John's B-26C crew was assigned to the 336th Bomb Group, 478th Bomb Squadron.
From the crash report:
"At 2335EWT a Martin B-26C crashed while attempting a landing at the Army Air Field at Avon Park Bombing Range, Avon Park, Florida killing six fliers. The airplane had taken off from Avon Park Army Air Field on a local familiarization flight. Investigators stated, "at approximately 2325...B-26C #41-34756 called Avon Park Tower for landing instructions. The tower told him he was number two in traffic to land on Runway 31 (NW). on turning on final approach, the tower told 41-34756 to go around, as he was too close to the preceding ship to land. B-26C#41-34756 went around and called again on his downwind leg and again requested landing instructions. Avon Park Tower cleared him to land on Runway 31. No other contact was made with 41-34756. A few moments after last contact a flash of light was seen three or four miles from the tower...it is believed that the crash was due to engine failure during the turn on to the approach of the traffic pattern."
crew members were:
• Flight Officer William R. Norman, pilot,
• 2 Lt. Milton Edwards, co-pilot
• S. Sgt. Clarence Hughes, engineer,
• Sgt. Richard Condit, passenger, and
• Sgt. Leroy Bording, passenger
• Sgt. John Collins was listed as the gunner.
Much of this information was graciously shared by Mike Smith. See his website: B26.com
Here is an interesting account of a surviving B-26 Marauder pilot, who served in the 336th Bomb Group at Avon Park Field.
Here is another interesting account of a surviving B-26 Marauder pilot.
Following is additional information on the early B-26 bombers as well as eyewitness information about this crash:
"This was a common mistake of a new pilot, they would stall the engines in the turn and panic before they could feather the engine back on. The B26 required a certain speed limit or it would stall. It was very easy in a turn to drop below that speed limit. ...an eyewitness letter in the report...says it was a black night and you couldn't even see the planes."
Here is some information about Avon Park Army Air Field.
From the crash report:
"At 2335EWT a Martin B-26C crashed while attempting a landing at the Army Air Field at Avon Park Bombing Range, Avon Park, Florida killing six fliers. The airplane had taken off from Avon Park Army Air Field on a local familiarization flight. Investigators stated, "at approximately 2325...B-26C #41-34756 called Avon Park Tower for landing instructions. The tower told him he was number two in traffic to land on Runway 31 (NW). on turning on final approach, the tower told 41-34756 to go around, as he was too close to the preceding ship to land. B-26C#41-34756 went around and called again on his downwind leg and again requested landing instructions. Avon Park Tower cleared him to land on Runway 31. No other contact was made with 41-34756. A few moments after last contact a flash of light was seen three or four miles from the tower...it is believed that the crash was due to engine failure during the turn on to the approach of the traffic pattern."
crew members were:
• Flight Officer William R. Norman, pilot,
• 2 Lt. Milton Edwards, co-pilot
• S. Sgt. Clarence Hughes, engineer,
• Sgt. Richard Condit, passenger, and
• Sgt. Leroy Bording, passenger
• Sgt. John Collins was listed as the gunner.
Much of this information was graciously shared by Mike Smith. See his website: B26.com
Here is an interesting account of a surviving B-26 Marauder pilot, who served in the 336th Bomb Group at Avon Park Field.
Here is another interesting account of a surviving B-26 Marauder pilot.
Following is additional information on the early B-26 bombers as well as eyewitness information about this crash:
"This was a common mistake of a new pilot, they would stall the engines in the turn and panic before they could feather the engine back on. The B26 required a certain speed limit or it would stall. It was very easy in a turn to drop below that speed limit. ...an eyewitness letter in the report...says it was a black night and you couldn't even see the planes."
Here is some information about Avon Park Army Air Field.
John's B-26C crew was assigned to the 336th Bomb Group, 478th Bomb Squadron.
From the crash report:
"At 2335EWT a Martin B-26C crashed while attempting a landing at the Army Air Field at Avon Park Bombing Range, Avon Park, Florida killing six fliers. The airplane had taken off from Avon Park Army Air Field on a local familiarization flight. Investigators stated, "at approximately 2325...B-26C #41-34756 called Avon Park Tower for landing instructions. The tower told him he was number two in traffic to land on Runway 31 (NW). on turning on final approach, the tower told 41-34756 to go around, as he was too close to the preceding ship to land. B-26C#41-34756 went around and called again on his downwind leg and again requested landing instructions. Avon Park Tower cleared him to land on Runway 31. No other contact was made with 41-34756. A few moments after last contact a flash of light was seen three or four miles from the tower...it is believed that the crash was due to engine failure during the turn on to the approach of the traffic pattern."
crew members were:
• Flight Officer William R. Norman, pilot,
• 2 Lt. Milton Edwards, co-pilot
• S. Sgt. Clarence Hughes, engineer,
• Sgt. Richard Condit, passenger, and
• Sgt. Leroy Bording, passenger
• Sgt. John Collins was listed as the gunner.
Much of this information was graciously shared by Mike Smith. See his website: B26.com
Here is an interesting account of a surviving B-26 Marauder pilot, who served in the 336th Bomb Group at Avon Park Field.
Here is another interesting account of a surviving B-26 Marauder pilot.
Following is additional information on the early B-26 bombers as well as eyewitness information about this crash:
"This was a common mistake of a new pilot, they would stall the engines in the turn and panic before they could feather the engine back on. The B26 required a certain speed limit or it would stall. It was very easy in a turn to drop below that speed limit. ...an eyewitness letter in the report...says it was a black night and you couldn't even see the planes."
Here is some information about Avon Park Army Air Field.
From the crash report:
"At 2335EWT a Martin B-26C crashed while attempting a landing at the Army Air Field at Avon Park Bombing Range, Avon Park, Florida killing six fliers. The airplane had taken off from Avon Park Army Air Field on a local familiarization flight. Investigators stated, "at approximately 2325...B-26C #41-34756 called Avon Park Tower for landing instructions. The tower told him he was number two in traffic to land on Runway 31 (NW). on turning on final approach, the tower told 41-34756 to go around, as he was too close to the preceding ship to land. B-26C#41-34756 went around and called again on his downwind leg and again requested landing instructions. Avon Park Tower cleared him to land on Runway 31. No other contact was made with 41-34756. A few moments after last contact a flash of light was seen three or four miles from the tower...it is believed that the crash was due to engine failure during the turn on to the approach of the traffic pattern."
crew members were:
• Flight Officer William R. Norman, pilot,
• 2 Lt. Milton Edwards, co-pilot
• S. Sgt. Clarence Hughes, engineer,
• Sgt. Richard Condit, passenger, and
• Sgt. Leroy Bording, passenger
• Sgt. John Collins was listed as the gunner.
Much of this information was graciously shared by Mike Smith. See his website: B26.com
Here is an interesting account of a surviving B-26 Marauder pilot, who served in the 336th Bomb Group at Avon Park Field.
Here is another interesting account of a surviving B-26 Marauder pilot.
Following is additional information on the early B-26 bombers as well as eyewitness information about this crash:
"This was a common mistake of a new pilot, they would stall the engines in the turn and panic before they could feather the engine back on. The B26 required a certain speed limit or it would stall. It was very easy in a turn to drop below that speed limit. ...an eyewitness letter in the report...says it was a black night and you couldn't even see the planes."
Here is some information about Avon Park Army Air Field.
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