We pause this month to remember
Those who gave their lives
While serving their country on
Weather Reconnaissance missions.
There have been a total of 24 accidents and incidents
that have resulted in loss of life while flying
USAF weather reconnaissance missions.
| B-29
44-62200 31 Dec 47 375th RS (VLR) Wea. Elmendorf AFB, AK
1Lt Joseph E. Finkey
1Lt William N. Green 1Lt Paul G. Jordan 2Lt Donald DeNeau MSgt James D. Matthew TSgt George W. Bessire SSgt David C. Brown Sgt Edward C. Decker Cpl Earl P. Domangue |
B-29
44-62157 * 28 Sep 48 375th RS (VLR) Wea. Shemya AFB, AK
1Lt
Otis A. Young
1Lt Jay A. Steinbrenner 1Lt John P. Trostel TSgt Harry A. Holt * "Polar Queen" |
| RB-29
44-87750 ** 3 Nov 49 373rd RS (VLR) Wea. Kindley AFB, Bermuda Maj Roy
H. Bruns
Capt Cleo S. Maddox Capt John C. Mays 1Lt James E. Shewey 1Lt Andrew J. Rooks TSgt Clarence J. Hyatt SSgt Harry N. Barker SSgt Preston S. Treadway Sgt James A. Sapp Cpl Harry N. Carden Cpl Robert D. Myrman ** "Hurricane Hattie" |
WB-29
44-61640 26 Feb 52 54th SRS (M) Wea. Andersen AFB, Guam 1Lt
Walter Krueger
2Lt Vincent P. Gendusa 2Lt Robert J. Shaw MSgt Frank P. Leach SSgt Donald E. Parker Cpl Francis X. Toland |
| WB-29
44-87756 5 Apr 52 55th SRS (M) Wea. McClellan AFB, CA Maj Bruce
Acebedo
Capt Guilford A. Hopkins Capt Robert L. Kizer Capt Leonard B. Winstead 2Lt August I. Lam MSgt Edwin M. Fultz TSgt George R. Shook SSgt Elbert E. King SSgt Hayden C. Shulz SSgt Carlton J. Fose |
WB-29
44-69770 *** 26 Oct 52 54th SRS (M) Wea. Andersen AFB, Guam Maj
Sterling L. Harrell
Capt Donald M. Baird Capt Frank J. Pollack 1Lt William D. Burchell 1Lt Clifton R. Knickmeyer MSgt Edward H. Fontaine A1C Alton B. Brewton A1C William Colgan A1C Anthony J. Fasullo A3C Rodney E. Verrill *** "Typhoon Goon II" |
| WB-29
44-62277 18 Sep 53 53rd SRS (M) Wea. Kindley AFB, Bermuda Capt Guy
M. Broughton
Capt John A. Lelland Capt William T. Allen Capt Thomas H. Smatana Capt Thomas E. Zapolsky SSgt Walter C. Drew A2C Billy G. Elliott |
WB-29
45-21872 25 Sep 53 58th SRS (M) Wea. Eielson AFB, AK Capt
Charles F. Baker
|
|
WB-50
49-315 ****
31
Aug 56
58th
WRS
Eielson
AFB, AK
Maj Dale Richardson Capt Leonard N. Chapman, Jr. Capt Everett E. Dyson 1Lt William J. Wolters, Jr. 2Lt William W. Faustlin MSgt Fred T. Gregg, Jr. TSgt Richard K. Brown SSgt Ronald R. Ragland A2C Melvin O. Lindsey A2C Elijah Spencer A3C Douglas W. Maxon **** "The Golden Heart" |
WB-50
48-098
28
Dec 56
56th
WRS
Yokota
AB, Japan
Capt Raymond Durr Capt Dewey A. Keithly Capt Leonard A. Klawa Capt Lawrence E. Monies 1Lt Waylon H. Moseley SSgt William A. Taylor A2C Gerald R. Arnn A2C John E. Hollis A2C Mose F. Thomas, Jr. |
| WB-50
48-093 17 Jan 57 58th WRS Eielson AFB, AK Capt
Robert E. Eichelberger
Capt Harold W. Bales Capt William P. Spil 1Lt Robert E. McGough 1Lt Ralph L. Sampson 2Lt Bobby H. Spencer MSgt Woodrow B. Russell A1C John W. Cramer A1C Donald D. Dodds A2C Robert C. Glenn A2C Thomas F. Patterson A3C Roger D. Sigman |
