Staff Sergeant Lawrence was a gunner aboard U.S. Air Force B-29-50-MO Superfortress #44-86364. While on a "round robin" training flight from Spokane Air Force Base, with a mock bombing target to Stockton, California, then onward to Ogden, Utah, then a return home, tragedy struck at 23:45 hours on the night of November 16th, 1949. Two in the group of thirteen Superfortresses collided at 26,000 feet above Stockton and plunged to earth in flaming wreckage. Only one airman, PFC Keith Burns, age 19, aboard ship #364 survived by bailing out in time and parachuted safely to ground. S/Sgt. Lawrence and eight other fliers perished when the aircraft impacted McDonald Island in the San Joaquin Delta, 9 miles to the northwest. Two crewmembers parachuted to safety from the other B-29 (#44-69939) but nine were killed when it impacted in 6-10 feet of mud on Rindge Tract, about 2 miles further north of this crashsite.
contributor Tim Cook # 46481904
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contributor Tim Cook # 46481904
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Staff Sergeant Lawrence was a gunner aboard U.S. Air Force B-29-50-MO Superfortress #44-86364. While on a "round robin" training flight from Spokane Air Force Base, with a mock bombing target to Stockton, California, then onward to Ogden, Utah, then a return home, tragedy struck at 23:45 hours on the night of November 16th, 1949. Two in the group of thirteen Superfortresses collided at 26,000 feet above Stockton and plunged to earth in flaming wreckage. Only one airman, PFC Keith Burns, age 19, aboard ship #364 survived by bailing out in time and parachuted safely to ground. S/Sgt. Lawrence and eight other fliers perished when the aircraft impacted McDonald Island in the San Joaquin Delta, 9 miles to the northwest. Two crewmembers parachuted to safety from the other B-29 (#44-69939) but nine were killed when it impacted in 6-10 feet of mud on Rindge Tract, about 2 miles further north of this crashsite.
contributor Tim Cook # 46481904
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contributor Tim Cook # 46481904
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