18 Feb 1944, B-24H #42-52756 & B-24D #42-41159 midair collision 20 miles NE Phoenix.

History Of Flight: A flight of three B-24's with the 486th Bomb Group (H), 835th Bomb Squadron, departed from Davis-Monthan Field and were to perform a high altitude forpmation flight. Due to mechanical problems, 42-52756 took off 30 minutes after the other two, but quickly caught up with them southeast of Phoenix. The three plane formation flew in a V-shaped pattern at 15,000, then climbed up to 20,700ft. as planned in the pre-flight briefing.  For reasons unknown, 42-52756 lagged on the climb, and as the formation leveled off, was considerably above and to the rear of the formation. In attempting to get back into proper position, he over-ran to the top of the formation to a point slightly above and to the left of ship number two, 42-41159. When he let down into his position, he accidentaly struck his right wing on the left wing of 41159, sending both planes into a spin to the desert floor 4 miles below, claiming the lives of all 17 men.

The planes crashed 100 yards apart from each other a few miles from what is now Fountain Hills and was located with the help of some local folks.  All of the large parts of the wreckage have been removed as there is a large wash near the crash sites that was no-doubtedly utilized by the Air Force's recovery trucks. The crash sites still have a large burn area with many parts strewn about including aircraft skin, data plates, control wire and parachute buckles.