05/25/2026
I’m Memory of those who perished December 3, 1943
This is what my Dad wrote about the B17 crash on our ranch on December 3,1943
December 3, 1943. B-17 Crash
B 17 Crash
On December 3, 1943 Ed Hammack, Ben Gilmore and Ray Merritt were gathering cattle at the Hammack Ranch and was pushing them into the pens when two B-17 Army Bonbers -flying a tight formation- collided just north of the red sands on the Denman Lewis Ranch on the west side of the Guadalupe Mountains. As soon as the cattle were in the pens Ed, Ben and Ray drove up to see if help could be given. While the plane was falling we noticed two men coming down in parachutes and knew some had survived the crash when we arrived the two were the Radio Man and the Tail Gunner.
When the planes went together, the radio man grabbed his radio and still had it when we arrived on the scene. Nine men were in the fire burning and could not be reached, but we did drag two out enough to keep them from further burns. The two survivors were about one quarter mile away so we went to them to help all we could. Planes kept flying over dropping notes advising us to stay until the Army Inspectors could arrive - which we did.
In 2006 one of the suvivors son contacted me and gave me the following information about his father.
Dear Mrs. Richardson,
Thanks so much for taking the time to speak with me on the phone the other day. You certainly provided me with a wealth of information that have been seeking for years. As I told you on the phone your father, grandfather and the other men helping that day were truly heroes and we are all grateful for their actions helping my father survive a terrible event.
The December 3, 1943 crash on your ranch involving two B-17’s occurred as follows:
Plane, No. 921 (42-39921) piloted by 2nd Lt. James F. Rhodes, was on a demolition bombing and gunnery training mission. They had been flying for about three hours and were joining up with a three plane formation for air-to-air gunnery training while looking for a tow target over Guadalupe Pass. Both planes came from the 19th Combat Training School at the AAB, Pyote, Texas. The second plane, No. 964 (42-39964) piloted by 2nd Lt. Paul D. Werner, was flying in a three-plane formation waiting for the 921 plane to join the formation.
An Aircraft Accident Committee from the AAF Bombardier Training School, Army Air Field, Carlsbad, New Mexico, met at the 19th Combat Crew Training School, AAB, Pyote, TX, on December 7, 1943. All of the crewmen of Ship 964 testified. The eleventh and final witness was Lt. Col. Herbert Wangeman.
Lt. Earl W. Truex was the 729th Squadron Flight Leader and provided the following statement:
“I was flight leader of three ships on a mission of high altitude gunnery. The mission was to be flown in the area south of Carlsbad, NM, and was to occupy six hours. While at an altitude of 20,000 ft., 921 called for permission to join my formation. The ship 921 was given permission to join my formation, and instructed to take No. 4 position. He was to notify me when he assumed No. 4 position, but never did so.
To the best of my knowledge, ship 921, in trying to get in No. 4 position, was making a climbing turn to the left while the entire formation was turning level to the right. I could see No. 3 ship to my left rear during this time, and knew No. 4 ship was not yet in position. It is my belief that the sun affected his vision. He continued his climbing turn to the left unaware that No. 3 ship was so close. It was approximately 15 minutes from the time the ship 921 requested permission to join our formation until time of crash. The impact of the two ships coming in contact severed the tail of 921, while wings and motors of same ship remained intact and fell like a rock. I saw two men parachute to safety.”
Ship 921 crashed 15 miles NE of Salt Flats, Texas, and Ship 964 made an emergency landing at Carlsbad NM.
Albert H. Voorneveld, Tail Gunner, was able to parachute to safety without major injuries. Mike Lacy was able to get out of the plane, but his chute failed to open properly and he was seriously injured. Both men were rescued by your father, Ben Gilmore , Grandfather, Ed Hammack & Ray Merritt, and the deceased recovered. Although ship 964 made it back to Carlsbad, the Bombardier, F/O Arthur J. Rubenstein, was literally blown out of his plane by the impact of the crash and parachuted to safety. He was rescued later and testified before the accident committee at Pyote on December 7. Mike Lacy and Albert H. Voorneveld were not called as witnesses and there is no other mention of them in the report.
Crew on Ship 42-39921:
2nd Lt. James F. Rhodes, Pilot – perished 12/3/43
2nd Lt. Earl R. Lewis, Co-pilot – perished 12/3/43
2nd Lt. Roland F. Hillier, Bombardier – perished 12/3/43
2nd Lt. Erling B. Larsen, Navigator – perished 12/3/43
Sgt. Kenneth Roxby, Engineer – perished 12/3/43
Sgt. Michael J. Lacy, Radioman – major injuries, (d. 3/6/77)
Sgt. Thomas F. Bass, Gunner – perished 12/3/43
Sgt. Marvin C. Smith, Gunner – perished 12/3/43
Sgt. Harold F. Sullivan, Gunner – perished 12/3/43
Sgt. Albert H. Voorneveld, Tail Gunner – minor injuries, (d. 1/29/88)
Crew on Ship 42-39964:
2nd Lt. Paul D. Werner, Pilot, now deceased
2nd Lt. Joseph D. Daniels, Co-pilot – later perished on 5/12/44 w/729th
F/O Arthur J. Rubenstein, Bombardier – parachuted to safety, former POW
2nd Lt. Richard R. Frillman, Navigator – later perished on 10/7/44 w/730th
S/Sgt. Earnest C. Dean, Engineer, now deceased, former POW
Sgt. Earl A. Weber, Radioman – later perished on 5/12/44 w/731st
Sgt. Frank A. Andrews, Side Gunner – later perished on 5/12/44 w/729th
Sgt. James C. Redmond, Tail Gunner – later perished on 5/12/44 w/729th
Sgt. Robert E. Williams, Ball Turret Gunner – later perished on 5/12/44 w/729th
Sgt. Michael J. Walsh, Waist Gunner – later perished on May 12, 1944 w/729th
When I was researching this information with Mike Stowe (Accident Reports.com) he told me that he never had an inquiry about this accident until the week before he got one from me. Seems that the Veterans Administration was trying to determine the validity of a benefit claim recently filed by Kenneth Roxby’s widow. Apparently she was 18 yrs. old when Sgt. Roxby perished and was unaware she was eligible for any benefits and therefore never applied for them. Now in trying to qualify she was having problems because the VA could never ascertain that Roxby was ever in the service, or that he had perished in an accident. Hopefully, the accident report helped in her application for survivor benefits.
On March 23, 1944, Arthur Rubenstein, parachuted from B-17 #42-3817 the “Four Freedoms”, and was captured near Eindhoven, Netherlands. He remained a POW at Stalag Luft 1 until camp was abandoned by the Germans on May 1, 1945. The entire crew bailed with the exception of the pilot and co-pilot who crash landed the plane in England.
It's also sad to note that six of the ten crew members on Ship 964 who survived the crash in Salt Flat, Texas (Daniels, Weber, Williams, Andrews, Walsh & Redmond) perished several months later on May 12, 1944 during a bombing mission to Brux, Belgium in B-17 # 97143 “You’ve Had It” that crashed near Wicker, Germany.
If you have trouble downloading any of the attachment just let me know and I'll send you smaller files.
Thanks again for your invaluable help,
Sincerely,
"Skip" .
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