THIS LISTING HAS NEVER RUN IN THE BANGOR DAILY NEWS. It was downloaded from the website, http://www.mewreckchasers.com, maintained by Pete Noddin and is for reference only – Charlie Campo, BDN librarian.

STATE OF MAINE MILITARY AIRCRAFT CRASH LIST

1919 – 1989

The list linked below is a chronological list of all military aircraft accidents known to have occurred in Maine, from my personal database. The list includes only incidents that can be confirmed by reliable sources. Numerous “crash rumors” that I have in my research lists are excluded. I have also excluded all forced/emergency landings where there was no damage to the aircraft or injuries/fatalities. Several ground mishaps have been included because they resulted in destruction of an aircraft or injuries/fatalities and represent the history of, and hazards faced by those who maintain and handle aircraft on the ground.

There are many “unknowns” that still exist and those will be slowly filled in over time.

CREDITS and SOURCES

The list is based on my own research of local newspapers, military accident reports, and military unit histories, combined with the parallel, but separate efforts of the late Jim Chichetto. Jim and I have both relied on information and clues from numerous other researchers and historians over the years:

The late Leo Boyle “grandfather of Maine aviation history”- especially his research on early aviation in Maine and pre-WWII crashes.

Larry Webster, the “guru” of New England aviation archaeology, who worked extensively to catalogue his and Jim Chichetto’s information and has added extensive information about U.S. Navy and Royal Navy incidents over the years.

John James, Public Relations Officer at Brunswick Naval Air Station, who provided lists of known Royal Navy incidents.

Chris Charland, numerous RCAF/RAF incidents forwarded to me from his research.

Jim Cougle, who provided information on RAF/RCAF, and RCN incidents in Maine.

Brian Linder, for numerous leads.

Rob Rohr, who has done research on USN and Royal Navy mishaps.

Craig Fuller and his AAIR web site, which contains a list of many pre-1955 USAAF/USAFincidents gleaned from military crash reports.

Joe Baugher’s web page, which contains lists of military aircraft serial numbers and aircraft disposition.

Nevins A. Frankel who’s VP Navy web site contains a list and some details of U.S. Navy patrol squadron mishaps.

Bill Walker, and his web site listing Canadian military aircraft serial numbers and histories.

The U.S. Air Force Historical Research Agency, and the U.S. Air Force Safety Center.

Local Newspaper Archives: Bangor Daily News, Bangor Daily Commerical, Portland Press Herald, Houlton Pioneer Times, Presque Isle Star Herald, Millinocket Journal, Thunderjet/Tanker Times/Downeaster (Dow AFB), Limelite (Loring AFB), Rumford Falls Times, Lewiston Sun Journal, Calais Advertiser.

USAF Rescue Coordination Center wreckage locator lists from 1963 to present.

NOTES TO THE LIST

DATE- Some incidents are listed by other researchers as happening on different dates. I have verified the date from military records for most incidents.

TOWN- This is the location of the actual accident, not necessarily the impact point of the wreckage.

LOCATION- A brief description only.

TYPE- The designation given to the aircraft model by the military organization using it. Note that the USAF changed the older USAAF designation of P for “pursuit” to F for “fighter” in 1947, thus P-47N and F-47N are the same type aircraft.

SERIAL/Bu No.- The USAAF/USAF serial number or USN bureau number. Tail numbers have been used for some British Commonwealth aircraft.

SERVICE- USAAS = U. S. Army Air Service, became the U.S. Army Air Corps in 1926

USAAC= U.S. Army Air Corps, became the U.S. Army Air Forces in 1941

USAAF= U.S. Army Air Forces, became the U.S. Air Force in 1947

USAF= U.S. Air Force

CAP= Civil Air Patrol

USN= U.S. Navy

RAF= Royal Air Force

RCAF= Royal Canadian Air Force

RN= Royal Navy (Fleet Air Arm)

RCN= Royal Canadian Navy

MEANG= Maine Air National Guard

NHANG= New Hampshire Air National Guard

MAANG= Massachusets Air National Guard

NDANG= North Dakota Air National Guard

VTANG= Vermont Air National Guard

ME ArNG= Maine Army National Guard

Base/Unit- That the aircraft was assigned to at the time of the crash. NOTE: The method of assigning transient aircraft to Europe during WW II changed several times throughout the war.

Bangor Army Air Field became Dow Army Air Field in 1942, Dow Air Force Base in 1947

and Bangor International Airport in 1969.

Limestone Air Force Base became Loring Air Force Base in 1954.

NAF= Naval Air Field, later NAS for Naval Air Station

NAAF= Naval Auxillary Air Field

Damage- Each service had its own number or letter system for assessing damage after an accident and these changed over the years. For simplicity, I have used a single word to summarize damage. I have the “Catagory” information on mst mishaps if your research requires it.

