Site last updated 1st February 2012
Peak District Air Accident Research

Peak District Air Accident Research

 Peak District Air Accident Research

 

Boeing B-29A 44-62276 Superfortress of the 301st Bombardment Group USAF, crashed below Beinn Tharsuinn about 2.5 miles to the west of Lochgoilhead in central Scotland on the 17th January 1949

 

Crew / Passengers Rank - If Applicable Service No. Position e.g. Pilot Status
Sheldon C. Craigmyle 1st Lieutenant AO674474 Pilot  Killed
Myrton P. Barry 1st Lieutenant AO928749 Co-pilot Killed
Richard David Klingenberg 1st Lieutenant AO38398 Navigator Killed
Robert A. Fritsche 1st Lieutenant AO698967 Bombardier Killed
Delbert E. Cole Technical Sergeant AF37472130 Passenger Killed
Wayne W. Baker Master Sergeant AF6805865 Passenger Killed
John B. Lapicca Sergeant AF32986735 Passenger Killed
Malcolm W. Bovard Staff Sergeant AF14031043 Passenger Killed
Anthony V. Chrisidis Sergeant AF37551708 Passenger Killed
Rufus W. Mangum Sergeant AF14214466 Passenger Killed
Jack L. Heacock Private 1st Class AF1931892 Passenger Killed
Henry P. Prestosh Master Sergeant AF6945007 Passenger Killed
Frank M. Dobbs Jnr Technical Sergeant AF37102187 Passenger Killed
Cecil G. Jones Sergeant AF44127969 Passenger Killed
Charles W. Ross Sergeant AF13107559 Passenger Killed
Robert J. Brown Private 1st Class AF14268717 Passenger Killed
Rufus G. Taylor Technical Sergeant AF34343029 Passenger Killed
Paul W. Knight Sergeant AF31519150 Passenger Killed
Frederick N. Cook Private 1st Class AF14061495 Passenger Killed
Bruce Joseph Krumholz Private 1st Class AF16277502 Passenger Killed

 

The aircraft was being returned from deployment to RAF Scampton in Lincolnshire to its home air station in the USA. The first leg of the flight was to Keflavik in Iceland, this was being conducted with another B-29. On approaching central Scotland the second aircraft turned back due to poor weather, while the crew of this aircraft continued on. A short while later the aircraft dived into the ground in Succoth Glen. No cause was ever determined for the accident although icing while flying in clouds was seen as a contributory factor to the probable loss of control which resulted in the aircraft diving into the ground.

 

Overview of the site

Above is an overview of the crash site with large sections of main spar in the foreground and memorial at the top end of the site.

 

Tail turret

Now lying on its side in a hollow is the battered tail turret.

 

It is only when the turret is viewed from the opposite side that the extent of the damage it suffered is apparent.

 

The aircraft's engines lie scattered about the site with varying degrees of damage, this engine is missing all of the equipment off the back.

 

This engine lies close to the tail turret and still has the propeller reduction gearbox and prop hub attached to it.

 

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