Introduction
The government's official ending date of the Korean War time
period is January 31, 1955. The year 1954 saw numerous
stateside airplane crashes that resulted in the deaths of dozens of
military personnel. Those crashes appear on this page of the
Korean War Educator in chronological order. To add further
information to this page, contact
Lynnita@thekwe.org.
This page was made possible by a grant from
the Illinois Humanities Council.
Table of Contents
Stateside Plane Crashes
-
January 21, 1954 - P2V Neptune (Hawaii)
-
February 04, 1954 - TV-2 Shooting Star (Texas)
-
February 26, 1954 - C-119 (Tennessee)
-
March 05, 1954 - B-47 Stratojet (Arizona)
-
March 17, 1954 - TF-86F Sabre (California)
-
March 19, 1954 - B-26 (Virginia)
-
March 19, 1954 - T-33A Shooting Star (Illinois)
-
March 19, 1954 - C-119 (Maryland)
-
March 19, 1954 - P-51 (Virginia)
-
March 29, 1954 - B-36 (Washington)
-
March 29, 1954 - TV-2 Shooting Star (Texas)
-
March 29, 1954 - F-67 Hellcat (Texas)
-
March 30, 1954 - C-119 (North Carolina)
-
April 05, 1954 - T-33 (at sea, east coast)
-
May 12, 1954 - T-33 (Arizona)
-
May 23, 1954 - C-46 (Texas)
-
June 3, 1954 - AD-6 (Skyraider (California)
-
June 14, 1954 - F1-2 (West Virginia)
-
June 28, 1954 - AD-5 (New Mexico)
-
July 07, 1954 - TV-2 Shooting Star (Texas)
-
September 05, 1954 - F-86H Sabre (Ohio)
-
October 06, 1954 - RB-50G (California)
-
October 06, 1954 - C-119 (North Carolina)
-
November 06, 1954 - T-33A (Mississippi)
-
November 08, 1954 - TV-2 Shooting Star (Texas)
-
November 16, 1954 - T-33 (Alaska)
-
November 16, 1954 - F-80 (Alaska)
-
December 29, 1954 - C-119 (Alabama)
-
December 30, 1954 - T-33A (Maryland)
January 21, 1954
A Navy P2V Neptune crashed on this date in the
Waianae Mountain range of Oahu, Hawaii. There were eight
fatalities. See more details
here.
Fatalities:
Beczek, AD2 Joseph Daniel
Joseph was born October 02, 1930 in Cook County,
Illinois, a son of John Victor Beczek (1900-?) and Frances Mary
Waliczek Beczek (1907-1990). His siblings were Mary Ann
Beczek (Mrs. Robert S. Grzenia) (1934-2018) and Fred J. Beczek
(1938-1999). Joseph enlisted in the Navy on September 23,
1948. He is buried in Resurrection Catholic Cemetery and
Mausoleums, Justice, Illinois.
Brown, AT3 Richard "Dick" Newton
Dick was born June 03, 1932 in Pike County,
Ohio, the son of Richard Martin Brown (1906-1987) and Hattie
Hazel Scaggs Brown (1908-1995). He was the grandson of Mr.
and Mrs. Newton Scaggs. He attended and graduated from
Waverly, Ohio High School, where he played on the school's
football team. His sister was Doris Brown (Mrs. Norborne
Charles Ward) (1929-2012).Dick is buried in Evergreen Union
Cemetery, Waverly.
Cooper, Ens. Wilbur Duvall
According to records, Wilbur Duvall Cooper, was
born in Kansas on 7 September 1929, the son of Carl Theodore
Cooper (1893-1978) and Pearl (Ogden) Cooper (1899-1981). Wilbur
was one of eight children, with five brothers and two sisters.
In 1930, his family was living in Belle Plaine, Sumner County,
Kansas. Wilbur Cooper's father, Carl T. Cooper was a farmer.
Between 1935 and 1940, the family moved to Salem, Sedwick
County, Kansas where Wilbur's father operated a filling station,
called "Cooper's Corner" (the building is there to this day). At
first, the family lived in the basement. After some time, Carl
built a house on top of the filling station and they lived
there.
According to Wilbur Cooper's obituary, Wilbur was a 1947
graduate of Clearwater High School. After he graduated, he
attended Southwestern College in Winfield before he entered
pre-flight naval training in 1951. Wilbur graduated from
pre-flight school at Pensacola, Florida. He went on to complete
flight training at Corpus Christi, Texas and was then assigned
to the USS Monterey to complete his pilot qualifications
aboard an aircraft carrier.
Five of his siblings were Carl Theodore
(1917-1984), Max Eugene (1918-2010), Lorraine Mae Cooper Kelley
(1926-1991), Sgt. Charles Edward (1938-1966), and Herbert Eldon
(1941-1993). Sergeant Charles Cooper was killed in
Vietnam. Wilbur is buried in Belle Plaine Cemetery, Belle
Plaine, Kansas.
Hanzo, Lt. (jg) Walter J. Jr. - pilot
Walter J. Hanzo Jr. was born March 16, 1928 in
Verona, New Jersey, the son of Walter J. Hanzo Sr. and Anna Lee
Hanzo. His paternal grand parents were Aldoph and Annie Hanzo.
Walter Hanzo's family moved to Miami when Walter Jr. was seven
years old. The family were residents of Dade County, Florida in
the 1940 Federal Census and in the 1945 Florida State Census.
Walter attended Gesu School in Miami, Florida; Carlisle Military
Academy in Bamberg, South Carolina; and The Citadel in
Charleston, South Carolina.
According to records, Walter Hanzo started his service in the US
Navy on 3 June 1948. He was a Lt (jg) when he died. Walter
Hanzo Jr. was survived by his sister, Mary Agnes and his mother,
Anna. Lieutenant Hanzo and another crash fatality, Paul M.
