B-36

Aircraft by type

Convair B-36 Peacemaker
Losses and Bail-outs
DRAFT LISTING

Date User Type Serial Unit Cause Crew Photos Seats

42-13570

26th March 1947 Convair Convair XB-36 Peacemaker
prototype 42-13570 Complete failure of its right main landing gear. Performed emergency crash landing 14 crew

The two test pilots flew the aircraft at low level in circles for almost six hours. The rest of those on board were instructed to bail-out, two per circuit, over the O. C. Whittaker ranch. Nine of the twelve were injured as a result of the high winds.


Beryl A Erickson test pilot	Gus S Green test pilot	`J.D. McEachern Flight engineer injured`	Convair flight-test crewman	Convair flight-test crewman	Convair flight-test crewman	Convair flight-test crewman

Convair flight-test crewman	Convair flight-test crewman	`Maj. Stephen P. Dillon` USAF observer	USAF observer	USAF observer	Curtiss-Wright technician	Curtiss-Wright technician

Further details appreciated

16th February 1949 USAF B-36 Peacemaker Carswell Air Force Base Struck by lightning ten miles south of Texarkana, Texas. Returned safely to Carswell

44-92033

30th March 1949 USAF Convair
B-36B Peacemaker 44-92033 3.5 miles north east of Chicope Falls, MA


James R. Cooper

44-92034

13th April 1949 USAF Convair
B-36A Peacemaker 44-92034 Carswell AFB, Texas


Russell A. Henniger

yy-aaaa

29th July 1949 USAF Convair
B-36B Peacemaker 44-92041 Carswell AFB, Texas


Raymond D. Whitfield

yy-aaaa

3rd August 1949 USAF Convair
B-36B Peacemaker 44-92075 Carswell AFB, Texas


Leighton N. Walker

yy-aaaa

6th August 1949 USAF Convair
B-36B Peacemaker 44-92050 15 miles south west of Fort Worth, Texas


Frank R. Sander

44-92005

9th August 1949 USAF Convair
B-36A Peacemaker 44-92005 Patterson Field, OH


Russell M Schleeh

44-92077

31st August 1949 USAF Convair
B-36B Peacemaker 44-92077 Forth Worth AAF, Texas


William H. Walding

44-92079

15th September 1949 USAF Convair
B-36 Peacemaker 44-92079 9th. Squadron 7th Bomb Wing
Carswell Air Force Base Crashed during training flight into Lake Worth, Texas at 100 mph. Crew of 13. * recovered


`Maj. Joseph L. Lemming, Jr. killed` (Dayton, Ohio)	Captain Harold Kernodle 30 (listed as spare pilot)	Lt. Herman S. Styles, Jr. 27 Lynch, Ky., (radio operator-Navigator-Bombardier)	M/Sgt. John Gary Stanko 31 Appollo, PA, relief engineer	T/Sgt. William G. Seymour Charleston, WV	Major Troy B. Husband pilot survived	1st Lt. Richard L. English Flight Engineer survived

?? survived	?? survived	?? survived	?? survived	?? survived	?? survived

44-92082

6th October 1949 USAF Convair
B-36B Peacemaker 44-92082 Rapid City AFB, SD


Paul F. Louch

44-92068

2nd November 1949 USAF Convair
B-36 Peacemaker 44-92068 Rapid City AFB, SD


Robert J. Wright

44-92062

23rd November 1949 USAF Convair
B-36B Peacemaker 44-92062 Rapid City AFB, SD


William R. MacDonald

??-????

Sunday 12th February 1950
also seen as Monday 13th February 1950
morning USAF Convair
B-36 Peacemaker Emergency landing at McChord Air Force Base, Washington

Is this the loss below ??

