Londonderry, New Hampshire – August 25, 1945
Updated January 11, 2021
Updated February 4, 2022
B-17G “Flying Fortress”
U.S. Air Force Photo
On the night of August 25, 1945, a U. S. Army B-17G “Flying Fortress” (Ser. No. 44-83577) crashed on approach to Grenier Army Air Field in Manchester, New Hampshire. The plane impacted a wooded area about three miles short of the runway.
Prior to the crash the aircraft had been circling the area unable to land due to very low cloud cover. As the pilot attempted to make an instrument approach the aircraft clipped some trees in an area known as Crowell’s Corner. It then plowed onto wooded area west of Mammoth Road where it broke apart as it cleared a swath for nearly a quarter of a mile.
Three men aboard were killed, and two others were seriously injured.
Those killed in the crash were:
The co-pilot, Flight Officer John E. Bafus, 22, of Newton, Kansas. He’s buried in Greenwood Cemetery in Newton, Kansas. To see a photo of him, click here: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/26040514/john-erwin-bafus
The navigator, Flight Officer Irwin J. Gingold (No Info.)
Sergeant Earl Kimball Allen, 33, of Glen Falls, New York. He’s buried in Blossom Hill Cemetery in Concord, New Hampshire.
Those seriously injured were Flight Officer Bill J. Andersen, and Sgt. Charles R. Jones.
Sources:
New York Times, “New Hampshire Air Crash Kills 3”, August 27, 1945
The Nashua Telegraph, “Three Die In Londonderry Crash”, August 27, 1945
Larry Webster, Aviation Historian and Archeologist
www.findagrave.com
Book: ” Fatal Army Air Forces Aviation Accidents In The United States, 1941-1945″, by Anthony J. Mireles, C. 2006.