Koehler, are buried together in the Chattanooga National
Cemetery, Chattanooga, Tennessee.
Hazlett, Ens. Gerald Martin - copilot
Gerald Martin Hazlett was born August 21, 1930,
in Walpole, Massachusetts, the son of Andrew Gerald Hazlett
(1894-1972) and Bridget Christina Murphy Hazlett (1906-1995).
He graduated from Walpole High School. He was in his senior year
at Boston University where he was majoring in physics when he
was accepted into Naval Flight Training. He was survived
by his wife and a son, his parents, brother Richard S. Hazlett
(1932-2010) and a sister. Gerald is buried in Saint
Francis Cemetery, Walpole, Massachusetts.
Koehler, AM2 Paul Martin
Paul was born August 20, 1930 in Nebraska, a son
of Frank Otto Koehler (1898-1987) and Anna Alvina Hoefs Koehler
(1900-1994). He had a brother and a sister, Lucille Emma
Koehler Taylor (1926-2011). He is buried in Chattanooga
National Cemetery, Chattanooga, Tennessee with Walter J. Hanzo.
Maksymon, AT2 Joseph Michael
Joseph was born November 14, 1928 in Rhode
Island, the son of Mikel Maksymon (1891-1971) and Anna Maksymons
(1895-1991). He is buried in Saint Michael's Ukrainian
Catholi Church Cemetery, Blackstone, Massachusetts.
Staples, ADC John Robert
John was from Belmont, Nova Scotia, Canada.
He is buried in Hillcrest Park Cemetery, Springfield,
Massachusetts. He was the plane's captain.
February 04, 1954
Lockheed TV-2 131877 crashed four miles southwest of Alice, Texas. The
pilot, a naval aviation student, was killed. The aircraft was
in a formation of four planes when it went out of control, crashed
and burned.
Fatality
Griffith, Ens. Richard Hugh Griffith
Richard was born September 14, 1930, the son of
Dr. William Hugh Griffith (1898-1967) and Carrie J. Moss
Griffith (1900-1976) of Hollywood, California. The family of three is buried in
Forest Lawn Memorial, Glendale, California.
February 05, 1954
During a night training flight, Lockheed P-80A
(TV-1) #33860 dived straight down, crashed and burned 20 miles
southwest of Kingsville, Texas, and about 10 miles west of Sarita.
Killed was an naval aviation student.
Fatality
Weiner, 2Lt. Stanton Harold
2Lt. Stanton Harold Weiner (USMC). Stanton
was born December 31, 1930, a son of Reuben Weiner (1892-1949)
and Libby Sax Weiner (1892-1986). His siblings were
Herbert Louis Weiner (1927-1981), Robert Clarence Weiner
(1916-1988), and Burton Jules Weiner (1928-1992).
Lieutenant Weiner is buried in Rosehill Cemetery and Mausoleum,
Chicago, Illinois.
February 26, 1954
This C-119 made two passes over the city of Huntingdon,
Tennessee. On the second pass the plane struck the roof of a
house and crashed, killing the crew of four and badly burning two
men on the ground.
Fatalities:
Jenkins, 1Lt. Jack Clark
Jack was born on August 20, 1929 in Tennessee, son of Jack
Tuggle "John" Jenkins (1879-1942) and Mabel Clark Jenkins.
Jack, who was unmarried, is buried in Dixon Springs Cemetery,
Dixon Springs, Smith County, Tennessee. Jack was a graduate of
Huntingdon High School and then graduated from Bethel College in
1951.
Levy, A3C Franklin Delano
Franklin was born August 10, 1933, son of Mary Edith Levy (later
Wineland) (1914-1999). He is buried in Bonner Chapel Cemetery,
Tichor, Arkansas County, Arkansas. He was not married.
Peachey, 2Lt. John Charles
John was born December 3, 1928. He is buried in DeAnn Cemetery,
Prescott, Nevada. His parents were Mr. and Mrs. Albert Peachey
of Prescott. There is an Albert B. Peachey (1897-1988) and his
wife Keron Peachey (1906-1982) also buried in DeAnn Cemetery.
They are likely his parents. Other Peacheys are buried in the
same cemetery.
Probus, A2C David Alvin
David was born April 24, 1933 in Indiana. His parents were
Vernon C. Probus (1904-1962) and Julia L. Pasek Probus (later
Mrs. Bert Seifert) (1910-1978). His siblings were Robert V.
Probus (1924-2000) and Betty Lee Probus Gossman (1925-1995).
David is buried in Elmwood Cemetery, Hammond, Lake County,
Indiana.
March 05, 1954
Boeing B-47 Stratojet 51-2416 crashed and burned in the desert
near Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Arizona.
Fatalities:
Crocker, MSgt. Arnold Bentt (crew chief), Corinth, Maine
Arnold Bentt Crocker was born April 14, 1920 in Maine, a son
of Charles Kelly Crocker (1880-1957) and Estella May McCormack
Crocker (1889-1954). The Crockers were from Penobscot
County, Maine. He was married to Doris J. Crocker and they
had two daughters, Marilyn Ruth (1947-1949) and a daughter born
circa 1946. Arnold was from a family of eight children,
including: Gerald Charles (1919-1976), Harold Winfred
(1911-1959), Leland T., Roland, and Myrtle D. Crocker.
Master Sergeant Crocker served in the 303 Bomb Wing during World
War II. He is buried in Fort Logan National Cemetery,
Denver, Colorado.
Nadeau, Capt. Clifford E. (observer), Beldenville, Wisconsin
Clifford Nadeau was born July 19, 1918, a son of Jess Frank
Nadeau (1890-1965) and Margaret Veronica Kish Nadeau
(1889-1981). His siblings were Ethel Veronica Nadeau
Mulhausen (1911-2007), Zellery George Nadeau (1916-1970), and
Cyril Jess Nadeau (1913-1994). Captain Nadeau served in
the 303 Bomb Wing during World War II and was the recipient of
the Air Medal with four Oak Leaf Clusters. He is buried in
Austin Memorial Park Cemetery, Austin, Texas.