Further details appreciated

44-92075

Monday 13th / Tuesday 14th February 1950 USAF Convair
B-36 Peacemaker 44-92075 436th Bomb Squadron
7th Bomb Wing, Carswell Air Force base En route from Eielson Air Force Base, Fairbanks, Alaska. Part of first full-scale practice nuclear strike mission against the Soviet Union. Severe icing problems with engines. Crashed Princess Royal Island, into Mount Kolaget in the Coast Mountains range in an unpopulated area of British Columbia. Aircraft was carrying an atomic weapon. TNT dummy core exploded prior to crew bailing out. 16 Crew and one passenger bailed out x Conventional


Captain Harold L. Barry 29 pilot bailed out landed in a shallow pond on Ashdown Island Killed in B-36 loss Friday 27th April 1951	Captain William M. Phillips pilot bailed out missing presumed dead	Captain Theodore F. Schreier pilot bailed out missing presumed dead	First Lieutenant Raymond P. Whitfield Jr. 25 San Antonio, Texas co-pilot bailed out	Lieutenant A. Holiel Ascot bailed out missing presumed dead	Staff Sergeant Elbert W. Pollard bailed out missing presumed dead	Staff Sergeant Neil A. Straley bailed out missing presumed dead	Sergeant Vitale Trippodi Radio Operator bailed out Became inverted when attempting to release his parachute, resulting in injuries to face and shoulder and then hanging upside down from a tree near a cliff crevice for 12 hours before rescue

First Lieutenant Charles G. Pooler Beloit, Kansas 2nd Engineer bailed out broke ankle	`Lieutenant Paul E. Gerhart radar officer bailed out`	`Staff Sergeant D. Thrasher gunner` bailed out Also survived B-36 loss Friday 27th April 1951	Ford ??

yy-aaaa

NOTE

15th February 1950 B-29 loss - 8 killed, 7 rescue- on mission to find missing B-36 Bomber

44-92056

Friday 12th May 1950 USAF Convair
B-36B Peacemaker 44-92056 9th BS
7th BG Mechanical failure. Crashed 9 miles east of Salome, Arizona Crew killed x Conventional


Edwin D. Easley

44-92-88

12th August 1950 USAF Convair
B-36D Peacemaker 44-92088 3 miles south west of Corning, AR


Richard D. Smith see also 5th October 1951

44-92066

19th August 1950 USAF Convair
B-36B Peacemaker 44-92066 Carswell AFB, Texas


George E. McGraw

44-92055

4th October 1950 USAF Convair
B-36B Peacemaker 44-92055 Carswell AFB, Texas


John T. Travis

44-92035

Wednesday 22nd November 1950

USAF

Convair
B-36B Peacemaker

44-92035

26th Bomb Squadron of the 7th Bomb Wing
Carswell AFB

30-hour training mission. Crash-landed 7 miles south west of Crowley, Matagorda island gunnery range 25 miles south of Fort Worth, Texas, 20 miles south southeast of Carswell Air Force Base.

Fourteen survived. Two were killed.

Conventional


1st Lt. Oliver F. Hildebrandt Aircraft Commander	1st Lt. Walter Ross Pilot minor injuries.	Captain Wilbur Evans Co-pilot injuries sustained bailed out of airplanes twice before and crash landed several times during WW-II.	S/Sgt. Ray Earl Radar Observer tail turret minor injuries.	Captain James Yeingst radar operator parachute streamed killed	S/Sgt. Fred Boyd Gunner	Captain Samuel Earl Baker Flight engineer minor injuries.	M/Sgt. Edward Farcas second flight engineer

Captain Robert Nelson Bombardier [bailed out of airplanes on two previous occasions. He had crash landed twice and ditched once] Details needed	Captain Horace Stewart Navigator bailed out but struck the number three propeller. Killed	Cpl. Paul Myers Radio Operator minor injuries.	Robert Gianerakis Radar Mechanic	Sgt. Armando Villareal Radio Operator	S/Sgt. Andrew Byrne gunner minor injuries	Cpl. Calvin Martin Gunner injuries	S/Sgt. Ronald Williams Gunner

44-92074

6th March 1951 USAF Convair
B-36B Peacemaker 44-92074 Carswell AFB, Texas


Roy C. Crompton

49-2658

Friday 27th April 1951 USAF Convair
B-36D Peacemaker 49-2658 436th Bomb Squadron of the 7th Bomb Wing Mid-air collision with F-51 Mustang 44-84973 - flown by Lt. Fred Black, 185th Tactical Reconnaissance Squadron, approx. 50 miles northeast of Oklahoma City 10 miles south of Perkins, Oklahoma x x Conventional

1:25 and 1:30 p.m


Major Charles Crecelius Aircraft Commander	Major William J. Apgar Pilot	Captain Harold L. Barry Co-pilot Survived B-36 loss on Monday 13th / Tuesday 14th February 1950	Major Aurther Burmeister Navigator	Major Robert Renner Radar Observer	Captain William Walsh Radar Observer	Captain William Zurivitza Radar Observer	Flight Engineer Ernest Cox, Jr.

