B-17 crash,Cape Lookout OR,USA

[dfeller]

I do not see on the aircraft list,a B-17 that crashed on Cape Lookout,in Tillamook Co,Oregon. Any Info????? Also if there is some info on 42-5367 that reportedly crashed in SE WA on 02-11-1943 would be helpful to Me. Thanks, Duncan Feller,Seattle,WA

[aerovin2]

If you can provide some information about both crashes and be reasonably certain as to its accuracy, I will add both to the listing. I don't have anything on either crash.

There are dozens of crash sites across the U.S. that could be listed but whether anything is still present at the site is not known unless someone visits and provides good information.

Thanks much,

Scott Thompson

[Jeff Wilkinson]

B-17G 42-5367 crashed 11 February 1943; 17 miles east of WW AAF. Acft was inbound on an instrument approach when it struck a ridge. All ten crew were killed in the impact. Probable cause was the pilot's approach at below minimum altitude, and "undesirable radio range facilities" as the beam was off when the operator transmitted to other ships.

AAF Form 14 43-2-11-61

[Guest]

B-17G 42-5367 crashed 11 February 1943; 17 miles east of WW AAF. Acft was inbound on an instrument approach when it struck a ridge. All ten crew were killed in the impact. Probable cause was the pilot's approach at below minimum altitude, and "undesirable radio range facilities" as the beam was off when the operator transmitted to other ships.

Thats one way but i am not sure if it will work with every option.

[David Perkins]

I've been searching the internet off and on for several years to find anything about the crash that killed my oldest brother, SSGT Joseph F. Perkins in February 1943. He was flying waist gunner on a B-17. I was 5 years old then. He was the oldest in the family and I'm the youngest.
The story I've always heard is that the lights went out at the field and they had to go around and just barely hit the top of the ridge in the Blue Mountains. A search team was organized and went to get the bodies of all 10 crewmen. The search party had to go through heavy snow to get to the wrecksite. It took several days and I remember when the word came that they had been found my mother was (understandably) heartbroken. It was a sad time.
I hope someone finds and recovers what they can of the plane. I have always wanted to go to the crash site. So please keep me informed.
Thank you
David Perkins
Fort Worth, Texas

[av8r]

Sorry to hear your brother was one of the unfortunate airman that perished in that terrible crash. I am sure you are proud however to have a brother that served his country so well. I live about 40 miles from Walla Walla and actually visited a F-6F crash site in the Blue Mountains last week. I would be more than happy to visit the site of the B-17 crash and take some pictures and report back as to what I am able to find. Does anyone have any specific information on where the crash site is located?

[Schoolbusman]

I'm curious if anyone has any information about the cause/conditions/etc...NTSB Report (if they existed back then..haha...) about the B-17 that Crashed into Oregon's Cape Lookout?

Years ago when I was a young boy you could hike from the near by scout camp "Camp Meriweather" out to the cape and find reminants of the B-17. At one point there were pieces of fusealage and landing gear visable.

Now a days I think the only remaining wreckage is the landing gear down in a Cove along the south side of the cape. You can hike out there and see it during low tide. We used to do it a lot as scouts...it was the highlight of rock climbing on the cape.

Also I'd be interested in any other Oregon/Washington Crash sites that can be seen either by air or hiking in. Does anyone have the Long/Lat or UTM coordinates to any of the crash sites?

Best Regard,
Mike Cassidy

[richard.bessey]

Just an FYI for everyone, we have been doing some digging on this B17 on another forum:
http://www.websitetoolbox.com/tool/post ... id=1788376
Regards,
Richard Bessey

[C-47B]

There is a pretty good reference book out there concerning stateside US Army Air Forces airplane crashes during WWII.

It is:

FATAL ARMY AIR FORCES AVIATION ACCIDENTS
IN THE UNITED STATES, 1941-1945
by
Anthony J. Mireles

The book is published by
McFarland & Co. Inc. Publishers
Jefferson, NC.

The book is still in print; the work offers aircrash summaries for over 6,300 fatal AAF air crashes in the US during WWII, and the summaries are based on official AAF accident reports. The book contains detailed summaries about the crashes posted above and all other WWII AAF fatal accidents. Lists serial numbers, aircraft type, location and names of people involved for all USAAF fatal accidents during WWII. Great indexes and several useful appendix. Well worth the price.

C-47 John

[C-47B]

I'm curious if anyone has any information about the cause/conditions/etc...NTSB Report (if they existed back then..haha...) about the B-17 that Crashed into Oregon's Cape Lookout?

Best Regard,
Mike Cassidy

If you write to the Air Force Historical Research Agency at Maxwell AFB, they will send you the Cape Lookout B-17 accident report for free.

C-47 John

[Guest]

In the early 1980s we found a section of what looked like wing --- corrugated metal with a large black star -- covered under the brush. It was about 50 yards directly behind the plaque, through the scrub brush. We returned a few years later, however, and could not find it. Jim B

[Guest]

B-17G 42-5367 crashed 11 February 1943; 17 miles east of WW AAF. Acft was inbound on an instrument approach when it struck a ridge. All ten crew were killed in the impact. Probable cause was the pilot's approach at below minimum altitude, and "undesirable radio range facilities" as the beam was off when the operator transmitted to other ships.

AAF Form 14 43-2-11-61