Corporal, 429th Bomb Squadron, Gander Field, Newfoundland.
U.S. Army Air Forces B-17B Flying Fortress #39-008 crashed into the Harold Parker State Forest near North Reading, Massachusetts during a training flight.
Investigators believed that while flying in instrument conditions, the pilot descended too rapidly, causing a flutter and vibration that led to the port wing separating, and the bomber plunged into a hillside at a speed of up to 350 miles per hour, killing all ten airmen aboard instantly.
The airmen were:
1st Lt. Marion R Klyce, O-424398, MD, Pilot
1st Lt. Don H Johnson Jr, O-406689, UT, Co-Pilot
2nd Lt. Orville D Andrews, O-789747, NC, Navigator
1st Lt. James Phillips Jr, O-426197, AR, Bombardier
S/Sgt. Robert J Aulsbury, 6272738, MO, Passenger
T/Sgt. Archie R Jester Jr, 6814390, NC, Passenger
S/Sgt. William E Perkins, 6288717, KY, Flight Engineer
Cpl. Stephen Bilocur, 7025000, PA, Radio Operator
Cpl. Charles H Torrence, 6710244, VA, Asst. Radio Operator
PFC Sidney S Koltun, 37075223, MO, Asst. Engineer
~
Entered the service from Virginia; Halifax County; ASN 6710244
U.S. Army Air Forces B-17B Flying Fortress #39-008 crashed into the Harold Parker State Forest near North Reading, Massachusetts during a training flight.
Investigators believed that while flying in instrument conditions, the pilot descended too rapidly, causing a flutter and vibration that led to the port wing separating, and the bomber plunged into a hillside at a speed of up to 350 miles per hour, killing all ten airmen aboard instantly.
The airmen were:
1st Lt. Marion R Klyce, O-424398, MD, Pilot
1st Lt. Don H Johnson Jr, O-406689, UT, Co-Pilot
2nd Lt. Orville D Andrews, O-789747, NC, Navigator
1st Lt. James Phillips Jr, O-426197, AR, Bombardier
S/Sgt. Robert J Aulsbury, 6272738, MO, Passenger
T/Sgt. Archie R Jester Jr, 6814390, NC, Passenger
S/Sgt. William E Perkins, 6288717, KY, Flight Engineer
Cpl. Stephen Bilocur, 7025000, PA, Radio Operator
Cpl. Charles H Torrence, 6710244, VA, Asst. Radio Operator
PFC Sidney S Koltun, 37075223, MO, Asst. Engineer
~
Entered the service from Virginia; Halifax County; ASN 6710244
Corporal, 429th Bomb Squadron, Gander Field, Newfoundland.
U.S. Army Air Forces B-17B Flying Fortress #39-008 crashed into the Harold Parker State Forest near North Reading, Massachusetts during a training flight.
Investigators believed that while flying in instrument conditions, the pilot descended too rapidly, causing a flutter and vibration that led to the port wing separating, and the bomber plunged into a hillside at a speed of up to 350 miles per hour, killing all ten airmen aboard instantly.
The airmen were:
1st Lt. Marion R Klyce, O-424398, MD, Pilot
1st Lt. Don H Johnson Jr, O-406689, UT, Co-Pilot
2nd Lt. Orville D Andrews, O-789747, NC, Navigator
1st Lt. James Phillips Jr, O-426197, AR, Bombardier
S/Sgt. Robert J Aulsbury, 6272738, MO, Passenger
T/Sgt. Archie R Jester Jr, 6814390, NC, Passenger
S/Sgt. William E Perkins, 6288717, KY, Flight Engineer
Cpl. Stephen Bilocur, 7025000, PA, Radio Operator
Cpl. Charles H Torrence, 6710244, VA, Asst. Radio Operator
PFC Sidney S Koltun, 37075223, MO, Asst. Engineer
~
Entered the service from Virginia; Halifax County; ASN 6710244
U.S. Army Air Forces B-17B Flying Fortress #39-008 crashed into the Harold Parker State Forest near North Reading, Massachusetts during a training flight.
Investigators believed that while flying in instrument conditions, the pilot descended too rapidly, causing a flutter and vibration that led to the port wing separating, and the bomber plunged into a hillside at a speed of up to 350 miles per hour, killing all ten airmen aboard instantly.
The airmen were:
1st Lt. Marion R Klyce, O-424398, MD, Pilot
1st Lt. Don H Johnson Jr, O-406689, UT, Co-Pilot
2nd Lt. Orville D Andrews, O-789747, NC, Navigator
1st Lt. James Phillips Jr, O-426197, AR, Bombardier
S/Sgt. Robert J Aulsbury, 6272738, MO, Passenger
T/Sgt. Archie R Jester Jr, 6814390, NC, Passenger
S/Sgt. William E Perkins, 6288717, KY, Flight Engineer
Cpl. Stephen Bilocur, 7025000, PA, Radio Operator
Cpl. Charles H Torrence, 6710244, VA, Asst. Radio Operator
PFC Sidney S Koltun, 37075223, MO, Asst. Engineer
~
Entered the service from Virginia; Halifax County; ASN 6710244
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