Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress accident at Atlantic Ocean, World, 5 Sept 1942 (41-24463)
On September 5, 1942, a Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress (registration 41-24463) operated by United States Army Air Forces - USAAF (1941-1947) was involved in an aviation accident near Atlantic Ocean, World in flight. 10 people were killed. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The exact cause of the accident could not be determined but the explosion coincided with the time that the bomb bay overload fuel tank was due to be switched on and may have been caused by an electrical fault. This summary draws on records from the Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A); 2 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.
Probable cause
The exact cause of the accident could not be determined but the explosion coincided with the time that the bomb bay overload fuel tank was due to be switched on and may have been caused by an electrical fault.
— NTSB Determination
Accident narrative
The airplane departed Gander Airport on a transatlantic flight to RAF Thurleigh, carrying a crew of 10. About an hour into the flight, while en route between Canada and Greenland, the airplane exploded in midair and crashed into the Atlantic Ocean. All 10 occupants were killed. Crew: T/Sgt William Blakesley, S/Sgt Charles H. Carlton, 2nd Lt Andrew J. Hoyt, 2nd Lt Robert R. Landry, 1st Lt John Thomas Leahy, S/Sgt Roland L. Oikle, S/Sgt Leslie R. Pettyjohn, Cpt Rush Poulan, 2nd Lt Frank L. Shannon Jr., Pvt James A. Wiley.
Probable cause (official findings): The exact cause of the accident could not be determined but the explosion coincided with the time that the bomb bay overload fuel tank was due to be switched on and may have been caused by an electrical fault.