TSgt. Nathan Fetters Radio Operator	TSgt. Albert Wolf Radio Operator	TSgt. Edward Ennis Radar Mechanic	Benedict O'Conner Civilian Observer	Crew Chief MSgt. William Blair lower left gunner station bailed out	1st Lt. Elroy Melberg Flight Engineer lower left gunner's station, rear compartment bailed out	TSgt. Milton Hewitt Gunner lower right gunner's station	TSgt. Dick Thrasher Gunner upper left gunner's station bailed out He had been aboard B-36B, 44-92075 when the crew was forced to bail out over Vancouver Island on February 13, 1950. Gunner TSgt. Ellis Maxon sat across from TSgt. Thrasher in the upper right gunner's station. They climbed down the ladders to the exit hatch as the gyrations of the crippled bomber flung them about.

TSgt. Maxon bailed out

49-2660

Sunday 6th May 1951 USAF Convair
B-36D Peacemaker 49-2660 7th BW, Carswell AFB, Texas Three hour flight from Carswell. Believed sandstorm dust obscured the runway during landing approach. Crashed 6.5 miles south east of Alberqueque during landing at Kirtland AFB, New Mexico in high winds and sandstorm 23 of 25 killed x Conventional


Maj. Edward L. Warner, Jr. Buffalo, Mo aircraft commander	Capt. Grant H. Fenn Chicago pilot	Capt. Albert J. Gregg, Jr. Cosway, N.H. navigator	Capt. George W. Lee Forth Worth, Tex. radar observer	1st Lt. Mitchell J. Buckalew Forth Worth, Tex. flight engineer	Sgt. Kenneth R. Cota South Paris, Me. radio operator	S. Sgt. Arthur I. Botten Silvania, Washington senior gunner	S. Sgt. Robert A. Baker Boulder, Colo. senior gunner	1st Lt. John L. Corley Mineola, Tex. flight engineer
Passengers killed. They were service men who were to attend school at Kirtland base.

Capt. Fred M. Mitchem Charles, Mo.	S. Sgt. Thomas C. Gustavson Pitts, N.H.	Sgt. Henry C. Dox London, Ky.	S. Sgt. Estill Myrick McKennet, Ala.	Sgt. Lloyd L. Goolsby Spanish Fort, Tex.	S. Sgt. Dale F. Curtis Richmond, Ind.	Sgt. George F. Soroe, Jr. New Orleans, La.	M. Sgt. John Ritz Bryant, Tex.

T. Sgt. JOHN T. Thompson Tripp, Tex.	S. Sgt. James Margoee Lundale, W. Va.	Sgt. Charles E. Linn Fort Sell, Kan.	Sgt. Berry Hays ok, Ky.	Cpl. Wilfred S. Leclair, Jr. Exeter, N.H.	Pfc. William J. Powers Westhaven, N.Y.
*survived*

Cpl. Richard N. Fogwell Los Angeles apprentice jet engine mechanic	S. Sgt. Jack E. Erickson Mexia, Tex. senior airplane repairman.

44-92022

22nd August 1951 USAF Convair
B-36E Peacemaker 44-92022 Travis AFB, CA

see next entry


Warren K. Peck

44-92019

22nd August 1951 USAF Convair
B-36E Peacemaker 44-92019 Travis AFB, CA

see previous entry

44-92008

5th October 1951 USAF Convair
B-36D Peacemaker 44-92008 Wright-Patterson AFB, OH


Richard D. Smith see also 12th August 1950

49-2664

18th October 1951 USAF Convair
B-36D Peacemaker 49-2664 Carswell AFB, Texas Belly landed at Kirtland AFB, NM 12 crew
9 bailed out


1st Lt. Leslie W. Breckwell [also seen as M. L. Breckwell] landed aircraft	?? remained on board to help land the aircraft	?? remained on board to help land the aircraft

??-????

