Accident Details
Shortly after takeoff from Lajes Air Force Base, while in initial climb, the heavy bomber lost altitude and crashed approximately one mile south of the airfield. The accident resulted in the deaths of six crew members and injuries to nine others, some of them serious.
Crew
The crew members on board were:
- Maj Hugh S. Abcock Jr. (†)
- Cpt Louis Carl Bowen (†)
- A1c Jimmy Dan Cherry (†)
- T/Sgt Issac M. Daniel (†)
- S/Sgt Wilmer R. Devlin (†)
- 1st Lt Roy Wesley Wallace (†)
- 1st Lt William R. Sundermann
- 1st Lt William J. Pederson
- A2c Fred W. Maschner
- A1c Charles M. Caillouett Jr.
- A2c Daniel L. Browder
- 1st Lt Thomas W. Minter
- S/Sgt Yulee Mickler
- A2c Arthur L. Turk Jr.
- A2c James F. Locklin
Those marked with a dagger (†) were killed in the crash.
Probable Cause
The official finding stated that the probable cause of the accident was a loss of control caused by an engine failure.