Near Pease Air Force Base – December 8, 1964
Newington, New Hampshire
Updated May 11, 2021
RB-47E Stratojet
U.S. Air Force Photo
On December 8, 1964, a B-47E Stratojet bomber carrying four airmen crashed and burned shortly after takeoff from Pease Air Force Base. When it reached an altitude of 1,000 feet it suddenly plunged into a wooded area about two miles from the end of the runway. All aboard were killed. The resulting fire burned two unoccupied cabins.
The dead were identified as:
(Pilot) Major Daniel J. Campion Jr., 34. To learn more about Major Campion click on link : https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/195224062/daniel-james-campion
(Co-pilot) Captain Truman A. Burch, 28. To learn more click on link. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/159408585/truman-a-burch
(Navigator) Major John R. North III, 30. To learn more click on link. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/225582794/john-reeder-north
(Observer) Captain Bennie Ward Forrester, 27. To learn more click on link. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/159008480/bennie-ward-forrester
The plane was with the 351st Bomb Squadron, 100th Bomb Wing, assigned to Pease AFB.
Sources:
The Morning Record, “Air Force Jet Carrying Four Crashes, Burns”, Dec. 8, 1964, pg. 1 (The same article also mentioned that on November 5, 1964, a KC-97 tanker plane crashed at the edge of a highway near the base killing all five crewmen aboard.)
New York Times, “B-47 With Four Aboard Crashes In New Hampshire”, December 8, 1964
Schenectady Gazette, December 9, 1964, Page 17.
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