Chicopee, Massachusetts – June 27, 1958
Shortly after midnight on June 27, 1958, four U.S. Air Force KC-135 jet tankers were scheduled to make a transatlantic flight from Westover Air Force Base in Chicopee to London, England. The purpose of the flight was to try to establish a new overseas speed record for the aircraft.
The first two aircraft took off without incident however, the third aircraft, (Ser. No. 56-3599), stalled just after takeoff and crashed about 1.25 miles off the end of the runway. The tanker came down across the Massachusetts Turnpike and impacted on a farm located on Fuller Road where it exploded in a massive fireball that was seen for miles. All fifteen men aboard were killed instantly.
The fourth aircraft was then ordered not to take off.
The Turnpike was covered with debris and had to be closed to all traffic. Electrical power was knocked out throughout the area as the aircraft had struck some power lines prior to impact.
Of the fifteen men aboard, eight were civilian journalists.
The dead were identified as:
Brig. Gen. Donald W. Saunders, 45, of Athens, New York. He was Commander of the 57th Air Division at Westover AFB. To see a photo of Gen. Saunders, go to www.findagrave.com.
Lt. Col. George Broutsas, 39, of Brattleboro, Vermont. He was the aircraft commander. He’s buried in Meeting House Hill Cemetery in Brattleboro.
Captain James Shipman, 34, of Kansas City, Kansas. He was the aircraft’s navigator. He’s buried in Arlington National Cemetery.
Captain John B. Gordon, 29, of Raleigh, North Carolina. He’s buried in Mountain Memorial Park in Raleigh.
Lieutenant Joseph C. Sweet, 26, of Chandler, Arizona. He’s buried in Resthaven Park East Cemetery in Phoenix, Arizona.
Master Sergeant Donald H. Gabbard, 37, of Los Gatos, California. He’s buried in Golden Gate National Cemetery in San Bruno, California.
Technical Sergeant Joseph G. Hutter, 26, of Miami, Florida. He’s buried in Arlington, National Cemetery.
Civilians aboard included:
Daniel J. Coughlin, 31, of Boston – Associated Press
Norman Montellier, 37, of New York City – United Press International
Glenn A. Williams, 41, of Bethesda, Maryland – U.S. News & World Report
Robert A. Ginsburgh, (Also spelled Ginsburg in some accounts), 63, of the U.S. News & World Report. He was also a retired brigadier general from the U.S. Air Force.
James L. McConaughy, Jr., Time and Life Magazine.
Robert Sibley, 57, of Belmont, Massachusetts – Aviation editor of the Boston Traveler.
William Cochran – National Aeronautical Association
William Enyart – National Aeronautical Association
The aircraft involved in this accident was part of the 99th Air refueling Squadron based at Westover.
This was the second accident for a Westover aerial tanker since aerial tankers had been assigned to the base in the spring of 1955. The first accident occurred on January 22, 1957, when a KC-97 tanker crashed in Rome, New York, killing all seven crewmen aboard.
Sources:
Unknown newspaper, “KC135 Falls In Flames Near Base At Start Of London Record Flight”, June 27, 1958
Springfield Union, “Residents Terrified As Disaster Strikes”, June 27, 1958
Fitchburg Sentinel, “Air Force Jet Plane Explodes After Westover Takeoff”, June 27, 1958
www.findagrave.com