WB-50
49-295 15 Jan 58 54th WRS Andersen AFB, Guam Capt
Albert J. Lauer
Capt Marcus G. Miller Capt Clyde W. Tefertiller 1Lt Courtland Beeler III 1Lt Paul J. Buerkle, Jr. TSgt Delivan L. Gordon SSgt Kenneth L. Tetzloff SSgt Kenneth L. Houseman A1C Bernard G. Tullgren A1C Randolph C. Watts |
| WB-50
49-343 4 Feb 59 59th WRS Kindley AFB, Bermuda Capt
Robert F. Aldrich
Capt Andrew P. Stefurak Capt Robert A. Brown Capt William Potter, Jr. 1Lt Carlton S. Whitney 1Lt Frank C. King, Jr. MSgt Donald R. Fitzgerald TSgt Alfred E. Estes SSgt Jack A. Parmelee SSgt Harvey O. Ward A1C Franklin D. Radcliff A3C Scott Stephens, Jr. |
WB-50
48-122 8 Sep 60 56th WRS Yokota AB, Japan Capt
John R. Willis
1Lt Robert W. Blanton 1Lt William L. Hesse 1Lt Howard S. Kelly 2Lt Lawrence K. Draper MSgt Claude M. Burgess MSgt James W. Fields, Jr. TSgt Vernon W. Powell A1C Edward L. Armstead A3C Alfred Campbell, Jr. A3C Barney Jablonski |
| WB-57B
52-1496 17 Sep 62 57th WRS Avalon Air Field, Australia Capt Paul
H. Palmer
Capt Joseph W. Ivins |
WB-57C
53-3826 16 Oct 62 57th WRS Avalon Air Field, Australia Lt Glenn
Sprague
Lt Bobby Galbrecht |
| WB-57C
53-3837 17 Sep 63 58th WRS Kirtland AFB, NM Maj
Joseph M. Pair
Capt Carl R. Laffoon |
WB-47E
51-7049 21 Apr 64 55th WRS Eielson AFB, AK Maj
Conrad L. Lienhart
Capt Warren S. Hillis TSgt Charles F. Heckman |
| WB-57F
63-13297 7 Nov 66 58th WRS Kirtland AFB, NM Capt
Robert O. Bartlett
Capt Leo R. Otway |
WC-130E
64-0554 15 May 69 54th WRS Andersen AFB, Guam Capt
Charles D. Booker (1)
(1) Capt Booker was seriously injured in the explosion of a silver iodide ejector rack on this flight. He succumbed to his injuries in July 1969. |
|
WB-57C
53-3839
15
Apr 70
58th
WRS
Kirtland
AFB, NM
Amn Terry J. Nirolis |
WB-57F
63-13292
27 Jun 72 58th WRS Kirtland AFB, NM Lt Col James B. McCravy Capt Harold A. Moore, Jr. |
|
WB-57C
53-3832
27 Apr 73 58th WRS Kirtland AFB, NM Maj Dale M. Mann |
WC-130H
65-0965 12 Oct 74 54th WRS Andersen AFB, Guam
Capt Edward R. Bushnell
1Lt Gary W. Crass 1Lt Michael P. O'Brien 1Lt Timothy J. Hoffman TSgt Kenneth G. Suhr Sgt Detlef W. Ringler |
| Numerous
sources have been used for the above information. Foremost among
these is a memorial display located in the Heritage Hall of the Air
Force Weather Agency. AFWA is currently located in the "Martin
Bomber Building" at Offutt AFB, the same building where the
"Silverplate" B-29s of the 509th Group (including the "Enola Gay") were
built. Also built in this facility were 14 of the 105 aircraft
later designated weather B-29s. Verification of names and dates came from Air Weather Service, Our Heritage 1937-1987. Some B-29 Aircraft data, including nickname, came from The B-29 Superfortress, by Robert A. Mann, which is a comprehensive registry of the planes and their missions. Help with the WB-57 MDS information came from Maj Gen Thomas Aldrich, former AWS and 57th WRS Commander. Also referenced were various unit histories. |