ASN Wikibase Occurrence # 98467
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| Date: | Thursday 18 January 1945 |
| Time: | 16:02 |
| Type: |  Boeing B-29 Superfortress |
| Owner/operator: | 231th CCTS BU USAAF |
| Registration: | 42-6438 |
| MSN: | 3572 |
| Fatalities: | Fatalities: 6 / Occupants: 13 |
| Aircraft damage: | Destroyed |
| Location: | 20 miles south west of Alamagordo, New Mexico -
 United States of America
|
| Phase: | Initial climb |
| Nature: | Military |
| Departure airport: | Alamogodo AAF, Alamogordo, NM |
Boeing B-29-20-BW Superfortress 42-6438: Delivered to the USAAF 31 March 1944. Assigned to Combat Crew Training Squadron, 231st Army Air Force Base Unit, Alamogordo AAF, New Mexico.
Written off (damaged beyond repair) when crashed 18 January 1945, 20 miles South West of Alamogordo, New Mexico: At 16:02 MWT on January 18, 1945, a Boeing B-29 suffering an in-flight fire, crashed into large sand dunes while attempting an emergency forced landing twenty miles southwest of Alamogordo Army Air Field, Alamogordo, New Mexico, killing six on board, and injuring four others. Three other crew members (the left gunner, right gunner and tail gunner) were uninjured.
Investigators stated, "The airplane was taking off in a normal manner and shortly after the wheels were retracted, number-one engine caught fire and the crew was unable to extinguish the flames with the fire extinguisher after the propeller was feathered. The pilot continued straight ahead and landed in extremely rough terrain, apparently being more interested in landing immediately due to the fire, than in making any determined or prolonged effort to remain airborne or to get back to the field or selecting a more suitable landing spot."
Killed in the crash-landing were:
Flight Officer William T. Raynes, co-pilot
2nd Lt. Louis Raymond Keith Smith, Navigator
2nd Lt. Frank Marek, Navigator Instructor
T/Sgt. Clarence V. Peterick, Flight Engineer
Pvt. Elbert R. Stratton, Radio Operator
S/Sgt. Orville H. Robertson, Radio Operator Instructor.
Crew members seriously injured were:
1st Lt. Jack S. Hart, Pilot
2nd Lt. John C. Myers Jnr., Bombardier
Pvt. Carter H. Lippincott, Central Fire Controller
Corporal Eugene M. Wheeler, Central Fire Controller
Crew members who were uninjured or slightly injured were:
Sgt. Robert W. Jones, Left Gunner
Pfc. Hale D. Hampton, Right Gunner
Pfc. Robert E. Jones Jnr., Tail Gunner
Reclamation for scrap and components completed at Alamogordo AAF, New Mexico January 29, 1945
Sources:
1. http://www.joebaugher.com/usaf_serials/1942_1.html
2. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/42290379
3. Daily World, Opelousas, Louisiana Sunday, January 21, 1945 Page 1 ...
4. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/153347190
5. http://www.aviationarchaeology.com/src/AARmonthly/Jan1945S.htm
Revision history:
| Date/time | Contributor | Updates |
|---|---|---|
| 30-Jun-2017 21:59 | Dr. John Smith | Updated [Time, Cn, Operator, Total fatalities, Total occupants, Other fatalities, Location, Phase, Departure airport, Source, Narrative] |
| 30-Jun-2017 22:00 | Dr. John Smith | Updated [Total occupants, Source] |
| 30-Jun-2017 22:02 | Dr. John Smith | Updated [Source, Narrative] |
| 30-Jun-2017 22:03 | Dr. John Smith | Updated [Source, Narrative] |
| 13-Feb-2020 17:32 | Iwosh | Updated [Operator, Location, Departure airport, Operator] |
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