Holloman AFB (Alamogordo)

The crew was searching for a test balloon when the single engine aircraft crashed in unknown circumstances in a mountainous area located six miles southeast of Bent. All three crew members were killed.

Crashed on landing in unknown circumstances. There were no casualties.

While performing a training exercise out from Holloman AFB, the crew encountered technical problems with the fuel transfer system and was forced to abandon the airplane that dove into the ground and crashed 35 km northwest of Deming. All nine crew members parachuted to safety.

The crew was engaged in a local training exercise at Holloman AFB. While taking off, the airplane suffered an engine failure and crashed. All crew members escaped unhurt while the airplane was damaged beyond repair.

The airplane departed Holloman AFB at 0630LT on a navigation, formation and bombing training exercise. Twenty minutes after takeoff, the crew leveled off at 12,000 feet and had to deal with atmospheric turbulence. 42-7146 was the lead in the formation and a propeller of 42-7071 (second) hit the lower part of the tail of 42-7146 after it slid forward. Both airplanes entered an uncontrolled descent and crashed in the Sierra Blanca Range, near Ruidoso, some 84 km northeast of Holloman AFB. All 10 crew members were killed.
Crew:
1st Lt Donald W. Kaspervik, pilot,
2nd Lt Ray E. Ward, copilot,
2nd Lt John V. Andrews, navigator,
2nd Lt Bruce G. Ellis, bombardier,
S/Sgt Eldon F. Ressler, flight engineer,
S/Sgt Arthur P. Wikle, assistant flight engineer,
Sgt Allen Chamovitz, radio operator,
2nd Lt Edward V. Handy Jr., observer,
S/Sgt George L. Scott, air gunner,
S/Sgt Andrew J. Alexander, air gunner.

The airplane departed Holloman AFB at 0630LT on a navigation, formation and bombing training exercise. Twenty minutes after takeoff, the crew leveled off at 12,000 feet and had to deal with atmospheric turbulence. The airplane slid to the lead airplane, a second USAAF B-24 registered 42-7146 that was taking part to the same exercise with a crew of 10 on board. A propeller of 42-7071 hit the lower part of the tail of 42-7146. Both airplanes entered an uncontrolled descent and crashed in the Sierra Blanca Range, near Ruidoso, some 84 km northeast of Holloman AFB. A crew from 42-7071 was able to bail out and survived while all 19 other crew members were killed.
Crew:
2nd Lt Donald R. Lembright, pilot, †
2nd Lt Harold E. Simmons, copilot, †
2nd Lt Vernon E. Laschanzky, navigator, †
2nd Lt Michael Iwaszuk, bombardier, †
S/Sgt Julius G. Robison, flight engineer,
Sgt Raymond B. Post, assistant flight engineer, †
S/Sgt Leo F. Sheehan, radio operator, †
Sgt Richard M. Gray, assistant radio operator, †
Sgt Harold Gollin, tail gunner, †
Sgt Joseph J. Huddy, air gunner. †

Crashed on landing at Holloman AFB and damaged beyond repair. There were no fatalities.

The crew was engaged in a local training flight out from Holloman AFB. Upon takeoff, the engine n°2 caught fire. The pilot shut down the engine and feathered its propeller. Shortly after rotation, while turning to the left, the airplane impacted the ground and crashed near the airbase. Six crew members were killed and five others were injured. The copilot escaped unhurt. Two days after the accident, one of the survivors died from injuries sustained.
Crew:
1st Lt Frank W. Gardner, pilot,
S/Sgt Price A Keys, assistant flight engineer,
2nd Lt Will D. Willis, navigator,
S/Sgt Ralph M. Clark, air gunner,
S/Sgt Lawrence W. Suprenand, air gunner.
Passengers:
Sgt John A. Jarvis,
Pfc Francis X. Joyce.

Suffered a ground accident while taxiing at Holloman AFB. Damaged beyond repair. There were no fatalities.

The airplane departed Holloman AFB on a local training exercise. While cruising at an altitude of 7,800 feet, the airplane suffered an explosion that occurred between the fuselage and the engine n°3. Out of control, the airplane entered a dive and crashed in the White Sands Missile Range, some 24 km west of Holloman AFB. Nine crew members were killed and one was ejected when the explosion occurred and parachuted to safety.
Crew:
2nd Lt John G. Striplin, pilot,
2nd Lt Joseph L. Shumsky, copilot,
2nd Lt Royce G. Matthews, bombardier,
T/Sgt Patrick G. McKay, flight engineer,
Sgt Marvin Litz, assistant flight engineer,
S/Sgt William F. George, radio operator,
Sgt John S. Swenk, assistant radio operator,
Sgt Lawson R. Armstrong Jr., air gunner,
Sgt James R. Early, air gunner.