COLLISION OF TWO B-17E FLYING FORTRESSES
AT TOWNSVILLE, QLD
ON 22 FEBRUARY 1942
B-17E Flying Fortress, #41-2416 "San Antonio Rose" was delivered to Salt Lake City on 9 November 1941. It was initially assigned to the 40th Bomb Squadron of the 19th Bomb Group at Hickham airfield. It was then transferred to 88RS.
B-17E Flying Fortress, #41-2416 "San Antonio Rose" was damaged in a taxiing accident at Garbutt Airfield, Townsville at 1330 hours Z time, on 22 February 1942. "San Antonio Rose" was taxiing on runway and collided with stationary B-17E Flying Fortress #41-2434 when passing it.
The port mainplane of #41-2416 was damaged. The starboard mainplane and outer starboard motor cowling of #41-2434 were damaged. #41-2434 was repaired using parts from #41-2416.
B-17E Flying Fortress, #41-2416 "San Antonio Rose" was eventually formally written off on 31 January 1944.
There were a number of B-17's called "San Antonio Rose". This has lead to a certain amount of confusion for researchers like myself. As best I can determine here are the details:-
| Aircraft | Serial No. | Type | Crashed at | Date | Remarks |
| San Antonio Rose | #41-2416 | B-17E | Townsville | 22 Feb 1942 | 40 BS of 19th BG. One source shows 2416 as "San Antonio Rose I" |
| San Antonio Rose | #41-24458 | B-17F | 5 Jan 1943 | 64th BS of 43rd BG, General Kenneth Walker killed in this crash | |
| San Antonio Rose II | #41-2447 | B-17E | bombed at Del Monte | ?? | 40 BS of 19 BG. |
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
I'd like to thank Paul McMillan for his assistance with the history of #41-2416 aircraft.
I'd like to thank Gordon Birkett and Buz Busby for their assistance with this web page.
Can anyone help me with more information?
"Australia @ War" WWII Research Products
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This page first produced 21 January 2001
This page last updated 05 December 2021