26th November 1951 USAF Convair
B-36 Peacemaker Carswell AFB Landing gear problems Crew ordered to bail-out


Captain Clarence F. Horton pilot see also 14th August 1953	LT. Col. Paul R. Paskvan co-pilot	1st Lt. Ernest O. Benefield Flight Engineer
pilot, copilot and engineer brought the aircraft in for a smooth landing on damaged landing gear Remained on the aircraft and successfully landed it at air base 16 bailed-out - CAN ANYONE PROVIDE NAMES or OTHER DETAILS concerning this incident.

Sgt Charles O. Kartochvill injured leg in bail-out

??-????

This loss needs confirming

6th December 1951 USAF Convair
B-36 Peacemaker Landing gear problems. Captain ordered the men to bail out because he was afraid the plane's landing gear would not hold with the electrical system inoperative Crew ordered to bail-out
12 bailed out


Captain Bowers landed aircraft
12 bailed-out - CAN ANYONE PROVIDE NAMES or OTHER DETAILS concerning this incident.

49-2695

5th January 1952 USAF Convair
B-36D Peacemaker 49-2695 Rapid City AFB, SD


Grahame Coffey

44-92063

22nd January 1952 USAF Convair
B-36D Peacemaker 44-92063 Crashed Canada


Major Wells F. "Zeke" Zerdecki

44-92042

Sunday 27th January 1952 USAF Convair
B-36D Peacemaker 44-92042 7th BW Made emergency landing at and undershot runway at RAF Boscombe Down with four engines not working x x Conventional

44-92080

Tuesday 29th January 1952 USAF Convair
B-36B Peacemaker 44-92080 Fairchild AFB Landed short of runway careering into snowbank x x Conventional

50-1067

Thursday 6th March 1952 USAF Convair
B-36F Peacemaker 50-1067 Carswell AFB, Texas Landing gear collapsed during landing. Fuel leak and fire. x x Conventional

44-92050

Tuesday 15th April 1952
early morning USAF Convair
B-36D Peacemaker 44-92050 92d Bomb Wing (H
326th Bomb Sq
Fairchild AFB
Washington Crashed during take-off due to incorrectly set trim. Fifteen of the 17 crewmembers died x Conventional

50-1066

Wednesday 28th May 1952 USAF Convair
B-36F Peacemaker 50-1066 11th BW
Carswell AFB Landing gear collapsed during landing. Aircraft was returning to base due to the a panel becoming in flight 7 killed x Conventional

44-92038

Thursday 12th June 1952 USAF Convair
B-36B Peacemaker 44-92038 Convair, SD Ground fire x x Conventional

49-2679

Monday 4th August 1952

USAF

Convair
B-36F Peacemaker

49-2679

Carswell AFB, Texas

Conventional

49-2661

Tuesday 5th August 1952 USAF Convair
B-36D Peacemaker 49-2661 Convair Caught fire when approaching Lindbergh Field causing engine failure. Crashed into ocean off Mission Beach, California off the coast of San Diego Six of the eight crew members survived. The pilot and flight engineer flew the aircraft out to sea to avoid populated area and remained at controls to allow other crew to bail-out Conventional


David H. Franks 40 civilian test pilot killed	Kenith Jackson (Jack) Rogers 34 flight engineer	Donald "Don" R. Maxion 26 second engineer	Roy Adkins 36 co-pilot	Walt "Hoofer" Hoffman 36 first engineer killed	Bill Wilson 31 radar technician	Bill "Tex" Ashmore 39 engineer	Roy Sommers 26 radioman

Dear reader,

I enjoyed reading your ejection seat site, which I found as I was
researching my late uncle's accident that occurred about a week after I was
born. Your site lists Kenneth Rogers as being killed in the accident. He
was one of the survivors of the B-36D 49-2661 incident that occurred off San
Diego, California on 5 August 1952.

In actual fact, the two crew members who did not survive the accident were:
Dave Franks, pilot, and Hoofer (Walt) Hoffman, Right Hand scanner's position
engineer.

Kenith* (Jack) Rogers did nearly drown when his flight suit leg zipper
locked and he was being pulled under the water by the hanging flight suit.
He was rescued and treated at a Navy Hospital. He finally told me about the
accident about 19 years later when I received my pilot's license and took
him for a ride in my plane.

I do appreciate that it is difficult to accurately track all accidents and I
hope my feedback on this one will help in maintaining the accuracy of your
site.

