Warbird Information Exchange

B-25D 41-29828

I'm planning on visiting this wreck site here soon as things start to warm up. I was wondering if anyone here has visited it yet and could tell what to look out for as far as hiking there and locating the wreck?






Report:

R E S T R I C T E D

WAR DEPARTMENT
U.S. ARMY AIR FORCES
REPORT OF AIRCRAFT ACCIDENT
Accident Number: 43-2-2-6
Place:
Date: February 2, 1943
Time: 21:20 EMT
Aircraft: Type and model: B-25D
A.F. Number: 41-29828
Station: C.A.A.B., South Carolina
Organization: Command and Air Force: 3rd Bom. Com. SAF.
Group: 309th B. G.
Squadron: 376th Bombardment Sqdn. (M)
Personnel: Note: the following fields are the same for each crew member:
Branch: AC, Air Force or command: 3rd A.F. Result to Personnel: Fatal
Used Parachute: None Personnel Class: 2c-1 (for all but the Corporal, his is 1e-1)
Crew members Name:
Pilot: Pitts, Paul M. Serial No. 0-730956 Rank 2nd. Lt.
Co Pilot: McClure, Wm. C. Serial No. 0-794556 Rank 2nd. Lt.
Bombardier: Beninga, George R. Serial No. 0-733132 Rank 2nd. Lt.
Navigator: Blackwell, Hilary S. Serial No. 0-669000 Rank 2nd. Lt
Engineer: Biscan, Peter J. Serial No. 20607466 Rank Cpl.
Pilot Charged with accident: Pitts, Paul M., 0-730956, 2nd. Lt., 2c-1, A.C.
Assigned: 3rd Bom Com., 3rd A.F., 309th B.G., 376 th Bomb. Sqdn. (M), C.A.A.B., S.C.
Original Rating: Pilot, 9/29/42 Present Rating: Pilot 9/29/42
Instrument rating: January 15, 1943
First Pilot Hours: (at the time of this accident):
This type: B-25, 112.5
This Model: B-25D, 44.50
Last 90 days: 112.50
Total: 112.50
Instrument Time last 6 months: 18.5
Instrument time last 30 days: 7.5
Night time last 6 months: 48.05
Night time last 30 days: 21.45
Damage: Aircraft: 5, Engines: 5, Propellers: 5
List of damaged parts: Complete Wreck
Weather at the time of accident: CAVU (Ceiling and Visibility Unlimited)
Was the pilot flying on instruments at the time of accident: Unknown
Cleared from: C.A.A.B, Kind of clearance: CFR 3000'
Pilot's Mission: Night Navigation WLC-FL-RA-LB-GW-WLC
Nature of accident: Crashed into side of mountain
Cause of accident: Unknown
Description of Accident: Brief narrative of accident. Include statement of responsibility and recommendations for action to prevent repetition:
The aircraft passed over Bedford, Virginia at approximately 21:15 EWT traveling in northwesterly direction. Many persons in Bedford heard the plane go over and most accounts indicated that it was at an unusually low altitude, because of the loud noise. Persons out of doors at the time the ship passed over also indicated that the ship was lower than usual and was heading in the direction of the mountain. All agreed that engines were running perfectly. As nearly as it can be determined the aircraft did not circle, but did proceed on a straight course from Bedford to the point of impact with the mountain.

It struck the mountain at an estimated altitude of 3000' above sea level or 2000' above the elevation of the city of Bedford. Almost immediately following impact, the ship burst into flame, which was followed by minor explosions. Green lights were decried to have been seen adjacent to main fire. These green lights it is assumed were flares set off by the fire. Search and rescue parties quickly assembled in the city of Bedford and proceeded by cars to various points of access to the mountain. Some of the searchers reached the scene before daylight. Some became lost and did not reach scene until after daylight. The first party reached the scene about 1:00 EWT. By this time there was only a little smoldering remaining of the fire. Other parties reached there during the early morning and after daylight.