Skidmore, Capt. Ralph D. (aircraft commander), Flagstaff, Arizona
Ralph D. Skidmore was born November 22, 1924 in Iowa City,
Iowa, the son of William Ralph Skidmore (1895-1932) and Elta
Dillard Skidmore (1891-1992). He was married to Elizabeth
Neil Massey in 1942 in Flagstaff, Arizona. They had a
daughter, Leslie Jan Skidmore. Captain Skidmore's sister
was Mary Gertrude Skidmore (Mrs. Bernard Eldon Brown)
(1927-1996). Captain Skidmore was a World War II veteran.
He is buried in Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery, San Diego,
California.
Smith, 1Lt. Dale C. (pilot), Alameda, California
Lieutenant Smith was born in 1927. He and his wife,
Elaine I. Smith (1926-2009), are buried in Chapel of the Chimes
Columbarium and Mausoleum, Oakland, California.
March 17, 1954
Joseph A. Lynch Jr.
The first North American TF-86F Sabre 52-5016 crashed while
performing a slow-roll on take-off at Edwards Air Force Base,
California. The test pilot died. Crashed March 17, 1954,
killing N.A.A. test pilot Joe Lynch when he took off without knowing
he was inadvertently given a full fuel load and did a slow roll
demo, in front of new pilot cadets, thinking he had a partial fuel
load and not being heavy. He stalled during the roll and was unable
to correct back to wings level condition.
Lynch, Joseph Arthur Jr. (test pilot)
Joseph Arthur Lynch Jr. was born November 24, 1920 in
Columbus, Georgia, the son of Joseph Arthur Lynch Sr. and
Georgia Flewellen Mitchell Lynch. He was a decorated World
War II pilot who received an Air Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster.
He is buried in Linwood Cemetery.
March 19, 1954
A B-26 exploded and crashed into a swampy area three miles
northwest of Amelia, Virginia. Four airmen were killed.
Hagenson, Eugene F.
Captain Hagenson was born May 03, 1919, a son of Gustave
Harvey Hagenson (1888-1952) and Hazel Elizabeth Biery Hagenson
(1893-1965). He was the husband of Aline Cleo Bernstein
Hagenson, and the father of LeeAnn, SherryLu and Jon Hagenson.
His siblings were Ernest W. (1914-1981), Paul E. (1929-2020),
Helen Ugarph-Sorensen (1917-1999), Esther V. Peasley
(1922-1996), and Lois Haring. During World War II his
plane was shot down over Germany and he was taken prisoner of
war. At the time of his death he was an Air Force
instructor pilot. He is buried in Westlawn Cemetery,
Norridge, Illinois.
Maples, Hughie Martin Jr.
1Lt. Hughie Maples was born on October 09, 1929 in Wadesboro,
North Carolina, the son of Hughie Martin Maples
Sr. (1888-1977) and Esther Decker Willoughby Maples (1900-1986).
His sister was Gwendolyn Maples and his half sisters were Myrtle Louise Maples Dixon
(1917-2009), an infant girl (1920-1920). Hughie Jr. graduated
from State College, Raleigh, North Carolina, then entered the
Air Force. He was stationed at Vance Air Force Base
awaiting transfer to the Pacific area when he died in the B-26
crash. He is buried in Eastview Cemetery Wadesboro.
Schneider, Donald Philip "Don"
Donald Schneider was born December 20, 1931 in York,
Pennsylvania, a son of George Bruno Schneider (1904-1987) and
Ruth Louise Gartside (1904-1987). His siblings were George
Michael Schneider (1929-2016) and David L. Schneider.
Donald is buried in Holy Saviour Cemetery, Manchester Township,
York County, Pennsylvania.
[The KWE is seeking the name of the fourth airman who lost his
life in this crash.]
March 19, 1954
A T-33A Shooting Star (#52-9611) crashed near Thomasboro,
Illinois on this date, killing its pilot, LTC Albert Lossen Lane Jr.
His fellow pilots called him "Jim" or "Jimmie". Lane
was flying from Andrews Air Force Base, Maryland en route to
Springfield when bad weather caused him to change course and decide
to land via instrument at Chanute Air Force Base. The plane
circled Chanute once and was on its second pass when the aircraft
crashed in a plowed cornfield on the John Raup farm one mile south
and one-fourth mile east of Thomasboro. The plane exploded on
impact and the pilot was killed instantly. Information about
the crash can be found in the Champaign-Urbana Courier and
News-Gazette newspapers, March 20, 1954 issues. Fatality
Lane, Albert L. Jr.
Albert
Jr., the only son of Col. Albert L. Lane Sr. and Freda Margaret
Kelly Lane, was born May 23, 1920, in Iowa City, Iowa. He had
three sisters. A graduate of Grant High School in Oregon, he
entered West Point Military Academy in July of 1939. He
married Ann Grimes in February of 1943. After graduating from
the Air Command and Staff School at Maxwell Air Force Base he was
sent to Europe during World War II where he served with the 453rd
Bomb Group. In February of 1944 his plane was shot down over
Germany and he became a prisoner of war. After his release he
remained in the Air Force. During the Korean War he was
assigned to the War Plans Division, United States Air Force.
Albert "Jimmie" Lane and his wife Ann were parents of Chuck Lane,
Ann Lane, and Albert "Ted" Lane III. LTC Lane
is buried in Arlington National Cemetery.
