Boeing KC-97 Stratotanker

Israeli Air Force - Heyl Ha'avir

While conducting a survey flight, the airplane was shot down by an Egyptian missile after it penetrated the Egyptian airspace. It crashed in a desert area located near Suez. A crew member survived while seven others were killed.

Israeli Air Force - Heyl Ha'avir

During the takeoff roll from runway 30 at Tel Aviv-Lod Airport by night, just before V1 speed, the crew saw an Israel Air Force Boeing KC-97G Stratotanker that was towed across the active runway. The pilot-in-command initiated an immediate takeoff when the left wing struck the Stratotanker. On impact, both airplanes caught fire and exploded. While all three crew members on board the 707 survived, both technicians on board the KC-97 were killed.

United States Air Force - USAF

The approach to Milwaukee-General Billy Mitchell Airport was initiated in poor weather conditions with clouds down to 200 feet and an horizontal visibility limited to half a mile. On final, the four engine aircraft was too low, struck the ground and crashed in flames half a mile short of runway threshold. The aircraft was destroyed by a post crash fire and seven occupants were injured while four others were killed.

United States Air Force - USAF

The crew was engaged in a local training flight at Stephenville-Ernest Harmon Airport. Following several circuits, the crew started a night approach to runway 09 with a tailwind component. Apparently due to a wrong approach configuration, the airplane landed too far down the runway. After touchdown, the pilot feathered the propeller on two engines but the airplane was unable to stop within the remaining distance. It overran, struck several approach lights and eventually came to rest in a pond located short of runway 27 threshold. All five crew members were killed.

United States Air Force - USAF

On 29 June 1964, a Douglas HC-54 (serial number 42-72590, of the USAF 57th Air Rescue Squadron) and a Boeing HC-97 (serial number 52-2773, USAF 55th Air Rescue Squadron) were involved in an aerial photography mission near Kindley Air Base, Bermuda. To support the NASA Gemini program, it was necessary to train pararescue personnel in the delivery and installation of flotation collars on the Gemini' space capsule. This required placing personnel performing temporary duty at Bermuda where water jumps were to be conducted. In conjunction with this training, a requirement existed to support preparation of a film concerning the "pararescue" mission. Since the two requirements appeared compatible, they were combined into one mission. The HC-97 took off at 11:05 local time, and the HC-54 took off at 11:10. The weather was 2,000 feet scattered clouds, 2,500 feet scattered clouds, visibility 9 miles, and winds variable at 8 knots. Both aircraft arrived in the drop area and because of the clouds, decided to fly the mission at 1,700 feet (below the clouds). Aboard each aircraft were, photographers and pararescuemen. There were also photographers aboard the boats in the drop area to photograph the drop from the surface. As they had briefed before the flight the aircraft established themselves in proper positions. The first run had the HC-97 taking photos as the HC-54 (which was slightly forward and below) began deploying the pararescuemen. Right-hand patterns were flown, and photos were to be shot with the sun behind the cameras, and at an angle that would not reveal any of the land surface in the photos. After a few passes over the drop area with the pararescuemen being deployed from the HC-54, the aircraft changed positions. This placed the HC-54 slightly ahead and below and to the left of the HC-97. After flying one dry run and again in the right-hand pattern, two pararescuemen deployed from the HC-97. Seconds later, the two aircraft collided. The HC-54D suddenly banked to the right, colliding with the HC-97G, hitting the wing or midsection of the HC-97G and sheering both its wing and the tail section, and both aircraft immediately plunged towards the water. The three boats in the area immediately began a search for any survivors. Both aircraft were destroyed, and there were no survivors. Source: Facebook page Bermuda Air Collision