Sincerely,

Keith T. Chiles
in email 8th July 2012
entry amended and corrected 8th July 2012
*Please note spelling of name confirmed by family

http://www.cowtown.net/proweb/b36net/DonaldMaxion/index.html

44-92051

Monday 1st September 1952 USAF Convair
B-36 Peacemaker 44-92051 Carswell AFB, Texas Hit by tornado and destroyed x x Conventional

notes

FORT WORTH, Tex., Sept. 2 (UP) -- "Much of the nation's B-36 atomic bomber fleet was threatened by fire today as workmen rushed to mop up high octane gasoline that flooded Carswell Air Force Base here after a sudden 100-mile-an-hour windstorm destroyed or damaged about thirty of the huge bombers."
New York Times.

WASHINGTON, Sept. 12 -- The Air Force reported today that a Texas tornado last week had damaged 106 B-36 heavy bombers and had destroyed another at a loss of far more than $48,000,000.

51-5719

Saturday 7th February 1953 USAF Convair
B-36H Peacemaker 51-5719 Carswell Air Force Base, Texas Crashed Nethermore Woods, England having missed two approaches to RAF Fairford, Wiltshire All crew bailed out x Conventional


`Lt. Col. Herman F. Gerick 34 700 Coates aircraft commander` see also Friday 11th December 1953	Maj. Douglas P. Miner 34 navigator CONFIRM see also Friday 11th December 1953	Airman Second Class Frank Silvestri 24 gunner CONFIRM see also Friday 11th December 1953	`Capt. Newton Benham Jr 37 Dallas broken ankle`

51-5729

Thursday 12th February 1953 USAF Convair
B-36H Peacemaker 51-5729 7th Bomb Wing, Carswell AFB, Texas Returning from Arctic bombing exercise. Crashed and burned on a hill near Goose Bay, Labrador, Canada 3 crew killed
six major injuries eight slightly injured. x Conventional

Lt. Col. Clifford Schoeffler	Maj. Cephus W. Godsey first navigator seriously injured	M. Sgt. John A. Zajas first radio operator seriously injured	M. Sgt. Herman J. Schrubbe second radio operator seriously injured	M. Sgt. Robert W. Yankaskas gunner seriously injured	M. Sgt. Edward Trybon gunner seriously injured	S. Sgt. Harry E. Schweitzer in-flight maintenance mechanic seriously injured	??	??
Master Sgt. Lloyd E. Rogers 35 gunner killed	Maj. Cephus Q. Godney first navigator killed	Master Sgt. Carroll W. Butin 34 gunner believed killed found alive in wreckage	Master Sgt. Hymen Towe 26 killed	Col. George T. Chadwell Wing Commander	??	??	??

51-13719

Wednesday 18th February 1953 USAF Convair
RB-36H Peacemaker 51-13719 28th SRW
Walker AFB, NM Landing gear collapsed during landing. Fuel tank ruptured. Aircraft caught fire and burned out. x x Conventional

51-13721

Wednesday 18th March 1953
04:10 [Newfoundland time] USAF Convair
RB-36H Peacemaker 51-13721 28th Strategic Reconnaissance Wing (Heavy)
Strategic Reconnaissance Squadron
Lajes Airdrome,
the Azores Crashed crashed 1.5 miles SE of Nut Cove near Burgoynes Cove, Newfoundland, Canada All crew killed x Conventional

		photo via Bill McKern
Capt. Jacob H. Pruett Jr Charlston, West Virginia Aircraft Commander	Capt Orien F. Clark [Orion ?] Rapid City, Dakota Pilot	Brigadier General Richard Elmer Ellsworth Erie, Pennsylvania Commander	Major Frank C. Wright Eagle, Idaho Pilot	Capt Stuart G. Fauhl Bessemer, Michigan Observer / Navigator	Capt Harold G. Smith Lyndhurst, New Jersey Photo-Navigator	Capt William P. Maher Manchester, New Hampshire Observer and Radar Operator	1st Lt Edwin James Meader Delaware, Iowa Aircraft Performance Engineer
				photo via David Bransdor
1st Lt James E. Pace Tampa, Florida Aircraft Performance Engineer	Major John F. Murray Milwaukee, Wisconsin ECM	1st Lt James A. Powell Jr. Knoxville, Tennessee Electronic Counter Measures / Observer	A/2C Robert H. Nall Hattiesburg, Mississippi Observer	1st Lt Clifford Bransdor Chicago, Illinois Electronic Counter Measures / Observer	M Sgt Jack S. Winegardner San Farcisco, California Photographer	A/2C Morris H. Rogers Cleanfield, Utah Photographer	T Sgt Walter A. Plnski [Plonski ?] Scranton, Pennsylvania Radio Operator

