9 fatalities

Mid-air collision between two USAAF B-29s near Weatherford, Texas (44-86276)

Weatherford, United States of AmericaFlight

On August 17, 1945, a Boeing B-29 Superfortress (registration 44-86276) operated by United States Army Air Forces - USAAF (1941-1947) was involved in an aviation accident near Weatherford, United States of America in flight. 9 people were killed. This summary draws on records from the Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A); 8 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.

Sourcesthe Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A)Primary reportUpdated 2026-08-05Data APIEditorial standards

Two U.S. Army Air Forces Boeing B-29 Superfortresses collided during a night training mission near Weatherford, Texas, resulting in the deaths of 18 crew members and the total destruction of both aircraft.

What happened

The incident occurred during a night training mission involving two U.S. Army Air Forces (USAAF) heavy bombers. One of the aircraft was a Boeing B-29 with the registration 42-93895, which had departed from Clovis and was carrying a crew of eleven personnel. The other aircraft, whose specific registration is not provided in the source material, had departed from Alamogordo Airfield.

While flying at an altitude of approximately 15,000 feet in the vicinity of Weatherford, Texas, the two aircraft collided mid-air. Following the impact, both planes entered uncontrolled dives toward the ground. During the descent, two crew members from the 42-93895 managed to eject and survived the crash. The remaining occupants of both aircraft did not survive.

Both airframes crashed into a field located three miles west of Weatherford. The impact resulted in the total destruction of both machines. In total, 18 people were killed in the accident. The source lists the following crew members associated with the incident: 2nd Lt Benson W. Cohen, Sgt Clarence A. Jurgens, 2nd Lt Edward E. Lahniers, Sgt Donald V. Lefebvre, Sgt Johnny A. Moseley, 2nd Lt Gordon E. Myers, Sgt Donald E. Reed, 1st Lt Aubrey K. Stinson, and 2nd Lt Harold Lannis Swaim.