United States Air Force - USAF

At 8:15 PM on Monday, June 27, 1960, crew T-51 of the 380th Air Refueling Squadron departed Plattsburgh AFB aboard a KC-97G for the "Fighting Fox" air refueling area over Maine. Their mission was part of a SAC Operational Readiness Inspection of the 380th Bombardment Wing code named "Jet Stream Golf". They, and a backup KC-97G, were to refuel a B-47 under simulated combat conditions. The mission was expected to last just under four hours, with both tankers returning to Plattsburgh. After a successful rendezvous with the bomber, the tanker descended to the refueling altitude of 15,500 feet and accelerated, nose down, to 190 knots. The low altitude, when compared to today's KC-135 and KC-10 operations, was one of the necessities of refueling jet bombers like the B-47 and B-52 with a reciprocating engine powered aircraft. As the B-47 closed with the KC-97 from a higher altitude in "observation" position, everything seemed fine. Logistical radio exchanges were made and the bomber began to descend and close into refueling position. As they approached, the B-47 pilot and copilot saw a long stream of flame come back toward them from the KC-97's number one engine, then suddenly disappear. A small spot of white hot glow was noted near the rear of the number one engine. Seconds later, a large ball of flame enveloped the engine and the surrounding wing area. The boom operator transmitted "breakaway, breakaway, breakaway", and the B-47 commander took up a loose formation position off the tanker's right wing. The backup tanker, above and to the rear, made radio contact asking if they were in trouble, to which Lt. Burgess, the aircraft commander calmly replied "Roger, I'm on fire". At this point, the aircraft entered a gradual left turn which continued to get steeper, and turned into a spiral or spin. It was later determined that the left wing outboard of the burning engine had failed due to fire damage, before the crew could complete the "engine fire" drill. It was later found in Howard Pond some three miles from the crash site. The B-47 commander called "bail out! bail out!" but got no reply and spotted no parachutes. Witnesses on the ground, including over three hundred moviegoers at the Rumford Point Drive-In, saw the flaming aircraft spin down with burning pieces falling off. The fuel laden tanker crashed into Jonathan Smith Mountain near Route 26 in the Town of Newry. The aircraft was totally destroyed and all five crew members were killed. Crew: Lt William Burgess, pilot, Lt Lewis Turner, copilot, Lt Raymond Kisonas, navigator, M/Sgt Harold Young, flight engineer, T/Sgt Robert Costello, boom operator. Source: http://www.mewreckchasers.com/kc97art.html

United States Air Force - USAF

During the takeoff roll, the nose gear collapsed. The airplane skidded on runway then veered off runway before colliding with a fuel tank. While all 24 occupants were evacuated, the airplane was destroyed by a post crash fire.

United States Air Force - USAF

On a flight from Stephenville to McDill AFB in Tampa, while cruising along the Florida coast, the crew encountered heavy winds and was forced to ditch the aircraft in rough seas about 43 miles off Cape Canaveral. Two crew members were killed and 12 others were rescued.

United States Air Force - USAF

The aircraft, assigned to the 384th AREFS, departed from Westover AFB on a refueling mission. The KC-97 collided with a B-52 during refueling at an altitude of about 15,000 feet. The aircraft lost the whole left horizontal stabilizer and elevator, the rudder was missing and the upper fourth of the vertical stabilizer. They made a no-flap, electrical power off landing at night at Dow AFB. Two crew members on the B-52 parachuted to safety. The plane remaining crew members continued to Springfield-Westover AFB, MA (CEF) where a safe landing was made. Source: https://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=19591214-0

United States Air Force - USAF

The crew was performing a refuelling training mission out from Pease AFB, New Hampshire. While flying by night at an altitude of 15,000 feet, the airplane bank left, went into a dive and eventually crashed in a field located 1,3 mile south of Andover. The aircraft disintegrated on impact and all seven crew members were killed. Crew: Cpt James White, pilot, 1st Lt Dean Holzworth, copilot, 1st Lt Harold High, navigator, T/Sgt Owen Combs, flight engineer, T/Sgt Jake Schmidt, boom operator, T/Sgt Marion Ackermand, Scanner A3c Phillip Darst, scanner. Source: http://andoverbeacon.com/index.php/12064/site-of-1959-plane-crash-receives-an-american-flag/

United States Air Force - USAF

The crew left Walker AFB at 0630LT for a nine hours training mission consisting of a low level survey flight. After it overflew the small town of Gray Mountain at a height of about 60 feet in marginal weather conditions, the four engine aircraft hit the slope of a mountain and crashed about 35 miles of Flagstaff. The aircraft disintegrated on impact and all 16 occupants were killed. At the time of the accident, the visibility was limited due to low clouds.