March 19, 1954
USAF Fairchild C-119F-FA Flying Boxcar, 51-7993, c/n 10732, of
the 774th Troop Carrier Squadron, Ardmore Air Force Base, Oklahoma,
en route from Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama, to Mitchell Air
Force Base, Long Island, New York, crashed into a rain-swept
cornfield 19 miles south of Annapolis, Maryland, killing all 18 on
board. It had departed Bolling Air Force Base, Washington, D.C.,
after refueling at 2212 hours. A watch found in the wreckage had
stopped at 2229 hours. A spokesman at Bolling said that there were
twelve passengers and six crewmen aboard. There were eleven Air Force
personnel, five U.S. Navy, and one Marine on board. Witnesses
reported that the aircraft was on fire before the crash and appeared
to have exploded. The plane grazed the edge of a wooded area just
off Maryland Route 2 before it impacted. Twisted wreckage and bodies
were strewn over a ten acre area. A heavy rain aided firemen in
preventing the fire from getting out of hand. A detachment of
sailors and Marines from the U. S. Naval Academy at Annapolis stood
guard over the area as a group of investigators from Andrews Air
Force Base, Maryland, examined the wreckage for clues to the cause
of the tragedy. The fatalities included: Crew Members
- Coppedge, Capt. Gene T. (pilot) - born 1922, son of
William T. Inman (1872-1968) and Mabel Alice Dotson Inman
(1890-1967) of Pittsburg, Kansas. His brother was Don
Taylor Inman (1928-1986). Gene is buried in Mount Olive
Cemetery, Pittsburg.
- Crabtree, SSgt. Ernest Vincent (engineer) - born
September 17, 1923 in North Andover, Massachusetts, he was the
husband of Mrs. Mattie Lou Crabtree and the son of Peter
Crabtree (1897-1974) and Elizabeth Ada Gorton Crabtree
(1903-1976) of Hawthorne, California. Ernest served in the
US Naval Reserves from April 24, 1944 to November 28, 1945, and
the US Army from November 02, 1948 to September 18, 1952.
He is buried in Green Hills Memorial Park, San Petro,
California.
- Johnson, 1Lt. Henry T. (navigator) - He was the son
of Krikor der Hovannesian (Johnson) 1876-1945) and Agavney A.
Asadourian Johnson (1890-1979), South Portland, Maine. His
siblings were Leon Johnson, John D. Johnson (died 2007), Marion
Johnson Serunian (1911-2000) and Josephine Florence Johnson
Smith (1914-2010). Henry is buried in Calvary Cemetery,
South Portland, Maine.
- Kemmerling, 1Lt. Roy Charles (pilot) - He was born
December 17, 1926, a son of Charles W. Kemmerling (1901-1971)
and Dora A. Herring Kemmerling (1903-1976) of Pine Grove,
Pennsylvania. Roy's sibligs were Parthenia (died 1923),
Daniel, Harvey Sr., Robert, Eva Kemmerling Zimmerman, Ina
Kemmerling Zerbe, Kurt Sr., Olive Kemmerling Charles and Doris
Kemmerling Bohler. Roy is buried in Saint Marks Browns
Church Cemetery, Moyers, Pennsylvania.
- Roloff, 2Lt. Richard L. (navigator) - Born January
25, 1930, he was from Iselin, New Jersey. He is buried in
Clover Leaf Memorial Park, Woodbridge, New Jersey.
- Taylor, Airman 2c Jon Gordon (radio operator) - Born
January 13, 1936, he was the son of Lenore B. Taylor Beck
(Schultz) (1902-2011) and William C. Beck of Adrian, Michigan.
His siblings were Ronald Joel Taylor (1934-1989) and Robert
Taylor. Jon is buried in Indianfields Township Cemetery,
Caro, Michigan.
Passengers
- Baldassaro, Airman 3c Gerald Anthony - He was
born July 17, 1933, the son of Gerald R. Baldassaro
(1906-1989) and Olive O. Nobile Baldassaro (1909-1992) of
Williamsett, Massachusetts. His brother was Lawrence
A. Baldassaro. Gerald is buried in Calvary Cemetery,
Holyoke, Massachusetts.
- Hiller, SN Allen R. - Born July 15, 1933, he was
the son of Harold Hale Hiller Sr. (1907-2002) and Bessie
Mabel Loveless Hiller (1906-1981). His brother was
Harold Hale Hiller Jr. Allen is buried in the First
Reformed Church Cemetery, Pompton Plains, New Jersey.
- Junghans, Frederick R. - Born April 03, 1932 in
New York, he was the son of Frederic B. Junghans (died 1964)
and Grace E. Junghans (died 1978). Frederick is buried
in Stanhope Union Cemetery, Morris County, New Jersey.
- Lavers, SN Phillip Alden - born October 13, 1934.
He is buried in Greenlawn Cemetery, Salem, Massachusetts.
- Snodgrass, Airman Wayne F. - Born March 21, 1934,
he was a son of Howard Leymoin Snodgrass (1907-1987) and
Alice Elizabeth Minnis Snodgrass (1905-1975) of Ohio.
His siblings were Seymour Thomas Snodgrass (1926-2007),
Howard Leymoin Snodgrass (1929-2003), James Edward Snodgrass
(1931-2009), Bernard Lee Snodgrass (1935-2006), Carolyn Mae
Snodgrass Wright (1937-1980) and Raymond D. Snodgrass.
Wayne is buried in Saint John Cemetery Haven of Rest,
Colliers, West Virginia.
- Springer, Airman 2c Paul H. - Brooklyn, New York
- Strauss, Airman 2c Robert M. - Born August 06,
1933 in Meriden, Connecticut, he was the son of Harold R.
Strauss (1905-1984) and Marion T. Strauss (1904-2002).
Robert was an A/2C Musician in the Air Force. He is
buried in Walnut Grove Cemetery, Meriden.
- Valente, Airman 3c Joseph A. - South Portland,
Maine
- ?
- ?
- ?
- ?