A/1C Burse J. Vaughn Evansville, Indiana Radio Operator	S Sgt Ira V. Beard Sentinel. Oklahoma Gunner	S Sgt Robert E. Ullom Kingsville, Texas Gunner	A/2C Phillip Mancos Jr. Richmond, Virginia Gunner	A/2C Keith E. Hoppons [Hoppens ?] Harvard, Nebraska Gunner	A/1C Theodore J. Kuzik West Orange, New Jersey Gunner	T Sgt Jack H. Maltsberger Lake Stevens, Washington Crew Chief

51-5752

25th February 1953 USAF Convair
B-36H Peacemaker 51-5752 Rapid City AFB, SD


Jules M. Fantel

51-13724

6th July 1953 USAF Convair
B-36H Peacemaker 51-13724 Ellsworth AFB, SD


Herbert Trost

44-92039

8th July 1953 USAF Convair
B-36D Peacemaker 44-92039 Limestone AFB, ME


James J. Orth

52-1369

Wednesday 5th August 1953 USAF Convair
RB-36F Peacemaker 52-1369 5th SRW Crashed into Atlantic circa 450 miles from Prestwick, Ayr 19 killed
4 survived and rescued x Conventional

52-1361

14th August 1953 USAF Convair
B-36H Peacemaker 52-1361 Limestone AFB, ME 3 miles east of air base


Clarence F. Horton see also 26th November 1951

52-1389

27th August 1953 USAF Convair
B-36H Peacemaker 52-1389 Ellsworth AFB, AD


Enos L. Cleland, Jr.

49-2659

11th October 1953 USAF Convair
B-36D Peacemaker 49-2659 Limestone AFB, ME


William H. Dye

44-92071

Friday 11th December 1953
14:37 MST USAF Convair
B-36D Peacemaker 44-92071 7th Bombardment Wing
Carswell AFB Ferry flight from Carswell Air Force Base to Biggs AFB to transfer to the 95th Bomb Wing. Crashed 2.5 miles north of El Paso, Texas 9 killed x Conventional


Lt. Col. Herman F. Gerick Aircraft Commander see also Saturday 7th February 1953	Major George C. Morford Pilot	Major Douglas A. Miner Navigator see also Saturday 7th February 1953	1st Lt. Gary B. Fent Flight Engineer	M Sgt Royal Freeman Radio Operator	A/1c Edwin D. Howe Gunner	A/2c Frank Silvestri Gunner see also Saturday 7th February 1953	1st Lt James M. Harvey 492nd Bomb Squadron Staff Flight Engineer	1st Sgt Dewey Taliaferro Passenger

44-92061

29th January 1954 USAF Convair
B-36D Peacemaker 44-92061 Limestone AFB, Maine

see below


Victor L. Sandacz

44-92061

1st February 1954 USAF Convair
B-36D Peacemaker 44-92061 Limestone AFB, Maine

see above


Richard E. Frantz

44-92076

29th February 1954 USAF Convair
B-36D Peacemaker 44-92076 Eielson AFB, AK


Bobby J. Lilly

44-92069

Friday 26th February 1954
also seen as 27th USAF Convair
B-36 Peacemaker 44-92069 Fairchild AFB Landing gear collapsed during taxiing. Fuel tank ruptured. Aircraft caught fire and burned out. x x Conventional


Leo J. Moffatt

44-92032

Monday 29th March 1954
17:30 USAF Convair
B-36 Peacemaker 44-92032 325th BS
92nd BW
Fairchild AFB Crashed and burned during take-off at Fairchild Air Force Base 7 killed, 3 survive x Conventional


?? killed	?? killed	?? killed	?? killed	?? killed

?? killed	?? killed	?? survived	?? survived	?? survived

44-92030

13th April 1954 USAF Convair
B-36D Peacemaker 44-92030 Limestone AFB, Maine