1956 B-47 disappearance

The 1956 B-47 disappearance occurred on 10 March 1956 over the Mediterranean Sea.

1956 B-47 disappearance
A B-47E Stratojet similar to the incident aircraft.
Accident
Date10 March 1956
SummaryMissing, status unknown
SiteMediterranean Sea
Aircraft typeBoeing B-47E Stratojet
OperatorUnited States Air Force
Registration52-534
Flight originMacDill Air Force Base, Florida, United States
DestinationBen Guerir Air Base, Morocco
Passengers0
Crew3
FatalitiesUnknown
InjuriesUnknown
SurvivorsUnknown

Flight

A Boeing B-47 Stratojet took off from MacDill Air Force Base, Florida, in the United States for a non-stop flight to Ben Guerir Air Base, Morocco,[1] and completed the first of two planned aerial refuelings without incident.[2]

After descending through solid cloud cover to begin the second refueling at 14,000 feet (4,300 m), B-47E serial number 52-534,[1] failed to make contact with its tanker.[3]

The unarmed aircraft was transporting two different capsules of nuclear weapons material in carrying cases; a nuclear detonation was not possible.[4]

Aftermath

Despite an extensive search, no debris or bodies were ever found, and the crash site has never been located.[3] The crew was declared dead:

  • Captain Robert H. Hodgin, 31, aircraft commander
  • Captain Gordon M. Insley, 32, observer
  • 2nd Lt. Ronald L. Kurtz, 22, pilot

References


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