What happened
On March 12, 1952, at approximately 13:50 CST, a mid-air collision occurred involving two B-29 bombers operating out of Randolph Air Force Base, Texas. The aircraft involved were identified by their military serial numbers as 44-87774 and 44-62223.
The incident took place roughly 19 miles north of the home base. During the encounter, the aircraft 44-62223 sustained significant structural damage when its tail section broke away from the fuselage, causing the plane to become impossible to control. Simultaneously, debris from 44-87774 was discovered scattered along the flight path, suggesting that the impact likely incapacitated the crew members located in the forward portion of the aircraft.
Both aircraft subsequently crashed. There were no survivors, as all personnel on board both planes were killed in the accident. The total number of fatalities reached 15 individuals across both crews.
Findings
Official investigations into the mid-air collision concluded that the specific reason for the impact between the two aircraft could not be determined.