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Crash of a Douglas C-49J near Woodland Park: 3 killed

Date & Time: Feb 23, 1943
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-49 (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
43-1989
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
MSN:
6344
YOM:
1943
Location:
Woodland Park
Colorado
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:
While on a training flight, the airplane crashed in unknown circumstances in a mountainous area located near Woodland Park. All three crew members were killed.
Crew:
2nd Lt Vencil C. Bohling +2.

Crash of a Cessna AT-17 Bobcat in La Junta

Date & Time: Feb 14, 1943
Type of aircraft:
Cessna T-50 Bobcat (AT-8/AT-17/UC-78 & Crane)
Operator:
Registration:
42-40
Flight Phase:
Taxiing
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Location:
La Junta
Colorado
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:
While taxiing at La Junta Airfield, the airplane was destroyed after being struck by another USAAF Bobcat registered 42-41 that crashed on takeoff. Both airplanes were destroyed and there were no fatalities.

Crash of a Cessna AT-17 Bobcat in La Junta

Date & Time: Feb 14, 1943
Type of aircraft:
Cessna T-50 Bobcat (AT-8/AT-17/UC-78 & Crane)
Operator:
Registration:
42-41
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Location:
La Junta
Colorado
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:
While taking off from La Junta Airfield, the twin engine airplane crashed on a second USAAF Bobcat registered 42-40 that was taxiing. Both airplanes were destroyed and there were no fatalities.

Crash of a Boeing B-17F-50-BO Flying Fortress in Pueblo: 2 killed

Date & Time: Feb 12, 1943 at 1813 LT
Type of aircraft:
Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress
Operator:
Registration:
42-5423
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Pueblo - Pueblo
MSN:
3962
YOM:
1942
Location:
Pueblo
Colorado
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 Pueblo Airfield on a navigational training exercise. En route, he encountered technical issues with the hydraulic system and decided to return to base for an emergency landing. The airplane landed about ⅓ of the runway length and due to a lack of braking power, was unable to stop within the remaining distance. It overran and crashed into a ravine located 176 metres past the runway end. The pilot and the flight engineer were killed and six other crew members were injured.
Crew:
1st Lt Harold L. Etler, pilot,
T/Sgt Herbert E. Sines, flight engineer.
Probable cause:
Technical issues with the hydraulic system in flight.

Crash of a Cessna AT-17B Bobcat in La Junta: 2 killed

Date & Time: Jan 28, 1943
Type of aircraft:
Cessna T-50 Bobcat (AT-8/AT-17/UC-78 & Crane)
Operator:
Registration:
42-39027
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
MSN:
3236
YOM:
1942
Location:
La Junta
Colorado
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
The twin engine airplane crashed in unknown circumstances, killing both occupants.
Crew:
Avc Hugh F. Ness,
Avc Lewis Newman.

Crash of a Boeing B-17F-45-BO Flying Fortress near Ordway: 10 killed

Date & Time: Jan 24, 1943 at 2305 LT
Type of aircraft:
Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress
Operator:
Registration:
42-5334
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Pueblo - Pueblo
MSN:
3873
YOM:
1942
Location:
Ordway
Colorado
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
10
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
10
Circumstances:
The airplane departed Pueblo Airfield at 1654LT on a night bombing exercise. In the evening, weather conditions deteriorated with limited visibility due to snow falls. It impacted the slope of a mountain left wing first and crashed in a huge explosion near Ordway. The airplane was totally destroyed and all 10 crew members were killed.
Crew:
2nd Lt Edward E. Woodward Jr., pilot,
2nd Lt Lester A. Cattron, copilot,
Sgt Charles D. McDonald, flight engineer,
S/Sgt Carl E. Simpson, radio operator,
2nd Lt Norval W. Kelley Jr., navigator,
2nd Lt Hascall J. Young, bombardier,
S/Sgt Charles J. Burns, air gunner,
2nd Lt Martin J. Walden, air gunner,
1st Lt Taylor D. Hunt, air gunner,
2nd Lt Vincent T. Larney, air gunner.
Probable cause:
Controlled flight into terrain. It is believed that at the time of the accident, weather conditions were considered as below minima.

