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Harvard, NE Three Bomber Collision, Aug 1943

Posted November 18th, 2009 by Stu Beitler

14 DIE WHEN 3 PLANES COLLIDE.

TO BURN AFTER FALLING ON FARMS IN NEBRASKA.

Harvard, Nebr., (AP) -- The collision and crash of 2 4-engine bombers during a routine training flight late Saturday night killed 14 men, base officials announced Sunday night.
A formation of eight B-17 bombers were coming into Harvard Army Air Field in a simultation of a peel-off out of formation for landing. One of the B-17's went upwards into the path of another. The wing of the higher plane cut the fuselage of the plane coming upward in half. Another B-17 flew into the wreckage, but was able to land in an open field. One of the crew was killed after parachuting out of the third plane.
Both burned after falling on farms about 1/2 mile apart several several miles north of here. One bomber crashed on the Albert Bishoss farm, resting in a gully, while the other plane fell into a corn field on the Blanche Hartman place.
Army authorities placed a guard around the wreckage areas and conducted an investigation.
No Iowans were among the victims.

Mason City Globe Gazette Iowa 1943-08-30

First B-17 Killed:
Second Lt. ROBERT R. TWITCHELL, pilot, Seattle, Wash.
Second Lt. ROY H. NUNN, JR., copilot, Houston Tex.
Sgt. EDWARD M. KULISEK, engineer, Canfield, Ohio.
Sgt. WILBERT MILLER, radioman, Ashley, N.D.
Cpl. SAMUEL J. LANDRY, assistant radioman, Houma, La.
Sgt. CHARLES F. BIONDOLILLO, tail gunner, Chicago, Ill.

Second B-17 Killed:
First Lt. JOHN E. GIMPERLING, pilot, Dayton, Ohio.
Second Lt. PETER HIRT, JR., copilot, Glendive, Mont.
Second Lt. LAVERE W. CLEGG, student pilot, Springville, Utah.
Sgt. HAROLD LOVEJOY, radioman, Hubball, W. Va.
Sgt. CHARLES D. OTTINGER, engineer, Knoxville, Tenn.
Sgt. RICHARD C. BUSH, gunner, Wysox, Penn.
Sgt. RICHARD E. BURCHELL, gunner, Berkeley, Calif.

Third B-17 Killed:
Second Lt. CARL W. HANSEN, copilot, Badera, Calif.
Survivors:
First Lt. DAVID ROWLAND, pilot, unknown.
Second Lt. HAYDEN T. HUGHES, student pilot, Washington, Iowa.
Sgt. EARL S. LYNES, engineer, Holyoke, Mass.

__________________

Researched and Transcribed by Stu Beitler. Thank you, Stu!

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