Warbird Information Exchange

Interesting piece of information found out today.. Always knew I had a cousin on Mom's side who died in a USAF plane crash in the '50s. Always thought it was a B-29 or something. Found out today it was an RB-36H. Crashed into a ridge in Newfoundland after getting off course. Mom's cousin Capt. Harold G. Smith was one of the 23 souls lost.


Anyone know more about it, other than Brig. General Ellsworth was onboard? We think our cousin was the Navigator, which doesn't bode well considering the crash may or may not have been the Nav's fault.

There are lots of crash site photos out there, but not much else..

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Kevin Kearney
Vice President
Berlin Airlift Historical Foundation


C-54D "Spirit of Freedom" 43-17228
C-97 "Angel of Deliverance" 52-2718 (painted as YC-97A 45-59595)
C-54E/R5D-4 "Spirit of Freedom" 44-9144 BuNo 90414 (wfu April/2020)
http://www.spiritoffreedom.org

Well, not much...but Ellsworth AFB, South Dakota, is named after the General as a result.

Did my Field Training there back in the early 2000s.



-Brandon

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ATC: "Oscar 2, cleared to engage wildlife at your discretion..."

There is some info. here:

http://www.air-and-space.com/b-36%20wrecks.htm#51-13721

As I recall there is more information in the excellent Schiffer B-36 book by Meyers K. Jacobsen. I could look it up if you like, just shoot me a PM.

-Derek

The aircraft lost on the 18th of March 1953 was RB-36H 51-13721 with 718SRS. It crashed 1.5 miles SE of Nut Cove Newfoundland.

With the serial number and the date, you should be able to order the accident report from the USAFHRA at Maxwell AFB