Monday, August 05, 2013

Tales from the Morgue: Seven killed in Biggs plane crash

12 DEC 1953 - Law officers' cars and those of spectators cram the entrance to Crazy Cat Canyon on the west slope of Mt. Franklin, though the site was several miles south from the scene of the B-36 crash. From the canyon a steep, twisting jeep road leads up to the KROD-TV tower atop the mountain. In the background may be seen the Rim Crest home of R.L. Zeigler.



By Trish Long / El Paso Times 

Posted:   08/04/2013 03:05:59 PM MDT

Trish,

While researching the cause of death for Lt. Benjamin C. Fricke, I stumbled across the El Paso Times website, which had a recollected history of the March 23, 1944, crash in which he died.

Benjamin is actually buried in the MRE Cemetery in Berne, Ind., where I am emailing you from. Would you have access to a news article describing the crash? I would like to put it into a notebook project remembering the individuals from Adams County, Ind., who died in World War II.

Regards,

Shana Neuenschwander

Berne Public Library

Thanks, Shana -- what a great project. The crash occurred just before midnight on the 23rd. This was the third crash of a plane from Biggs Field in a week, with a total of 26 people killed.

The crash was report on March 24, 1944:

"Seven Biggs Field fliers were killed at 10:45 o'clock last night when a B-24 Bomber crashed on Mt. Franklin.

"The crash was approximately half way up the mountain opposite Memphis street.

"When the bomber hit the mountain there was a sound like that of a great explosion far in the distance. Windows in a wide area shook and residents were awakened.

Plane burst into flames that rose as high as 100 feet, lighting Northeast El Paso brightly. People rushed outdoors. Scores of automobiles speeded to the mountain road below the plane wreckage, which was flaming over a wide area. It was easy to see that all in the plane must be dead; that there could be no escape from so great a fire.

THE DEAD:

1st Lieut. Lyle R. Jensen, whose wife is in El Paso, and whose father is A.L. Jensen, Big Springs, Neb.

2nd Lieut. Robert Spears, son of Mrs. Robert G. Spears, Indianapolis, Ind.

2nd Lieut. Donald B. Harris, son of Mrs. Lillian B. Harris, Deming.

Sgt. Richard I. Stoney, son of Henry H. Stoney, Stoneham, Mass.

Sgt. William T. Hinston, son of Henry J. Hinston, Norwood, N.C.

Sgt. John H. House, son of Mrs. Linda O. House, Black River, N.Y.

"The Fire department answered scores of calls. Fire engines rumbled to the mountain road, with sirens screaming. Army Forces appeared, including the Biggs Field crash crew and members of the Medical Corps. They found the roads blocked by civilian vehicles. Police directed traffic.

"The plane burned brightly for about 15 minutes. Then flames slowly died. Within an hour there was only a glow here and there. Then darkness hid the wreckage.

"It was a tough climb up the mountain for the Army crews. The crash occurred behind a canyon that lies back of the Austin High School 'A.'

"Identity of the fliers was not established until daylight.

"Biggs Field officials are investigating.

"The plane crashed following a takeoff from Biggs Field. Whether it failed to gain altitude, or whether it dived down for some reason after gaining enough altitude to clear the mountain. Biggs Field officials would not say. Causes of crashes are military secrets.

"No one was found who saw the plane crashing.

"'It hit and there it was, a mass of flames,' said one investigator.

"Today the mountain was marked by two black lines where the plane had burned.

"It was the third crash of a Biggs Field plane in a week. Dead in the three accidents total 26."

Trish Long is the El Paso Times' archivist and spends her time in the morgue, where the newspaper keeps its old clippings and photos. If you want to know about El Paso's history, send Trish an email at tlong@elpasotimes.com.

Story and Photo:  http://www.elpasotimes.com