Crash of a Boeing B-17F-105-BO Flying Fortress near Soap Lake: 13 killed
Date & Time:
Jul 24, 1943 at 0054 LT
Operator:
Registration:
42-30488
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Ephrata - Ephrata
MSN:
5602
YOM:
1943
Crew on board:
13
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
13
Circumstances:
The airplane departed Ephrata Airfield on a training bombing mission with 13 people on board. Returning to base after midnight, the bomber was circling to land in a left turn with the flaps partially extended and landing gear extended when it struck the side of a hill and rolled roughly 200 yards on the landing gear. The right engine propeller struck a horse knocking off the engine and left landing gear which collided with the left horizontal stabilizer and elevator, knocking them off. This caused the bomber to bounce back into the air 100 feet before colliding with another hill and sliding 400 yards before breaking up and bursting into flames roughly a half mile from the first contact with the ground. The wreckage was found northwest of Soap Lake, some 16 km north of Ephrata. All 13 crew members were killed.
Crew:
2nd Lt John W. O'Cheskey,
2nd Lt James P. Ticksman,
2nd Lt Jay D. Underwood,
2nd Lt Julian M. Crapp,
F/O Owen E. Longest,
Sgt William W. Aulwes,
Sgt George O. Cartwright,
Sgt Bobby Pope Cone,
Sgt George L. Dobson,
Sgt Arthur D. Grant,
Sgt Werner F. Haukop,
Sgt Annesley E. Hodson III,
Sgt Edwin Johnstone.
Crew:
2nd Lt John W. O'Cheskey,
2nd Lt James P. Ticksman,
2nd Lt Jay D. Underwood,
2nd Lt Julian M. Crapp,
F/O Owen E. Longest,
Sgt William W. Aulwes,
Sgt George O. Cartwright,
Sgt Bobby Pope Cone,
Sgt George L. Dobson,
Sgt Arthur D. Grant,
Sgt Werner F. Haukop,
Sgt Annesley E. Hodson III,
Sgt Edwin Johnstone.