March 19, 1954
First Lieutenant Robert Smith was killed when his P-51 Mustang
aircraft crashed near the summit of towering Chestnut Ridge in the
Burke’s Garden section of mountainous Tazewell County, Virginia in
heavy cloud cover. The North American Aviation P-51 Mustang is an
American long-range, single-seat fighter and light bomber used
during World War II and other conflicts. Lieutenant Smith was on a
navigational training flight from Battle Creek, Michigan to
Charlotte, North Carolina. The aircraft impacted the ridge at about
4,680 feet in a very dense rhododendron thicket. The plane had
careened through the treetops for about 200 yards before finally
crashing about 100 feet from the top of the ridge. Low cloud cover
is especially common in late winter when fog sets in on the mountain
tops. When last heard from, the pilot had made a routine radio
report to Charleston, West Virginia. He failed to report at his next
point, Pulaski, Virginia. The medical report seems to confirm that
he was attempting to remain below the cloud cover but this would
have been impossible on a southerly heading. The burned body of the
pilot was found slumped in the cockpit wreckage. Lieutenant Smith
had only been with the 172nd Squadron for six months but he was a
veteran pilot who was a World War II flier and his loss was felt by
all the squadron. Fatality
Smith, Robert Brannan - Robert Brannan
Smith was born February 23, 1922 in Lansing, Michigan, the son of
Anthony A. Smith (1890-1971) and Hazel M. Brannan Smith (1891-1965).
He married Marjorie Helen Dunham on June 30, 1945 in Lansing.
They had no children. He was in the insurance business with
his father. He is buried in Evergreen Cemetery, Lansing,
Michigan.
March 29, 1954
A B-36 crashed shortly after takeoff from Fairchild Air Force
Base in Spokane County, Washington. Seven airmen were killed
and three others were injured. Find information about this
fatal crash
here.
March 29, 1954
On a routine familiarization flight, TV-2 Shooting Star 131876 crashed near NAAS, Kingsville, Texas
at 3 p.m. that day. The training plane dived into the ground
and burned two and a half miles southeast of the north field from
which the planes operated at Kingsville Naval Auxiliary Air Station. The pilot,
a student in ATU-200 at the air station, was killed instantly.
Fatality
Hawkes, Ltjg Edward Albert - The son of Mrs. Mary L.
Hawkes of Orchard Lake, Michigan, Edward was a 1952 graduate of
Michigan State College.
March 29, 1954
An F-67 Hellcat propeller-type fighter plane crashed during
landing approach to the south field at Kingsville Naval Auxiliary
Air Station. The pilot, a student in ATU-100 at the air
station, was killed instantly. Fatality
Meyer, 1Lt. James Riley - Born January 16, 1928, he was a
son of William Andrew Meyer Sr. (1904-1977) and Helen Denise Riley.
His siblings were William Andrew Meyer Jr. (1927-2005), Thomas
Edward Meyer (1929-1999), Ann Adele Meyer Dohrn (1934-2007),
Cathleen Elizabeth Meyer (1939-2o2o) and Susan Meyer Moore.
James Riley, a World War II and Korean War veteran, is buried in
Sacred Heart Cemetery, Burlington, Iowa.
March 30, 1954
When the engine of a C-119 began to burn, the pilot tried to make
an emergency landing at Ft. Bragg, North Carolina. It struck
the top of an officers' barracks and skidded into the base mess
hall. Seven were killed and ten others were injured.
Find information about this fatal crash
here.
March 30, 1954
F-86F Sabre 51-13306 crashed near Nouasseur Air Base in French
Morocco on this date. The pilot was killed. Fatality
Plass, Frederick J. - Frederick was born December 28, 1925
in Oregon, a son of John Plass (1889-1963) and Lela Grace Lyda Plass
(1896-1970). His siblings were Irene Wyatt, Francis Plass,
Mary Ellen Plass Knipe, Agnes Julianna Plass Krieger (1916-1991),
Evelyn Marie Plass Van Dyke (1917-2004), Theresa Frances Plass Lardy
(1919-2006) and Vernon Joseph Plass (1931-1996). Frederick was
a World War II veteran, Distinguished Flying Cross recipient, and
the recipient of the Air Medal with two Oak Leaf Clusters. He is
buried in Mount Calvary Cemetery, Portland, Oregon.
April 1, 1954
A BT-13 crashed and burned in Los Varas canyon 15 miles northwest
of Santa Barbara, California. Fatalities: Atkinson,
Edward Schmidt, Don
April 05, 1954
On this date a Lockheed T-33 (52-9664) from the Republic Aircraft
plant at Farmingdale, New York was being flown to Langley Air Force
Base, Virginia when contact was lost with the aircraft. It is
presumed, that the plane crashed into the sea. The pilot was killed.
Fatality
Councill, Col. William Haldane - Colonel Councill grew up in
the Ingomar portion of McCandless Township, Pennsylvania. His
parents were William and Bertha Councill. He was the brother of
David Elihu, Ruth Etta, and Barbara Alice. William was a student at
the Perry High School, where, as a member of the Aero Club, he
helped fellow students build a glider. He joined the U.S. Army Air
Corps after graduation from Carnegie Tech in 1933. He spent two
years in a pursuit squadron in Hawaii. (Source: The Pittsburgh
Press, August 1, 1945) During World War II he served as a flight
instructor and eventually flew 130 combat missions piloting Lockheed
P-38 Lightnings in the South Pacific while serving with the 13th Air
Force. (Source: Pittsburgh Post Gazette, May 25, 2014.) While
serving as commander of a fighter group on Guadalcanal, Col.
Councill "was credited with leading a flight of four P-38s that
killed between 200 and 300 Jap soldiers working on an airfield on
Bougainville." (Source: The Pittsburgh Press, August 1, 1945.) On
January 26, 1946, Col. Councill became the transcontinental non-stop
record holder flying a modified Lockheed P-80A Shooting Star, S/N
44-85123, from Long Beach, California to LaGuardia, New York (2,457
miles) in 4 hours, 13 minutes, and 26 seconds. His aircraft, which is
today displayed at Edwards Air Force Base, California, flew at an
average speed of 600 mph. That record stood for eight years.
