SYRACUSE HERALD-JOURNAL

SYRACUSE, N.Y., TUESDAY EVENING, JULY 5, 1955

HANCOCK BOMBER CRASH-LANDS

-AIR GUARD-

ROCKETS, AMMO ABOARD

PLANE SLIDES HALF A MILE

Three crew members of a B-26 bomber escaped possible death at 10:50 a.m. today when the pilot belly landed his faltering $100,000 twin-engined airplane at Hancock field. Information about the crash remained confused as officers of the 106th Bombardment Wing of the New York National Guard investigated, but this much was gleaned from the on-the-spot sources:

The bomber apparently was coming home from a training mission and was loaded to the hilt with live rocket and .50 caliber ammunition. It appeared, eyewitnesses said, that the pilot was unable to lower his wheel undercarriage and took the only course aside from parachuting left to him. He chose to bring the disabled bird in on its belly.

When the plane struck the far end of the east runway, number 28, its two propellers immediately started chewing up the concrete and became bent. The craft slid along for hundreds of yards before it stopped. Gouged marks extended half a mile along the runway ribbon. Crash crews, ambulances and firefighters were at the scene almost immediately. While firefighters stood guard, the three badly shaken crew members escaped by crawling out of the front cockpit escape hatch. They were reportedly uninjured and were whisked off to the base hospital for examination and X-rays.

The plane is one of the 43 assigned to the New York National Guardsmen , 106th Bombardment Wing at Hancock for two weeks of extensive aerial maneuvers and training. Wing officers said today's mishap was the first of its kind ever to happen in the outfit since it was organized several years ago.