B-29 fatal training accidents

Hello,

I am researching fatal B-29 accidents in CONUS during WWII. I am hoping to shed some light on a family mystery about my grandfather (2 LT. William Czygan) crash landing one during his transitional training where apparently fatalities resulted.  I have contacted the AHRA and AFHSO and they basically told me to buy a 3-volume book that sells used for around $200.

As I hardly have that kind of cash to spend on something that may or may not help, I was wondering if any of you would happen to know of an alternate source where I can find crew listings and statistics for B-29 accidents. I checked accidentreport.com, but to no avail. There were about 66 fatal B-29 crashes stateside during WWII.

My grandfather's war records were lost in a fire at the NPRC building in St. Louis, so I have very scant information on his service. He was attached to the 2132nd BU at Maxwell AAF for a 5 week course on the B-29, but I have little other info beyond that.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.
--Marc

Marc,
 
There were several B-29's that were involved in mis-haps at McDill Field, FL in the early months of 1945 which resulted in fatalities. I was stationed at nearby Drew Field and participated in two or three over water search missions for lost aircraft.
 
Hal  
 
 

ORIGINAL: plasticshapes

Hello,

I am researching fatal B-29 accidents in CONUS during WWII. I am hoping to shed some light on a family mystery about my grandfather (2 LT. William Czygan) crash landing one during his transitional training where apparently fatalities resulted.  I have contacted the AHRA and AFHSO and they basically told me to buy a 3-volume book that sells used for around $200.

As I hardly have that kind of cash to spend on something that may or may not help, I was wondering if any of you would happen to know of an alternate source where I can find crew listings and statistics for B-29 accidents. I checked accidentreport.com, but to no avail. There were about 66 fatal B-29 crashes stateside during WWII.

My grandfather's war records were lost in a fire at the NPRC building in St. Louis, so I have very scant information on his service. He was attached to the 2132nd BU at Maxwell AAF for a 5 week course on the B-29, but I have little other info beyond that.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.
--Marc

Marc,

What day was your grandfather's accident? 

I can't find your grandfather's name in my data base concerning fatal B-29 accidents.  Did he die in the accident?  What date did it occur?  I will look on the aircraft accident report microfilm and try to help you with the details if I can.  My research indicates 67 fatal B-29 accidents in the states during the war.  Incidentally, I am the author of the three volume set that you were referred to. 

TonyM.
 
 
Anthony J. Mireles
Author
FATAL ARMY AIR FORCES AVIATION ACCIDENTS
IN THE UNITED STATES 1941-1945
 
 
 

ORIGINAL: Hal Bolce

Marc,

There were several B-29's that were involved in mis-haps at McDill Field, FL in the early months of 1945 which resulted in fatalities. I was stationed at nearby Drew Field and participated in two or three over water search missions for lost aircraft.

Hal  

Mr. Bolce,

Were there any fatal crash-landings that you can recall, involving B-29s at McDill?

Marc

My grandparents met as a result of a B-29 crash at MacDill in June of 1945. (With thanks to my Great Aunt Judy, Mr. Tony Mireles and Mr. Bob Widner for details.) I ordered the crash report and the crew involved are listed as:

Weaver, Peter G.
Adams, Chambers D.
Gill, Alvin J.
Sleitweiler, Joseph E.
Steiger, Frank L.
Will, Theodore S. Jr.
Bridgewater, Arnold A.
Johnson, Ralph S.
Weet, Royce F.
Miller, Glenn E.
Hunnicutt, John W.
McLemore, John L.
Crawford, Jack E.
Carter, John R.

I'm sorry that the partial record I've on my computer (p. 1 of the report - attached) is all I've on hand at present, so I cannot indicate which of the men perished in the crash (not all did).

Posted in separate thread re: Red Cross

How grandparents met:

You said you did not know how your grandparents met. This is what I recall of that tale. Let time take you back to a base in Florida during the war .  It was the end of the week, Friday, and the end of the day. All the secretarial and other ancillary service girls of the (WAC'S) Woman's Air Corp., had hurried back to the barracks, changed, then caught a bus to town to begin their weekend night off. Pat chose not to go with the crowd, instead enjoying some time to herself.

The weather was cloudy and blustery making lighting for reading difficult.  The phone rang. It was an officer from the base Hdqrs. Could the girls return to headquarters, there was an emergency?  Pat was the only one left in the barracks. Of course she responded, and raced back to work to help.  The officer in charge, your grandfather, briefed her  It seems one of a fleet of B-29's had just crashed into a sandbar off the coast. The wives of the many crews had heard the news and deluged the Hdqrs. with frantic calls. Pat jumped in to take the calls. As the hours passed, the two remaining stalwart staff stayed at their posts and a friendship blossomed. Eventually, they learned which plane went down and the names of the missing. Pat called the Red Cross for assistance and got nothing. The next day, the bodies were brought to a makeshift morgue to be identified. Again, the Red Cross refused to help.  Their staff was away for the weekend. Pat and a chaplain had to do it, collecting dog tags and such.  From that particular incident a lovely relationship bloomed between a 5ft 1in WAC named Patricia and a 6ft 4in officer named Bill. Hence, through that union came your family as Pat married her commanding officer!  It was also the reason Pat never forgave the Red Cross for their absolute refusal to help in a real emergency.

