Staff Sergeant Kirby was a rear gunner aboard U.S. Air Force B-29-70-BW
Superfortress #44-69939. While on a "round robin" training flight from Spokane
Air Force Base, with a mock bombing target to Stockton, California, then onward
to Ogden, Utah, then a return home, tragedy struck at 23:45 hours on the night of
November 16th, 1949. Two in the group of thirteen Superfortresses collided at
26,000 feet above Stockton and plunged to earth in flaming wreckage. Only two
airmen survived by bailing out in
time and parachuted safely to ground. S/Sgt. Kirby and eight other fliers
perished when the aircraft impacted in 6-10 feet of mud on Rindge Tract Island in the San Joaquin Delta, about 11
miles to the northwest. One crewmember parachuted to safety from the other B-29
(#44-86364) but nine were killed when it impacted on McDonald Island about 2 miles further south of this crashsite.
Superfortress #44-69939. While on a "round robin" training flight from Spokane
Air Force Base, with a mock bombing target to Stockton, California, then onward
to Ogden, Utah, then a return home, tragedy struck at 23:45 hours on the night of
November 16th, 1949. Two in the group of thirteen Superfortresses collided at
26,000 feet above Stockton and plunged to earth in flaming wreckage. Only two
airmen survived by bailing out in
time and parachuted safely to ground. S/Sgt. Kirby and eight other fliers
perished when the aircraft impacted in 6-10 feet of mud on Rindge Tract Island in the San Joaquin Delta, about 11
miles to the northwest. One crewmember parachuted to safety from the other B-29
(#44-86364) but nine were killed when it impacted on McDonald Island about 2 miles further south of this crashsite.
Staff Sergeant Kirby was a rear gunner aboard U.S. Air Force B-29-70-BW
Superfortress #44-69939. While on a "round robin" training flight from Spokane
Air Force Base, with a mock bombing target to Stockton, California, then onward
to Ogden, Utah, then a return home, tragedy struck at 23:45 hours on the night of
November 16th, 1949. Two in the group of thirteen Superfortresses collided at
26,000 feet above Stockton and plunged to earth in flaming wreckage. Only two
airmen survived by bailing out in
time and parachuted safely to ground. S/Sgt. Kirby and eight other fliers
perished when the aircraft impacted in 6-10 feet of mud on Rindge Tract Island in the San Joaquin Delta, about 11
miles to the northwest. One crewmember parachuted to safety from the other B-29
(#44-86364) but nine were killed when it impacted on McDonald Island about 2 miles further south of this crashsite.
Superfortress #44-69939. While on a "round robin" training flight from Spokane
Air Force Base, with a mock bombing target to Stockton, California, then onward
to Ogden, Utah, then a return home, tragedy struck at 23:45 hours on the night of
November 16th, 1949. Two in the group of thirteen Superfortresses collided at
26,000 feet above Stockton and plunged to earth in flaming wreckage. Only two
airmen survived by bailing out in
time and parachuted safely to ground. S/Sgt. Kirby and eight other fliers
perished when the aircraft impacted in 6-10 feet of mud on Rindge Tract Island in the San Joaquin Delta, about 11
miles to the northwest. One crewmember parachuted to safety from the other B-29
(#44-86364) but nine were killed when it impacted on McDonald Island about 2 miles further south of this crashsite.
Gravesite Details
From Gardner, Massachusetts
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