United States Air Force - USAF

Shortly after takeoff from runway 17 at Plattsburgh Airport, while climbing, the airplane lost height, stalled and crashed into Lake Champlin. Three crew members were rescued while five others were killed.

United States Air Force - USAF

During the takeoff roll at Lajes Airport, one of the engine failed. The takeoff procedure was interrupted and an emergency braking procedure was attempted. Unable to stop within the remaining distance, the airplane overran and came to rest in flames. All seven crew members were evacuated safely while the aircraft was destroyed.

United States Air Force - USAF

While cruising about 550 km southeast of the Azores Islands, the crew contacted ground and informed ATC about a double engine failure. The radio operator was able to give his exact position before the aircraft was ditched into the ocean. All seven crew members were evacuated safely and the aircraft floated for ten days before it was sunk by the crew of USS Wisconsin.

United States Air Force - USAF

The airplane was on a refueling mission and departed Westover AFB at 1330LT bound for Griffiss AFB, Rome, New York. Following an uneventful mission, the crew started the descent to Griffiss AFB but was instructed to follow a holding pattern because a fighter that was short of fuel must land immediately. Twenty-five minutes later, while cruising in poor weather conditions (freezing rain and snow), the airplane struck the snowy Mt Big Shanty (701 meters high) located about 70 miles northeast of Griffiss AFB, in the Adirondack Mountain Range. Rescuers arrived on scene in the early morning of January 24. All seven crew members have been killed, among them Maj Charles D. Mellinger, pilot, and 1st Lt Fred Defrench, copilot.

United States Air Force - USAF

One of the engine caught fire while descending to Goose Bay Airport following a flight from Lake Charles, Louisiana. The airplane went out of control and crashed in flames in a dense wooded area located 72 km northeast of Goose Bay Airport. All six crew members were killed.

United States Air Force - USAF

Few minutes after takeoff from Walker AFB, while climbing by night, a propeller blade detached from the engine number two, penetrated the fuselage and pierced a fuel tank. The aircraft caught fire, exploded and crashed in a desert area located 8 miles south of the airbase. All 11 crew members were killed.

United States Air Force - USAF

On touchdown, the airplane went out of control and burst into flames. While all 12 crew members were evacuated safely, the aircraft was destroyed by fire.

United States Air Force - USAF

Shortly after takeoff from Castle AFB, while climbing, the aircraft suffered serious technical issues and crashed in a huge explosion about seven miles northwest of the airbase, near the city of Cressey. All ten crew members were killed.

United States Air Force - USAF

An engine failed in flight. All nine crew members decided to bail out and abandoned the aircraft that dove into the ground and crashed in a prairie located two miles north of Fort Myers. Eight crews were found uninjured while one was killed as his parachute failed to open.

United States Air Force - USAF

Enroute from the US to Europe, while in cruising altitude, the crew sent a brief mayday message, reporting an engine explosion. Shortly later, the airplane went into a dive and crashed into the Atlantic Ocean some 145 km southwest of Reykjavik. All nine crew members were killed.

United States Air Force - USAF

While conducting a night refueling mission, the aircraft suffered an engine failure. The captain elected to make an emergency landing but the airplane went out of control and crashed in a field located 3,5 miles northwest of Windsor. Nine crew members were killed while two others were injured.

United States Air Force - USAF

The aircraft suffered a fuel exhaustion in flight, so all crew members bailed out and abandoned the aircraft that crashed about 10 km north of Sidi Slimane. There were no casualties but the aircraft was destroyed.

United States Air Force - USAF

The crew was completing a flight from Altus, Oklahoma, to the March AFB located southeast of Riverside, California. While approaching March AFB, the crew was informed by ATC about poor weather at destination and was then vectored to Norton AFB in San Bernardino. While cruising by night at an altitude of 3,000 feet, the airplane hit the slope of Mt Box Springs located between the cities of Riverside and San Bernardino. The airplane disintegrated on impact and all 14 occupants were killed.

United States Air Force - USAF

Crashed on approach to McDill AFB, killing all five crew members.