Minor- Damage repairable by unit and returned to service

Moderate- Damage repaired by unit or contractor, aircraft out of service but later flew

Serious- Usually transported by ground to manufacturer for repair

Destroyed- Damaged beyond economical repair and “written off” or “struck”

Missing- Wreckage not located

THE LIST

DATE TOWN LOCATION TYPE SER/BUR# SERVICE BASE UNIT CREW/INJURIES DESCRIPTION DAMAGE

5/8/1919 Scarborough Larrabee Farm SE A Unknown USAAS Unknown Unknown Maj Gerald Maxwell/NoneNosed over on landing Serious

5/8/1919 Scarborough Larrabee Farm Curtis RB Unknown USAAS Unknown Unknown Lt George McDonald/None, Sgt C Hooper/None Crashed on take off Serious

5/23/1919 S. Portland Evans St. Airfield Curtis RB Unknown USAAS Mineola NY Unknown Maj. Adalai Gilkeson/Minor, Plt. H.M. McGraw/Minor Ground looped on takeoff run Serious

9/22/1922 Veazie Mrs. A. Lundy’s Field DH-4 Unknown USAAS Mitchel Fld. NY Unknown Lt. F.B. Valentine/None, Lt. C. Litners/None Missed Godfrey Field, lost, ground looped during forced landing Serious

7/25/1924 Pond Island East end Balloon Unknown USN Lakehurst NAS NJ Unknown Unknown- reported as drifted away unmanned Crashed into trees Serious

6/28/1925 Richmond Mabel McRae Farm UnknownUnknown USAAS Unknown Unknown Lt. John Doolittle/None, Gerard Winston, US Treasury/Minor Forced landing in fog Minor

7/19/1928 Scarborough Portland Airport DH-4 Unknown USAAS Unknown Unknown Lt. George Lusk/None, Mechanic William Russell/None Ground loop due to blown tire on landing Moderate

8/23/1929 Rockland In harbor DH Moth Unknown USAAS Unknown Unknown Lt. William Blaufuss/Minor, Mechanic William Davis/None Rudder post failed, spun in Serious

8/10/1934 Rockport USS Salt Lake City O2U-3 Unknown USN USS Salt Lk Cty VS-9S ACMM W.A. Dieter/None, AMM3C J.B. Elliott/None Swung into side of ship during recovery after landing Moderate

X/X/1938 Greenville Near Mud Pond/Morkill Unknown UnknownRAF Unknown Unknown Unknown Unknown- on older Scott AFB list, wreck site confirmed by witness Destroyed

7/19/1941 South Poland Summit Spng Golf Cse B-18 UnknownUSAAC Manchester AAF NH45th BG 1Lt. Harry Lerber/None Lost, forced landing Minor

8/30/1941 Portland At airport O-52 40-2705 USAAC Ft. Devens MA UnknownSteven Wilkerson/Unknown Crashed after mid-air collision Serious

10/24/1941 Bar Harbor Kebo Valley C C Anson 1 6715 RCAF Unknown Unknown 3/Minor Lost, fual exhaustion, belly landed on golf course Moderate

10/24/1941 Greenville Seaplane Base Stranraer Unknown RAF Dartmouth NS 5 Sqdn FL. J.H. Beasley/None, PO C.O. Fiddler/None, + 4/None Forced landing 10/23 due to elevator lever failure/damaged on takeoff run Serious

10/26/1941 Bangor Bangor AAF RB-18A 37-612 USAAC Bangor AAF 64th BS Lt. Wyman Thompson +3/None Undershot landing, ground loop Minor

11/15/1941 Springfield Near 1000 Acre Bog B-18A 37-521 USAAC Bangor AAF 20th BS 2 Lt Peyton Beckham/Killed, Lt Wyman Thompson/Killed, Cpl Jacob Parson/Killed, Pfc Lee Rothermel/Killed Missed Bangor AAF, lost, fuel exhaustion. attempted forced landing Destroyed

12/19/1941 Bangor Bangor AAF B-17A 37-369 USAAC Bangor AAF 13th BS Carl Goldenberg/Minor + 8 Minor Engine failure on take-off, crashed and burned Destroyed

12/30/1941 Bangor Bangor AAF RA-29 41-23302 USAAC Bangor AAF 64th BS James Hayes/Minor, 1Lt Jonathon Knox/None + 4/Minor Ground loop during take-off, crashed and burned Destroyed

1/16/1942 Presque Isle Presque Isle AAF Anson Mk 1 6272 RCAF Charlottetown PEI No.2 Nav Sgt. F. Rideout/None, +3/None Hard landing, gear collapsed Moderate

2/23/1942 Atlantic Ocean Near USS Wasp F4F-4 UnknownUSN USS Wasp VF-71 Lt Frank Case/Killed Ditched in water after engine failure Missing

2/24/1942 Presque Isle Presque Isle AAF Hudson III BW444 RCAF RCAF Debert NS 31 OTU FL A.B.J. Pearson/None, S. Hamilton/Minor +4/None Left engine failed on approach, stalled and crashed short Serious

3/22/1942 Prentiss Off Tarr Ridge Rd Harvard3345 RCAF RCAF Montreal PQ No 3 TC F/O Stewart Armour/Killed, LAC F.B. Farrell/ None Lost in snowstorm enroute to Moncton NB, crew bailed out when fuel exhausted Destroyed

4/29/1942 Bangor Dow AAF A-29 41-23408 USAAF Dow AAF Unknown Malcolm Heber/Unknown Unknown Destroyed

5/24/1942 Howe Brook 1 mi NE C-40D