Author Topic: B17 Crash over Kingston, AZ.  (Read 1424 times)

Offline LTARogue

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B17 Crash over Kingston, AZ.
« on: August 18, 2008, 10:37:53 AM »
Does anybody know or have the resources to find out the details of a B17/P39 training crash over Kingston, AZ. in 1944-45? The B17 navigator was my grandfather Roy Benbow and all crew members and the P39 pilot were killed. P39 was doing attack approaches on the bomber for trainig when he went through the wing causing all to spiral into the desert where even today there is still a pile of twisted wreckage. That is all I know. I guess info on the planes, crew members etc if its possible. Just throwin that out there if anybody can help. :)

LTARogue

Offline APDrone

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Re: B17 Crash over Kingston, AZ.
« Reply #1 on: August 18, 2008, 10:46:19 AM »
I found this one

http://www.aircraftarchaeology.com/P-39%20B-17%20midair.htm

doesn't sound like it's an exact match, but it might lead you to other sites with more info.

Good luck.

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Offline Guppy35

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Re: B17 Crash over Kingston, AZ.
« Reply #2 on: August 18, 2008, 11:31:36 AM »
Looks pretty close to the same.  Kingman, not Kingston.  The aviation archeology guys in Arizona are many and have most of the wreck sites covered.
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Offline John Curnutte

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Re: B17 Crash over Kingston, AZ.
« Reply #3 on: August 18, 2008, 07:17:41 PM »
Hey LTARogue I got my son who lives in Kingman and maybe he could stop by the city offices or newspaper and check it out and see whats up . I will ask him about this .     
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Offline kilz

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Re: B17 Crash over Kingston, AZ.
« Reply #4 on: August 18, 2008, 07:58:32 PM »
i bet that the airport there would have a list of all the crew members that where in those planes. might want to check there as well. also i am sure what ever was not given to family members would have gone to a museum.
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Offline Karnak

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Re: B17 Crash over Kingston, AZ.
« Reply #5 on: August 18, 2008, 09:45:29 PM »
Jeez LTARogue, trying to give me a heart attack with that title?

At least reference the year of the crash you're talking about in the title.   :P

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Offline Masherbrum

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Re: B17 Crash over Kingston, AZ.
« Reply #6 on: August 18, 2008, 09:47:47 PM »
I just joined the Yankee Air Museum and reading this subject line, almost had me in tears, as we have a flying 17G.   

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Offline LTARogue

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Re: B17 Crash over Kingston, AZ.
« Reply #7 on: August 20, 2008, 01:15:28 PM »
Oh wow sorry about that guys....my bad. And it was Kingman...not Kingston.

LTARogue

Offline SIK1

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Re: B17 Crash over Kingston, AZ.
« Reply #8 on: August 20, 2008, 01:19:13 PM »
IIRC Kingman was a training base during the war. After the war a lot of planes were sent to Kingman to be dismantled, (cut up to make beer cans).
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Offline avionix

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Re: B17 Crash over Kingston, AZ.
« Reply #9 on: August 20, 2008, 01:59:24 PM »
Rogue,

Just something I found on the air base itself.  Still looking for more.

Interesting side note.  The article mentions that the base was used as a scrap yard for B-17s and other aircraft and that they scrapped everything down by 1948 and compiled over 70 million pounds of aluminum by the time they were done.

http://www.ctaz.com/~mocohist/museum/kaaf.htm

<S>
« Last Edit: August 20, 2008, 02:04:30 PM by avionix »
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Offline avionix

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Re: B17 Crash over Kingston, AZ.
« Reply #10 on: August 20, 2008, 02:16:28 PM »
Something else I found on Geocities.  Does not mention who was involved, but on page 9 number 3 mentions a mid-air between a B-17 and P-39.  Still looking.


http://www.geocities.com/sgtroc462/1944kaaf.PDF

<S>
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Offline FlyinFin

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Re: B17 Crash over Kingston, AZ.
« Reply #11 on: August 20, 2008, 03:09:00 PM »
Rogue,

Just something I found on the air base itself.  Still looking for more.

Interesting side note.  The article mentions that the base was used as a scrap yard for B-17s and other aircraft and that they scrapped everything down by 1948 and compiled over 70 million pounds of aluminum by the time they were done.

http://www.ctaz.com/~mocohist/museum/kaaf.htm

<S>

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« Last Edit: August 20, 2008, 04:48:32 PM by FlyinFin »

Offline avionix

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Re: B17 Crash over Kingston, AZ.
« Reply #12 on: August 20, 2008, 03:35:10 PM »
Not to get off topic, but found this on Wikipedia.  Almost makes on sick to see what they were sold for.

Quote
It is estimated that approximately 10,000 warbirds were flown to Kingman in 1945 and 1946 for storage and sale. Some sources report the number to be over 11,000. It is reported that at least 100 of the 118 B-32 Heavy Bombers built were flown there, many straight from the assembly line.

Most of the transports and trainers could be used in the civilian fleet, and trainers were sold for $875 to $2,400. The fighters and bombers were of little peacetime use, although some were sold. Typical prices for surplus aircraft were:

BT-13 $450
P-38 $1,250
AT-6 $1,500
A-26 $2,000
P-51 $3,500
B-25 $8,250
B-17 $13,750
B-24 $13,750
B-32 $32,500
Many aircraft were transferred to schools for educational purposes, and to communities for memorial use for a minimal fee. A Boy Scout Troop bought a B-17 for $350

General sales were conducted from these centers; however, the idea for long term storage, considering the approximate cost of $20 per month per aircraft, was soon discarded, and in June 1946, the remaining aircraft, except those at Altus, were put up for scrap bid.

The tens of thousands of proud warbirds that had survived the enemy fighter planes and fierce anti-aircraft fire could not escape the smelters at Albuquerque, Altus, Kingman, Ontario, Walnut Ridge and Clinton.

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Offline FlyinFin

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Re: B17 Crash over Kingston, AZ.
« Reply #13 on: August 20, 2008, 03:52:13 PM »
The crash is listed at AAIR http://www.aviationarchaeology.com/src/AARmonthly/Nov1944S.htm taking place 11/03/1944 the pilot of the 17 is listed as Oliver E Wright.

You may be able to order the accident report.

Offline Have

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Re: B17 Crash over Kingston, AZ.
« Reply #14 on: August 21, 2008, 05:45:33 AM »

Pretty incredible prices there - a P38 for $1250..  Any ideas how much that would be in the today's currency?