ASN Wikibase Occurrence # 98421
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| Date: | Tuesday 11 July 1944 |
| Time: | |
| Type: |  Boeing B-29 Superfortress |
| Owner/operator: | 882nd BSqn /500th BGp USAAF |
| Registration: | 42-6373 |
| MSN: | 3507 |
| Fatalities: | Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 10 |
| Aircraft damage: | Destroyed |
| Location: | Walker Field, Victoria, Kansas -
 United States of America
|
| Phase: | Landing |
| Nature: | Military |
| Departure airport: | Walker AAF, Kansas |
| Walker AAF |
B-29-15-BW 42-6373: Delivered to the USAAF 26 February 1944. Assigned to 882nd Bomb Squadron, 500th Bomb Group, USAAF at Walker AAF, Victoria, Kansas.
Written off (damaged beyond repair) when force landed on 11 July 1944 due to an engine fire and propeller malfunction at Walker AAF, Kansas. According to the following published report (see link #3):
"Second Lt. Willard F. Shorey, piloting a B-29 airplane on a bombing mission over the Walker Bombing Range discovered that his #4 engine was cutting out and later that it was throwing oil. He feathered this engine and started back toward the field. Just before he reached the field, #1 engine began to run away and efforts to decrease the RPM proved in vain. Then #1 engine caught fire, and though attempts to feather it cut down the RPM, it was not completely feathered. At the same time both fire extinguishers were pulled but the fire did not abate.
Making a left hand turn into the final approach, Lt. Shorey encountered extreme difficulty in raising the left wing to level off after he had lined the plane up with the runway. Both pilot and co-pilot exerted all the force they could to raise the left wing. They succeeded to a sufficient degree in levelling the aircraft and landed on the first third of the runway.
During this time the fire was increasing in fury and was eating its way through the nacelle. When the plane had rolled several yards down the runway, #1 engine tore loose and fell forward and below the wing. This pulled the plane toward the left and application of right brake did not overcome this veering. When the plane stopped all but two of the crew members made their exit through the main doorway on the right side of the plane. The plane caught fire before the fire engines arrived and there was little left to salvage when the blaze was brought under control.
Fortunately no one was hurt. As a result of his expert handling and landing of this plane with one engine feathered and another on fire, 2nd Lt. Shorey, at the request of the Second Air Force, was recommended for the Air Medal citation. As yet, official approval has not been received.
The Accident Investigation board in its findings held that responsibility lay in material failure in #1 engine and #4 engine. There was no pilot error involved."
Surveyed at Walker AAF, Kansas July 13, 1944 and authorised for reclamation for scrap and components
Sources:
1. http://www.aviationarchaeology.com/src/dbaloc.asp?Loc=ks&offset=1450
2. http://www.joebaugher.com/usaf_serials/1942_1.html
3. http://www.500thbombgroupb29.org/journal%20-%20training.pdf
Revision history:
| Date/time | Contributor | Updates |
|---|---|---|
| 06-Jun-2017 20:52 | Dr. John Smith | Updated [Cn, Operator, Total fatalities, Total occupants, Other fatalities, Location, Phase, Departure airport, Destination airport, Source, Narrative] |
| 23-Mar-2020 11:10 | DG333 | Updated [Operator, Departure airport, Destination airport, Operator] |
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