Wednesday night the bodies were removed from the mountain by a party of twenty-six (26) men, which included Major Kane and Captain Hall, under great difficulty, further impeded by a 2" snowfall Wednesday. It required from 17:00 o'clock Wednesday until 04:00 Thursday morning to accomplish the removal of bodies.

Friday morning the general distribution of the wreckage was sketched by Major Kane, who accompanied civilian guards and photographer to the scene (see-attached sketch and photo's). With the aid of daylight, it was possible to determine that the first impact was with trees, which pulled plane downward into ground at which point it probably burst and bounded up the mountain to point of rest shown in sketch and in pictures.
Date: February 10, 1943

Shay

Has no one heard of this bomber before now or is it that no one here has visited it yet?

Shay

Hey Rob

Do you know of anyone who is restoring a B-25D that could use the the Tail Section? Or maybe someone who is converting their other model to a "D"?

Shay

Shay,
If I remember right, the crash site is a protected site and the property is owned by the State (you'll have to check on this). A friend who has been there informed me of this, so be careful.

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REMEMBER THE SERGEANT PILOTS!

Forgotten Fields

I didn't mean remove it from the site illegally. I'm not in the smuggling business and probalbly wouldn't be very good at it if I were. I don't have the same gusto as Han Solo. No I figured that if one were to get permission from the USAF recovery would be possible. I would imagine the Air Force would still claim domain over the aircraft.

Shay

The wreckage is protected by the National Park Service, which has ownership of the Va Peaks of Otter. It's also thought highly of by the town of Bedford, so I doubt that any recovery efforts would have any chance of success. While in Bedford, you should stop at the D Day Memorial.

_________________
Regards,

Jase
www.b26marauder.com
"I'm having a BLAST!!" 2007 CAF Wing Staff Conference

RIP Gary Austin..always in our hearts

Remember that removal of anything from a crash site can fall under Federal law and can carry hefty penalties.

Tom P
www.wendoverairbase.com

wendovertom

Who said anything about removing anything from the wrecksite? I'm only planning on hiking to the B-25D and "Only taking pictures and leaving only foot prints". I have too much respect for those who lost their lives to become a mere petty thief.

Now on a side note. It would be nice to see the folks in the area do something with the wreck other than let it lye there for absent minded hikers to take souvenirs. I know they placed a plaque monument there. I wonder how much of the aircraft could be recovered?. It would be neat if they could gather as much of the B-25 as possible. I'm talking excavating the site and digging out the underground parts of the wreck and also sweeping the entire area with metal detectors. Then construct a steel frame that the pieces could be adjoined to recreate as much of the Mitchell as possible. Or atleast the outline. After the B-25 is put back together, as much as possible. Then it would be nice to see it mounted on a pedestal at the crash site( perhaps pointed in the direction that it was going when it crashed to symbolize continuing on it's mission). Or perhaps a circular area on the crash site could be cleared and bricked or paved in stone. Where the B-25 could rest on her landing gear. Just thought it would be a nice way to save the aircraft from scavengers and pay tribute to those men. What do you guys think?

Shay

[quote="wendovertom"]Remember that removal of anything from a crash site can fall under Federal law and can carry hefty penalties.

So does taking the tag off the bottom of a chair. Worst thing you could have done is post the picture and location on the internet. I'm sure it will be gone in a year to some scavenger!

No implication meant Shay

However, I unfortunately agree with broken wrench - I'm surprised that there is anything left at this point. There are a lot of scavengers with no respect but for the love of $$ who will strip a wreck clean. There is good reason that many "wreck archeologists" rarely revel the locations of wrecks they find.

Tom P.

Had I thought about it a little bit more at the time. I might not of posted the info, but I don't normally think of people as being mischievious and so narrow minded. Also another reason that no flags went up in my head was that all the information you can think of is posted on their website. In the future I'll tread more lightly.

Shay

I think most of us can find info on this wrack if we wanted too. I know I have come across info on this one several times looking for fun hikes.

I would not be afraid to ask about wracks like these (well know crash sites). Who better to enjoy finding them then us?

Anyone hike the B-18 in New Hampshire? That is one I’ve been interested in. Rob? That looks like there are some large pieces left.

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