 3 killed

Date & Time: Nov 4, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress
Operator:
Registration:
41-9083
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
2555
YOM:
1941
Location:
Biggs AAF (El Paso)
Texas
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
Crashed for unknown reasons while taking off from Biggs AFB. Three crew members were killed.
Crew:
2nd Lt Robert E. Brasfield,
2nd Lt Lloyd G. Compton,
S/Sgt Garfield A. Reusch.

Crash of a Consolidated B-24A-CO Liberator at Biggs AAF

Date & Time: Oct 12, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Consolidated B-24 Liberator
Operator:
Registration:
40-2360
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
18
YOM:
1940
Location:
Biggs AAF (El Paso)
Texas
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The airplane crashed in unknown circumstances at Biggs AAF and was destroyed. There were no casualties.
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