Ephrata

The aircraft collided with a hilltop during a missed approach in IMC weather. The aircraft was on an IFR flight plan. The pilot stated visual contact was established at about 2,000 feet msl but ground features were masked in snow. When the pilot did not see the airport at the proper time he commenced a missed approach and the aircraft struck the ground. Investigation revealed that the obs (vor course indicator) was set on 222° instead of 202° for the published inbound heading. The resultant course passed directly over the accident site. The aircraft was not observed on radar because of its low alt. The pilot, sole on board, was seriously injured.

Crashed on takeoff and destroyed by fire. There were no fatalities.

While taking off from Ephrata Airfield, the airplane collided with a second USAAF B-17 (42-5345) that was also taking off. A crew was killed as well as all nine crew members on board the second airplane involved.
Crew:
2nd Lt Donald Wright.

While taking off from Ephrata Airfield, the airplane collided with a second USAAF B-17 (42-29501) that was also taking off. All nine crew members were killed as well as one crew on board the second airplane involved.
Crew:
1st Lt Lloyd H. Nygard,
2nd Lt Daniel H. Stone Jr.,
2nd Lt Leland W. Crumbaugh,
2nd Lt Biily J. Evans,
S/Sgt Ray Cook,
Sgt Kenneth L. Johnson,
Sgt George Seukarian,
Pfc Mark D. Flynn,
Pfc Edward F. Pych.

The bomber took off from Ephrata AFB just after midnight for a mission to complete Second Air Force Model Mission #8, which included one hour of landings, one hour of night dry bombing runs on PDI and an hour of instrument practice. The crew was instructed to check in every 30 minutes; they did three times. Later, it began to give a position report when the signal cut-off. Despite ground station attempts, the crew could not be raised again. The wreckage was found on 2 April 1943 in hilly terrain some 26 km east of Ellensburg. The airplane impacted a ridge some 15 metres below the summit. All nine crew members were killed.
Crew:
2nd Lt Eryle W. Boettcher,
2nd Lt Derek Bovingdon,
2nd Lt Andrew L. Bowman,
2nd Lt Ennis Dole Hake,
S/Sgt Edward R. Miller,
S/Sgt Max E. Miller,
S/Sgt William Miller,
S/Sgt Ralph C. Wagner,
Sgt Ray W. Stitze.

Shortly after midnight, the airplane departed Ephrata AFB on a one hour and thirty minute weather flight. Ceiling was reported between 4,000 and 6,000 feet. While cruising northeast of the airfield, the airplane exploded in midair and crashed in a prairie. All 11 occupants were killed.
Crew:
2nd Lt James A. Calnon,
2nd Lt Marvin R. Furch,
2nd Lt Joseph J. Whalen,
S/Sgt John G. Bowen,
S/Sgt Joseph E. Brielman,
S/Sgt Harold W. Bunce,
T/Sgt William T. Freeland,
T/Sgt Harold L. Mason,
T/Sgt Herman E. Stephens,
Sgt Abraham Kaden,
Sgt Jack D. Naus.

En route from Great Falls to Ephrata, the crew encountered very bad weather conditions with heavy snow falls. Two engines failed and the crew abandoned the airplane that crashed in a wheat field located 3 km north of Fairfield and was destroyed. All four crew members parachuted to safety, among them one was slightly injured.