Were there any fatalities in the 26 Dec 1956 Boeing B-29 Superfortress accident?

The accident was fatal, resulting in 8 fatalities.

Crew of Eight Killed When Fully Loaded Aircraft Strikes Mount Bald Near Talkeetna (44-84149)

Q: What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 26 Dec 1956 involved a Boeing B-29 Superfortress, registration 44-84149, operated by United States Air Force - USAF (since 1947), at Talkeetna, United States of America.

On December 26, 1956, a Boeing B-29 Superfortress (registration 44-84149) operated by United States Air Force - USAF (since 1947) was involved in an aviation accident near Talkeetna, United States of America in flight. 8 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 2026-06-12Data API Editorial standards

Nineteen minutes after departing Elmendorf AFB, a fully loaded aircraft struck Mount Bald near Talkeetna at 4,200 feet. The impact caused a massive explosion, destroying the aircraft and killing all eight crew members of the 508th Air Refueling Squadron.

Accident Overview and Immediate Sequence of Events An aircraft operated by the 508th Air Refueling Squadron departed Elmendorf AFB and, nineteen minutes later, struck Mount Bald while cruising at an altitude of 4,200 feet. The impact occurred approximately 11 miles east of Talkeetna. The crew had contacted air traffic control (ATC) at the time of the strike. Because the aircraft was fully loaded with fuel, a large explosion occurred upon impact, resulting in the total destruction of the airframe. ## Casualties and Crew Roster All eight crew members aboard were killed in the accident. The 508th Air Refueling Squadron crew consisted of: * 1st Lt Thomas H. Patton (Pilot) * 2nd Lt James D. Dellinger (Copilot) * 1st Lt Lionel E. Reid (Navigator) * 1st Lt Luther G. Lamm * M/Sgt Otto D. McAdams * T/Sgt Thurman C. Rainer * S/Sgt John B. Pyland * A2c William P. Hodgson

Controlled flight into terrain

Crew of Eight Killed When Fully Loaded Aircraft Strikes Mount Bald Near Talkeetna (44-84149)

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