Re: Crash details in response to post:

The B-29 accident she refers to might have been the crash in Anthony Mireles' book, "Fatal Army Air Forces Aviation Accidents in the United States, 1941-1945", volume 3, page 1116. A B-29 from MacDill AAB (across the bay from me) crashed in Tampa Bay on June 9, 1945, a stormy Friday night at about 1800. Three of the crew were killed, the rest seriously injured. The pilot's last transmission was; "I can't see a damn thing."

- Scotty Ann
Granddaughter of WWII and Berlin Airlift pilot William J. Quinlivan

Anthony,
  Thank you so much for your help. I am William Czygan IV, William Czygan's son and Marc Matthews uncle. I don't know if any of my father's crashes were fatal. He was a second lieutenant and not an aircraft commander in the B-29. I know that after his overseas service and experience with the B-29 he may have lost his nerve and his mother was instrumental in getting him a family hardship discharge. Are there any databases that list non-fatal crashes? He may have had some connection with a B-29 named Round Robin Rosie.

Bill Czygan

Weave, 
I've just PM'd you the image. The report itself is too large to email, nor did it scan well. But I do have a copy of the complete accident report and I'd be glad to make a copy for you as well and snail mail it. Reply to the PM with your address.

s2k

Gentlemen,
I too am researching my father who survived a B-29 fatal crash.  I do not have many details. 
I believe he crashed in Tinkler Field, Oaklahoma during training.  He is one of three survivors of a crew of 13.  I feel his accident happened around the early part of 1944 as he had spent much time recovering at "Borden General Hospital" in Chickasha, Oaklahoma. I have his Mess Hall ticket from there. He was in Ward B12 and ate at Mess Hall C-17.
His name is Warren C. Townsend from Lincolnville, Maine.  He had a possible crewmate of the name of Frank S. Hanson  (Sieral #: 38357421 ??)
My fathers serial  service number was: 31 216 752
His was honorably discharged at AAB Kelly Field, Texas  23 Oct. 1944
pvt, 4121st  AAFBU given at Borden General Hostpital in Chickasha, Oaklahoma.
He had served as an NCO Cpl, SO#11, 539 Serv Sq, 20 August 1943.
He was a Surgical Technician from his discharge Enlisted Record.
He was inducted 17 November 1942 at Portland, Maine.
His mustering out officer was: Arthur I Kolgaklis 1st Lt. FD Agent
He was honorably discharged by reason of: CD Section II AR 615-360.
He completed 1 year 11 months and 7 days of active duty.
All his VA records were destroyed by fire according to the VA in Wash. D.C.  So I basicly have nothing but this information to go on.  I would like to know the name of his B-29 if possible and the names of his crew-mates on that fateful crash.  Or any infomation at all regarding him.  He also had previous B24 and B17 flight training according to him.  He passed away in March 2001.  I appreciate any and all information. 
David Townsend

Hello Hal,
Thank you for your reply.
I feel that Frank S. Hanson "was" one of his crewmates on that fateful flight.  I know of no other names.  Frank Hanson's name and serial number are written on the back of the Mess Hall Ticket I mentioned above.  It is pure speculation on my part.  I get the impression that he was a major infulence on my father at 'that time' and was one of his crewmates.  I really don't know.  I have no other information regarding this fatal crash other than what my father has told me.  1.  Of a crew of 13 "only 3 survived."  My father was one of the three.  Whether Frank S. Hanson was one of the other two, I have no idea or as to whether he was one of those who had died and had been a close crewmate with my father on other 'previous' training missions from other Kansas airbases for training on the B17 and B24 and both of them ended up together again on this fatal B29 crash ?
 
Like Marc above, neither can I afford this book.  I did look at AviationArchaeology and found 'other Townsend's listed as crewmen who had crashed, but not my father's name. 
I'd like to gather as much info on my father as I can.  I am 'shortly' sending "all his WWII uniforms, medical surgical equipment and other peraphonailia to
http://prattveteransmemorial.org/eng/About/Current-Projects/Bombers-On-The-Prairie-Museum-Project
care of Phillip Shulz who runs this B-29 museum there in Kansas.  I want it not only to be a 'small tribute to my father' but to "all B-29 airmen" who served and trained and died, so that their memories and their sacrifices to our Nation will always be there for 'future generations' to view and understand.
I have one or two photos of a bomber and airbase in what appears to be Kansas that he had some 'tie' to.  All his war photos and letters to my mother (whom he married during his time in Oaklahoma), his dog-tags, medical training manual for flight school etc.  all are going to this 'well-worth-while' museum there in Pratt, Kansas. 
Any and all information anyone may have is most sincerely appreciated. It would 'tie-up' loose ends for me if I had more information on my father's crash.  I know he was totally 'spooked' after coming out of that alive.  Anyone would be I think.
 
From Mr. Shultz,
"

David,  Our museum would be very interested in having your material for our B-29 museum. It will be an honor to display your Father's material. We have been chosen as the museum to hold and display the 29th Bomb Groups archives because we agreed to display their archives and not store them away in some warehouse. Our museum group has been given the Parachute Building on the Pratt Army Airfield for our Museum by the Pratt Airport Authority. A building we feel will depict the atmosphere of WW2 and enable us to honor those veterans who were a part of the mighty B-29 program. We worked with the Kansas Historical Society in Topeka to get the Parachute Building listed on the Kansas and National Listings of Historical Sites. My telephone number is 620-282-1123.  Thank you very much for considering our museum.
Best regards,  Phillip Schulz