Colonel Councill served as the commander of the 86th Fighter-Bomber
Wing at Neubiberg, Germany from June of 1949 until September of
1950. During the Korean War, Colonel Councill was the director of
the Tactical Air Command at Langley Air Force Base, Hampton,
Virginia. William Councill had earned the Distinguished Flying
Cross, the Air Medal, the Pacific Theater of Operations Medal, and
the World War II Victory Medal. William was the husband of Lillie
Slay Councill and they had a daughter, Frances.
April 20, 1954
A C-119 transport plane hit a fog-obscured ridge on Mission Point (a
2,771 foot high mountain) while attempting to reach Burbank
(California) Air Base on an instrument landing. The plane was
en route from Chandler-Williams Air Force Base at Chandler, Arizona
to the Burbank Airport. Seven onboard lost their life. The
crash occurred 2.5 miles north of Granada, California.
Fatalities
Mauer, Lt. Harry (pilot) - A World War II and Korean War
veteran, Mauer was born August 28, 1918, the son of Iona May Minnich
Maurer Groff (1900-1988). He is buried in Perkasie Mausoleum,
Perkasie, Pennsylvania.
Vander Meyden, A/1c Hubert Abraham - Hubert was en route to
visit his parents when he was killed in this crash. He was
born July 18, 1930 in Los Angeles, a son of Dirk Antonie (Dick)
Vander Meyden Jr. (1900-1976) and Francina Antonia Vreeken Vander
Meyden (1899-1988). His siblings were John Cornelius
(1918-2001) and Richard Vander Meyden. Albert is buried in
Salt Lake City Cemetery, Salt Lake City, Utah.
April 22, 1954
Flying Boxcar 52-5904 exploded in mid-air due to a mechanical
failure. The crash took place six miles north northwest of
Beulaville, North Carolina. Four airmen were onboard and two
of them lost their lives. The two survivors parachuted to
safety. The plane was participating in an Air Force training
exercise in conjunction with the Army's atomic warfare exercise,
Flash Burn, centering at Pope Air Force Base and Fort Bragg.
The plane was part of the 464th Troop Carrier Wing of Lawson Air
Force Base. The name for the Air Force's part of the exercise
was Operation Tacair 54-7.
Fatalities
Poust, Maj. Charles E. - Charles was born March 05, 1921
and was married to Muriel E. Poust (1923-2013). The couple is
buried in Arlington National Cemetery.
?
Survivors
Olsen, 2 Lt. Eldon D. (co-pilot)
Wilson, Capt. Irvin B. (navigator)
May 12, 1954
A Lockheed T-33A Shooting Star (52-9478) crashed eight miles west
of Superior,
Arizona, killing the pilot. Fatality
Noble, Charles Robert - Born April 05, 1932, he was a son of
Charles Leslie Noble (1907-1987) and Ruth Irene Daugherity Noble
(1907-1987). His siblings were Elizabeth L. "Betty" Noble
Seymour (1928-2014) and a brother. A member of the Air Force's
AC3525 Student Squad, he is buried in Biggsville Cemetery,
Biggsville, Illinois.
May 23, 1954
A C-46 troop transport of the Indiana Air National Guard crashed
in heavy rain 12 miles south of Comfort, Texas, on the Warren
Ingenhuett ranch. The plane was en route from El Paso
Municipal Airport to Kelly AFB in San Antonio before returning to
Camp Atteberry in Indiana. It was last heard from at the Kelly
control tower at 9:07 p.m. Two crew members were killed and three
others (the o-pilot, a passenger and the engineer) were injured.
Fatalities
Cross, Clifford Eugene - Born November 25, 1915 in
Missouri, Staff Sergeant Cross was a son of Richard Cross and Martha
Ellen Pitts Cross (Gibson) (1875-1969). Clifford was married
to Henrietta Earney ("Josie") Spradling Cross (1917-2002). His
siblings were sisters Nadine and Glenary, and brothers Raynal,
Richard, Homer, Fate and Clyde. Strean, Ralph Lester Jr. -
Born July 08, 1919, he was a son of Ralph Lester Strean (1887-1940)
and Maude D. Hopkins Strean (1887-1978). He was married to
Gladys Strean (later Herndon) (1925-2003) in 1942. Lt. Colonel
Strean's siblings were Verle H. Strean (1909-1929), Bernard Max
Strean (1910-2002), James Lloyd Strean (1921-2003), Elsie Virginia
Strean (1923-1929) and Donald R. Strean (1929-1991). Lt.
Colonel Strean is buried in Highland Memorial Park, Ocala, Florida.
Injured
Isley, Maj. William L. (co-pilot)
Kimberley, Capt. Leon W. (passenger)
Koepp, Airman 2C Armin (engineer)
June 03, 1954
AD-6 Skyraider 134490 failed to pull out of a dive and crashed in
an uninhabited area 5 miles bearing 330 degrees from Armitage Field
on one of the China Lake ranges in California. The pilot was
stationed at Moffett Field, California at the time of the accident.
Fatality
Ellis, LCdr. Kermit Quentin - Kermit was born August 18,
1921 in Lexington, Missouri, a son of Virgil John Ellis (1878-1956)
and Maude Jane Burnett Ellis (1882-1965). He attended
Lexington High School and Wentworth Military Academy. He
joined the Navy in 1941 and in 1951-52 he attended the University of
Missouri's navy training program. He married Barbara J.
