B-17 Crash

  Each year, the Collins Foundation hosts a air show of World War Two aircraft at Worcester (ORH) Airport.  It is great fun to see the old planes, especially taking off, flying and landing.  In addition for a extra fee you can go up in the plane for a short ride.  A fan favorite is the B-17.  I have greatly enjoyed these show at work over the last three years.  The last one was September 20 to 22.  Here is a picture I took of the B-17 while at ORH.

  On Wednesday October 2 the B-17 was at a air show at Bradley  international Airport at Windsor Locks Connecticut. Just before 10:00 am the aircraft took off with thirteen people aboard, three crew and ten passengers.  Shortly after take off the B-17 developed trouble and requested  to land.  On landing the B-17 lost control and crashed into a deicing building and erupted in flames.  Seven people were killed and a number of others (including a ground crew member who was in the building and two firemen) were injured.

   The death toll might have been worse but for Chief Master Sgt. James Traficante of the Connecticut Air National Guard.  He was aboard and trained in responding to crashes.  He had brought his flame retardant glove with him and wearing these was able to open the hatch for the survivors to escape.

   Shortly after the crash the Airport closed to all aircraft.  Incoming planes were diverted to Worcester, being the closest airport.  This creates a very busy day for us.

  For us at ORH this was a shocking chain of events.  As I mentioned the B-17 was always a fan favorite and we all knew the pilots.  We all looked forward to the aircraft coming in for a landing.  And we all knew people and relatives who went up for a ride.  We were all shocked at what happened but were busy with the rash of planes landing at our little airport.