Incident
A KC-135 tanker aircraft departed Columbus Air Force Base, Mississippi, on a routine refueling mission supporting a United States Air Force Boeing B-52 Stratofortress. The B-52, registered 57-0036, carried a crew of eight. At an altitude of 32,000 feet, the two aircraft collided under unclear circumstances. Both aircraft entered a dive and crashed near Leitchfield, Kentucky.
Casualties
All four crew members aboard the KC-135 were killed. On the B-52, four crew members were killed, while four others successfully bailed out and were found alive. Both aircraft were destroyed upon impact. Named among the crew was 1st Lt Harold E. Helmick, pilot, and S/Sgt Paul E. Thomasson.
Aftermath
No further details regarding the cause or investigation were provided in the source.