Roquette (1925-1997) (later Barbara Stenfors) in 1943. They
were parents of two daughters, Barbara Kay Ellis and Christy Ann
Ellis. His siblings were David Burnley Ellis (1905-1958),
Isaac Curtis Ellis (1909-1988), Edgar Joe Ellis (1907-1990), infant
sister (1917-1917) and infant brother (1918- 1918). Lieutenant
Commander Ellis is buried in Machpelah Cemetery, Lexington,
Missouri. LCDR Kermit Q. Ellis had a distinguished career as a
pilot in the United States Navy. In 1945, he was the pilot of a
Curtiss SB2C Helldiver, also known as the A-25 Shrike, a
carrier-based dive bomber assigned to the USS Essex. In April
1945, the Japanese battleship Yamato, the largest battleship
in the world, and nine other Japanese warships, embarked from Japan
for a suicide attack on Allied forces engaged in the battle of
Okinawa. The Japanese force was attacked by U.S. carrier-borne
aircraft in the East China Sea before it could reach Okinawa. On
April 7, Ellis and his crewman Frank Guptill launched from the
Essex. After attacking the Yamato's broadside, his plane
took a hit in the left wing tank. As the plane burned, the two
parachuted out with their life rafts as the plane crashed into the
ocean. The next day, they were rescued by the submarine USS Tench.
During the battle, the Yamato and five other Japanese warships were
sunk, demonstrating U.S. air supremacy in the Asiatic-Pacific
Theater and the vulnerability of surface ships without air cover to
aerial attack.
June 14, 1954
En route from Lockbourne Air Force Base in Ohio to Cherry Point,
North Carolina, an F1-2 crashed after it was in the air only 18
minutes. The plane went into a deep angle dive before it
crashed and was blown to pieces in the area of Maple Meadow, West
Virginia. Fatality
Barnes, 2Lt. Pierre Tulloch II - Pierre was born June 18,
1930 in Los Angeles, California, the son of Pierre Tulloch Barnes
Sr. and Paula Maxine Cody Sayre (1905-1983). Lieutenant Barnes
and his wife Angela (died 1996) were the parents of Pete Barnes,
born ten days after the fatal plane crash. Pete is now
Dr. Pete Barnes, a chiropractor in California. Lieutenant
Barnes is buried in Inglewood Park Cemetery, Inglewood, California.
June 28, 1954
AD-5 132438 crashed on a routine flight from Inyokern to
Albuquerque, New Mexico. The pilot, Lt. W.R. Chester
parachuted out of aircraft 35 miles northwest of Albuquerque, but a
second crew member lost his life. Fatality
Davis, ADR2 Ward Dale - Ward was born March 02, 1929, a
son of Edward Leeland "Lee" Davis (1899-1980) and Clara Christensen
Davis (1902-1940). His siblings were Raymond Lee Davis
(1922-1948), Phyllis Mae Davis Munster (1923-2012), Melba Davis
(1925-1926), and Betty Lou Carter. His half-siblings were
NaDean Davis (1948-1950) and Lyndon Kip Davis (1951-1999).
Ward Davis is buried in Ermen Cemetery, Osceola, Arkansas.
July 07, 1954
TV-2 Shooting Star 131730 caught fire and crashed near Naval Air Station Corpus
Christi, Texas. The pilot was killed. Fatality
Christian, Martin John II
- Martin was born May 02, 1919 in Ohio, the son of Martin John
Christian Sr. He married Helen Hood Boone on March 04, 1944
and they were parents of two children. Carol Boone Christian
(Mrs. Edgar Hall Jr.) (1945-2018) and Martin J. Christian III.
Lieutenant Christian was a World War II and Korean War veteran.
He is buried in Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery, San Diego,
California.
August 25, 1954
An F-86H crashed near LaQuinta, California on this date.
There was one fatality. See details by clicking this
link.
Fatality
McConnell, Joseph Christopher Jr.
September 05, 1954
An F-86H Sabre broke apart when its pilot attempted to break a
record at the Dayton Air Show. The pilot was killed. See
details by clicking this link.
Fatality
Armstrong, Maj. John L. "Jack"
October 06, 1954
U.S. Air Force RB-50G Superfortress #47-154, five miles southeast
of Willows, California went into a flat spin while on a flight from
Biggs Air Force Base near El Paso, Texas. Four crew members
parachuted when the aircraft was less than 500 feet from the ground.
One did not survive his parachute descent. One crewman
survived the plane's impact into a rice field on the O'Brien Farm
near Willows, being thrown from the rear gunner's compartment in the
tail section. Thirteen of 17 crew members perished. Fatalities:
Baca, A2C Daniel L. Ford, MSgt. Charles M. Foster, MSgt.
Clarence E. Hansen, MSgt. Howard J. Herrick, Maj. Park Brown Jr,
(pilot) Myers, A2C William F. Robinson, Capt. Otho (navigator)
Swisher, 1st Lt. John H. (co-pilot)
Townsend, MSgt. Junior Vaughan, 1st Lt. John D. (2nd navigator)
Wirt, Maj. John M.
Wright, Capt. Keith B.
Wynne, A2C Eddie L.
October 6, 1954
A C-119 aircraft (52-5859) had engine failure and exploded
shortly after takeoff at Ft. Bragg. The plane crashed into a
barracks construction project at the end of the runway. On the
plane were five airmen and seven Army passengers. There were
two fatalities. Two civilian workers on the construction
project were injured. Fatalities
Fulton, 1Lt. Frank Newell - co-pilot from Lynn,
Massachusetts. Frank Fulton was born January 25, 1929, a son
of Alvin Perry Fulton (1881-1951) and Gladys Sarah Stone Fulton
(1888-1972). During World War II he was stationed in the Air
Force in England. Prior to the C119 tragedy he had married
Rhoda Robertson of Isle of Skye, Scotland and they had just moved to
the USA to begin their married life. His siblings were Hazel
Stone Fulton Dana (1915-2001), Robert Oscar Fulton (1917-1990), and
George Perry Fulton (1925-1998). Frank Fulton is buried in
Pine Grove Cemetery, Lynn, Massachusetts. Wyatt, 1Lt. William LeRoy - pilot from
Sedgewick, Kansas. William Wyatt was born July 18, 1918 in
Chase County, Kansas, the son of W. Arthur Wyatt (1891-1963) and
Gertrude J. Wyatt (1896-1979). He was married to Helen Pauline
Richardson Wyatt (1924-1998). William is buried in Woodlawn
Memorial Park, Grenada, Mississippi.
