Major Hughes was a Bombardier aboard U.S. Air Force B-29-50-MO Superfortress #44-86364. While on a "round robbin" training flight from Spokane Air Force Base, with a mock bombing target to Stockton, California, then onward to Ogden, Utah, then 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. Major Hughes 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.
The crew aboard #364:
1st Lt. George B. Grider, 26, pilot, Ames, Iowa
2nd Lt. Thomas F. Allen, 22, co-pilot,
1st Lt. James R. Young, Jr., 26, Radar Operator, Newton, Ohio
1st Lt. Elias G. Gazell, 24, Navigator, Evergreen Park, Ill.
Maj. Septimus R. Hughes, 33, Bombadier, Spokane, Wash.,
S/Sgt. Harold E. Prinkey, 24, Gunner, Normalville, Penn.,
S/Sgt. Donald G. Lawrence, 26, Gunner, Medford, Ore.,
T/Sgt. Jacob M. Nelson, 40, Flight Engineer, Nashua, Iowa,
S/Sgt. Stanley M. Horine, Jr., 25, Gunner, Los Angeles.
Pfc Keith R. Burns, 19, Radio Operator, Boise, Idaho
(survived by parachuting)
The crew aboard #364:
1st Lt. George B. Grider, 26, pilot, Ames, Iowa
2nd Lt. Thomas F. Allen, 22, co-pilot,
1st Lt. James R. Young, Jr., 26, Radar Operator, Newton, Ohio
1st Lt. Elias G. Gazell, 24, Navigator, Evergreen Park, Ill.
Maj. Septimus R. Hughes, 33, Bombadier, Spokane, Wash.,
S/Sgt. Harold E. Prinkey, 24, Gunner, Normalville, Penn.,
S/Sgt. Donald G. Lawrence, 26, Gunner, Medford, Ore.,
T/Sgt. Jacob M. Nelson, 40, Flight Engineer, Nashua, Iowa,
S/Sgt. Stanley M. Horine, Jr., 25, Gunner, Los Angeles.
Pfc Keith R. Burns, 19, Radio Operator, Boise, Idaho
(survived by parachuting)
Major Hughes was a Bombardier aboard U.S. Air Force B-29-50-MO Superfortress #44-86364. While on a "round robbin" training flight from Spokane Air Force Base, with a mock bombing target to Stockton, California, then onward to Ogden, Utah, then 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. Major Hughes 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.
The crew aboard #364:
1st Lt. George B. Grider, 26, pilot, Ames, Iowa
2nd Lt. Thomas F. Allen, 22, co-pilot,
1st Lt. James R. Young, Jr., 26, Radar Operator, Newton, Ohio
1st Lt. Elias G. Gazell, 24, Navigator, Evergreen Park, Ill.
Maj. Septimus R. Hughes, 33, Bombadier, Spokane, Wash.,
S/Sgt. Harold E. Prinkey, 24, Gunner, Normalville, Penn.,
S/Sgt. Donald G. Lawrence, 26, Gunner, Medford, Ore.,
T/Sgt. Jacob M. Nelson, 40, Flight Engineer, Nashua, Iowa,
S/Sgt. Stanley M. Horine, Jr., 25, Gunner, Los Angeles.
Pfc Keith R. Burns, 19, Radio Operator, Boise, Idaho
(survived by parachuting)
The crew aboard #364:
1st Lt. George B. Grider, 26, pilot, Ames, Iowa
2nd Lt. Thomas F. Allen, 22, co-pilot,
1st Lt. James R. Young, Jr., 26, Radar Operator, Newton, Ohio
1st Lt. Elias G. Gazell, 24, Navigator, Evergreen Park, Ill.
Maj. Septimus R. Hughes, 33, Bombadier, Spokane, Wash.,
S/Sgt. Harold E. Prinkey, 24, Gunner, Normalville, Penn.,
S/Sgt. Donald G. Lawrence, 26, Gunner, Medford, Ore.,
T/Sgt. Jacob M. Nelson, 40, Flight Engineer, Nashua, Iowa,
S/Sgt. Stanley M. Horine, Jr., 25, Gunner, Los Angeles.
Pfc Keith R. Burns, 19, Radio Operator, Boise, Idaho
(survived by parachuting)
Inscription
Texas
Major 92 AF Bomb Wing
World War II
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