B-18 Crash North of Flagstaff on October 2 (or
3rd) 1941
Poor visibility, rain, and snow were all contributing factors to
the B-18 crash in the San Francisco Peaks. The aircraft was stationed out
of the Albuquerque Air Base. Six men died in the crash.
First Lt. Arnold T. King and his crew, flying B-18A, (37-515),
departed Sacramento Air Depot to ferry material to Albuquerque, NM, via
Bakersfield and Daggett, CA. En route, the weather they encountered was
not forecasted. The crew encountered snow, icing, turbulence, and strong
south/southwest winds above 9,000 feet. The aircraft crashed north of
Flagstaff while flying a magnetic course of approximately 300 degrees. The
left wing broke off about 10 feet of the top of approximately six trees.
The aircraft then hit the ground approximately 30 feet beyond the group of
trees, tearing off both wings and the horizontal stabilizer. The gas tanks
exploded and the ensuing fire engulfed the plane back to the radio operator's
compartment.
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The Bolo's "bail out" bell. |
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© 2002-2006 Chris McDoniel.
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