Taken from the European Edition

The Stars And Stripes

Saturday, May 16 1953

By Joseph Cullivan, Staff Correspondent

JET, 2 C119'S COLLIDE IN ZONE FLIGHT MANNHEIM, MAY 15; (S&S)

Some of those who saw the crash said three men parachuted to safety, others said there were four. The Air Force said there is a "slight possiblility more of the crew members parachuted." Two bodies were recovered from the wreckage of one of the C119s.

Twelfth Air Force authorities said the planes were flying at about 5000 feet on a formation training exercise when the disaster occurred shortly before 5 PM.

The two C119s crashed to earth within a mile fo each other and the F84 about three miles away.

Eyewitnesses said the jet, one of a group of 12 flying over a group of 18 C119s on routine training flights, dropped out of formation and smashed head- on into one of the Boxcars, then caromed off and hit the second.

Lt. James W. Chilton of Sandy,Oregon, pilot of the jet, was reported one of those saved.

It was reported at the scene that there were five men aboard one Boxcar and three on the other, although the C119s normally carry of crew of 4 each.

Karl Jung, of Weinheim, and his wife were working in their field when they heard the crash overhead and looked up to see one of the Boxcars spinning down on top of them. They raced from the field. Mrs Jung dropped her sweater in the field and the plane crashed onto the spot.

Helmut Urbigkein, of Weinheim, who was watching the plane formations, said he saw the jet drop out of its formation and crash into one of the C119s. He said the jet "smashed to pieces" and one piece hit the second C119.

At least two of the crew members who parachuted to safety were taken to a hospital in Weinheim.

Doctors there said one of them probably would have to undergo an amputation of his left foot. This was borne out by Urbigkein, one of the first at crash scene, who said "one man had his foot almost torn off." He also helped remove another man who, he said, had multiple fractures of the arms and legs.

Two U.S. airmen stationed at Mannheim said they were watching the planes from that city. WIilliam C. Laub nad A/1cL. Zalar said the jet "exploded into a ball of fire" after the impact.

Air Force officials were investigating at the crash scene and military and air police were placed on guard around the wreckage tonight.

Hundreds of Germans from nearby towns flocked into the area and had to be forced back from the wreckage by military police.

Edmund Lechert, a 20 year old German from Hemsbach, said he saw the collision, Associated Press reported.

"I saw three parachutes open and I rushed up to one as it came down," he said. "It was the jet fighter pilot. He had facial burns. I helped him get to Hemsbach.

End of Joseph Cullivan’s story.

He arrived on the scene by jeep with his driver. He told the following story:

"It was horrible. We didn't see anybody get out. We saw the whole thing come down. There were two balls of flame.

First we saw 18 C119s come out of the east and make one big lazy circle to the north, then around to the east. Then the other flight of C119s came out of the east and arched to the south.     This picture; courtesy of Jack Mackey, was taken from the "Stars and Stripes" newspaper.     The flight of jets appeared about 20 second later form the east, circling toward the southwest.

I asked my driver (Cpl John Munoz, Co C) where they went and he said the jets were circling and coming around heading north. I watched the jet formation fly north into the formation of C119s and meet the C119s.

It looked like the first two echelons of four planes pulled up and over the formation of C119s but the remainder spilt in all directions, in a big scramble.

When they pulled out, one of the jets, I couldn't tell which it was, hit the 119. The Boxcars stayed in formation. But the jets just went everywhere.    

When it hit the C119, the C119 burst into flames. I believe the jet hit a second plane because there were three planes-a C119 to the right, a C119 to the left, and the jet in the middle. A black column of smoke trailed the planes as they went down.

I was hoping for a parachute to open but I didn't see any.

It was just about a mile to the wreckage of the jet and we drove down alongside a field and over a little bridge, and then we saw the burning wreckage.

A couple of soldiers down there said they just got there. I asked them if anybody got out and aGerman said three got out. I don't know if he meant they parachuted."

Armand Vasconcellos from the 10th Squadron send this letter.

Hi Bill - I would like to set the record straight on your mid-air collision story back in '53. You can use any part of this as you wish.

The two aircraft involved were from our 10th sqdn. Later the F84 pilot claimed he turned into the sun and didn't see our aircraft until it was too late.

There were only three crew members on each plane. The pilot and co-pilot of both planes were killed. The two flight engineers survived. After the collision, SSgt Briggs found himself pressed against the skin of the aircraft and had to push off to clear the plane and pull his chute cord. I am embarassed to say that I don't recall the other guy's name. He was an Italian A1C from Philadelphia, dark brown hair and rather short. He was blown feet first through the cockpit plexiglass. He came to in mid-air with two badly mangled legs but managed to pull his chute cord anyway.

Three days later Briggs roused me out of my sack to visit the guy at the Weisbaden AF hospital. I had a cream-colored 48 Dodge. (My sqdn commander, Lt Col Quinette. had a maroon 48 Dodge). The guy was in good spirits in spite of the pain from amputation of both legs above the knees. He joked about the end of his dancing career. If anyone remembers a short Italian guy doing a mean jitterbug at the old snake pit, it was he. One week later he died. Too much pain-killing morphine damaged his heart.

Sorry to bore you with such sordid details, but I'll always remember. If only I could remember his name.

Editors Note: Thanks Armond, there's nothing wrong with your memory.

Back to the top.