At 0930 on 15 June 1944, Jim "De" DeLaHunt's (my uncle) B-29 (877th Bomb Sq) crashed in Valley Center, KS, about 15 miles NW of Wichita.  It missed the farmhouse of C.C. Cotton by 200 yards, spread debris about 1/4 mile around.  One body was found a half-mile from the site.  The explosion could be heard 2 miles away.
 
Survivors report that the forward crew stayed with the plane to keep it steady for the aft crew, who baled out; all but one survived.  Witnesses reported that the two inboard engines were on fire.
 
My grandmother was very persistent in getting information from Maj Northrop.  He wrote on 1 July 44 with the names of other fliers lost in the crash:
 
Capt. Armstrong, Pilot
Lt. VIncent Peddle, Bombardier
Lt. Thomas Baldwin, Flight Engineer
Lt. William Crummett, Co-Pilot
Lt. Frederick McLean, 877th Bomb Sq Intelligence Officer
 
Jim was the navigator.
 
Naturally, this loss devasted his parents and really changed the way my dad (who had not yet deployed overseas, but would be in the Bulge 6 months later) viewed the war.  Since my dad died in 1982, all I have left to reconstruct the incident are letters, the written history and any personal reflections that may arise.
 
I'd be very grateful for any information relating to:
 
- Jim "De" DeLaHunt or any of the other crew
- This or any other training loss
- B-29 engine trouble
- Ratios of training to combat losses for B-29 groups
- Why the intel officer would be on a flight
- References to books or articles about life at Smoky Hill AAF, the 877th or the 499th, etc
 
Thanks in advance for any help anyone can provide.
 
John

Nephew of

Roland James DeLaHunt, Navigator
877th bomb sqdn
499th bomb group
73rd bomb wing
21st bomb cmd

Died 6/15/44

John - you can get a copy of the Accident Report. Go to Research tips , homepage this site.
Also , Anthony Mireles just published a book on WW II accidents in U.S. Click on members - send him a message - he will respond.
The accident rate was high - most common problem was Engine Fires.
Mike

For what it is worth, V J Peddle graduated from bombardier school Big Springs, TX, class 43-10.
 
Dave

Link to: Bombardiers of WWII Website

New email address as of Feb 2006: hfhmsite@comcast.net