November 06, 1954
T-33A Shooting Star 51-8588 crashed 3.5 miles south southwest of Schlater, Mississippi.
The pilot was killed. Fatality
Hamm, Perry S. -
November 08, 1954
TV-2 Shooting Star 136839 crashed near Sarita, Texas. The
pilot was killed.
November 16, 1954
On a training flight from Elmendorf Air Base in Alaska, the pilot
of a T-33 checked in with ground controllers, then vanished near
Point MacKenzie. The pilot and navigator were never heard from
again. Fatalities
Pendleton, Lt. Roger - Born July 17, 1921 in
Winchester, Massachusetts, he was a son of Fabius Ray Pendleton
(born 1878) and Grace Anderson Pendleton (born 1878). He
married Patricia Edith Mitchell on July 09, 1947 in New
Hampshire. Roger enlisted in the Air Corps Aviation Cadet
Reserves on January 08, 1943 in Boston. He was the brother
of Alden L. Pendleton (1914-1925) and another sibling.
Tietze, Capt. Lionel Norman - Born January 24, 1921
in Chicago, Illinois, he was the son of Karl (Charles) Gustav
Eduard Tietze (1877-1935) and Johanna Cecelia Johnson Tietzxe-Andrew
(1888-1986). His siblings were Frederick Inglebret Tietze
(1916-1989), Howard Everett Tietze (1918-1991) and Albert Oliver
Tietze (1924-1998).
November 16, 1954
An F-80 Shooting Star crashed into a mud beach near Knik Arm
from Point Woronzof ten miles from Anchorage. Another
pilot flying in the three-plane formation stated that he saw the
plane go into a steep dive. The planes were flying at
3,000 feet due to bad weather. The missing plane was
located two weeks after the crash, but only a few pieces of it
could be found before it and the pilot sank in the mud.
Kulis Air National Guard Base was named after the lost pilot.
Fatality
Kulis, 1Lt. Albert - Born on August 22, 1922 in
Brooklyn, New York, he was the son of Alphonse M. Kulis
(1890-1976) and Teresa A. Kudzma Kulis (1900-1930).
Arriving in Alaska in 1946, Albert flew commercially for
Alaska Airlines and then Cordova Airlines, and was a member
of the Alaska National Guard. His wife, Ruth Bernice
Nelson Kulis, remained in Anchorage until 1958. Born
in 1924, she died November 23, 2001 in California. The
couple had three children: Robert, Gordon and Karen.
Karen Kulis Fitzgerald (1955-1999) was born in January 1955
after the Lieutenant's death. Albert's sistre was
Mildred Kulis DeShaw (1921-2013).
December 29, 1954
US Air Force's C-119G #53-8102 crashed 18.1 miles
southeast of Huntsville, Alabama, on this date. The
plane had left Smyrna-Sewart Air Force Base in Tennessee and
was en route to Mobile-Brookley Air Force Base, Alabama,
when it crashed on Shin Hook Ridge, killing all four crew
members and five of the seven passengers. The two
survivors were thrown clear when the rear clamshell doors
opened during the accident sequence. There were severe
thunderstorms and tornadoes in the area. Fatalities
Border, 1Lt. J.B., 3510 Combat Crew Training
Squadron, Randolph AFB, TX
Foley, Airman 1c Lawrence J., Bronx, NY
Forguson, Capt. Leslie Darrell (pilot), Antioch, TN -
Leslie was born April 3, 1919 in Trigg Furnace, Kentucky, the son of
Roscoe Owen Forguson and Birdie Crass Forguson. He married
World War II Army veteran Rose Marion Merchant in 1941. Leslie
is buried in Riverside Memorial Park, Jacksonville, Florida.
Hall, 2Lt. Gerry M., 32nd Air Rescue Service, March
AFB, CA
Hawkins, 2Lt. Charles D., Nashville, TN - Charles was born
in 1931. He is buried in Chapel Hill Memorial Gardens,
Littleton, Colorado.
McKay, Airman 2c Leon M., 9th Radio Relay Squadron, Donelson AFB, SC
Miller, Airman 2c Richard W., Murfreesboro, TN
Shoemaker, Airman 3c Robert A., 9th Radio Relay
Squadron, Donelson AFB, SC - Robert was born December
14, 1934. He is buried in West Lawn Cemetery, Glidden, Iowa.
Troy, 2Lt. William T. Jr., Stamford, CT
Survivors
Johnson, Airman Robert, Cumberland City, TN -
Walked several miles with a broken leg following the
crash.
Kinnane, Airman 3c Michael P., Seekonk, MA - Fell in a
field not far from the crash. Scratches and bruises only.
December 30, 1954
T-33A #53-5207 crashed on this date near Andrews Air
Force Base, Maryland. While exiting the aircraft, the
pilot was hit by the ejection seat. He died at Bolling
Field Air Force Base in Washington on January 05, 1955.
Fatality
Almond, Capt. Craven Poe - Born on March 07,
1918 in Albemarle, North Carolina, he was a son of
Achillis Killis Almond (1895-1977) and Hettie Cornelia
Lambert Almond (1898-1973). He married Mary C.
Amerine (1914-2009) and they were parents of Deborah
Almond Taylor and Judith Almond Donovan. In his
marriage to Louise Thompson Almond (1923-3005), they had
a son Craig Allen Almond (1945-1991). Captain
Almond served in the Army Air Corps during World War II.
His siblings were Clyde Edward Almond (1920-2014), Edith
Almond (1923-1927), Tommy Almond, Billy V. Almond, Jimmy
Almond, and Doris Almond Burleson.
|