Crash of a North American B-25C-1 Mitchell in Peyton: 6 killed

Date & Time: Jan 11, 1943 at 1110 LT
Type of aircraft:
North American B-25 Mitchell
Operator:
Registration:
41-13247
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Peterson AFB - Peterson AFB
MSN:
82-5882
YOM:
1941
Location:
Peyton
Colorado
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Circumstances:
The airplane departed Peterson AFB (Colorado Springs) on a navigation training exercise. En route, it entered an uncontrolled descent and crashed near Peyton, some 30 km northeast of the airbase. The airplane was destroyed and all six crew members were killed.
Crew:
2nd Lt Richard P. Marx, instructor pilot,
F/O Earl L. Sumner, copilot,
F/O Gordon F. Anderson, copilot,
2nd Lt Robert C. Markway, navigator,
Pfc Frederick H. Hansfield, flight engineer,
Pfc Newell L. Cadwell, radio operator.
Probable cause:
Investigation disclosed that excessive use of the rudder tab control caused these early models of the B-25 to snap-roll resulting in a spin. This problem had previously been reported by pilots who lived to tell about it but the shortage of B-25 aircraft at Peterson Field kept them in service. This accident resulted in a report to the Field Service Command at Wright Field that may have corrected a design flaw. Future lives may have been saved by this tragic event.

Crash of a Cessna AT-17C Bobcat in La Junta: 1 killed

Date & Time: Dec 23, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Cessna T-50 Bobcat (AT-8/AT-17/UC-78 & Crane)
Operator:
Registration:
42-13815
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
La Junta - La Junta
MSN:
2499
YOM:
1942
Location:
La Junta
Colorado
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
The airplane crashed in unknown circumstances at La Junta Airport and was destroyed. A crew was killed.
Crew:
Avc Donald E. Spencer.

Crash of a Consolidated B-24D-CO Liberator in Manzanola: 7 killed

Date & Time: Dec 23, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Consolidated B-24 Liberator
Operator:
Registration:
41-11826
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Pueblo - Pueblo
MSN:
322
YOM:
1941
Location:
Manzanola
Colorado
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
7
Circumstances:
Two Consolidated B-24 Liberator heavy bombers collided when one bomber overtook and pulled up in front of the flight leader. The impact with the leader’s nose severed the tail section and the aircraft went out of control preventing the seven man crew from bailing out. The flight leader had sounded the bailout bell and five men parachuted to safety. Parts of the severed tail remained embedded in the nose, pinning the bombardier and navigator in the nose of the aircraft and blocking the pilot’s forward vision. The engineer went to the front of the aircraft, noted the situation and notified the pilot of the two men trapped there. The pilot, Lt. Slough, despite the damage to the aircraft, with the aid of the engineer in the copilot’s seat, managed to fly the plane back and land at the base at Pueblo. These two men, Lt Slough and S/Sgt Cailleir, were awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC) for their heroic actions.
Crew (41-11826):
1st Lt Gerald E. Smetts, pilot, †
2nd Lt Charles T. Bowen Jr., copilot, †
2nd Lt Adam C. Thompson Jr., navigator, †
2nd Lt Bliss M. Shannon, bombardier, †
Sgt Victor H. McGregor, engineer, †
S/Sgt Charles S. Meisenheimer, radio operator, †
Sgt James H. Cooney Jr., air gunner. †
Crew (41-24041):
1st Lt Frank D. Slough, pilot,
2nd Lt Steward P. Elliott, copilot,
2nd Lt Henry W. Scott, bombardier,
2nd Lt Lester M. Warner, navigator,
S/Sgt James E. Cailleir, engineer,
Sgt Elwood W. Harrison, engineer,
S/Sgt Dan Kinnon, radio operator,
Sgt Herman Siegeldt, assistant radio operator,
Sgt Robert A. Griffin, tail gunner.
Source:
http://www.coloradoaircrashes.com/Crashsites/crash_site13.htm

Crash of a North American B-25 Mitchell in Colorado Springs

Date & Time: Oct 28, 1942
Type of aircraft:
North American B-25 Mitchell
Operator:
Registration:
40-2174
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
62-2843
YOM:
1940
Location:
Colorado Springs
Colorado
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 and damaged beyond repair. There were no casualties.
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