Date & Time:
May 5, 1943
Type of aircraft:
Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress
Operator:
Registration:
42-29562
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Wendover - Pocatello
MSN:
4676
YOM:
1942
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
10
Crew fatalities:
7
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
0
Other fatalities:
0
Total fatalities:
7
Circumstances:
The airplane departed Wendover AFB on a cross country navigation exercise to Pocatello, Idaho. Approaching the destination, the crew encountered poor weather conditions and became disoriented. Because the airplane was short on fuel, the crew decided to divert to Soda Springs but the local airfield was too small for such an airplane. The pilot was circling around for few minutes, letting locals lining their cars in a farm field with headlights on. While approaching the field at low level, the airplane collided with a power line and crashed. Seven crew members were killed and three others were injured.
Those killed were:
2nd Lt Donald T. Arnold,
S/Sgt Richard L. Atkinson,
S/Sgt Elmer C. Barsig,
S/Sgt George E. Clausius Jr.,
S/Sgt Floyd F. Journeay,
S/Sgt Thomas A. Smith,
S/Sgt Adolph Zuelly.
Those killed were:
2nd Lt Donald T. Arnold,
S/Sgt Richard L. Atkinson,
S/Sgt Elmer C. Barsig,
S/Sgt George E. Clausius Jr.,
S/Sgt Floyd F. Journeay,
S/Sgt Thomas A. Smith,
S/Sgt Adolph Zuelly.
