Pease AFB – Dec. 8, 1964

Near Pease Air Force Base –  December 8, 1964

Newington, New Hampshire

Updated May 11, 2021

RB-47E Stratojet U.S. Air Force Photo

RB-47E Stratojet
U.S. Air Force Photo

    On December 8, 1964, a B-47E Stratojet bomber carrying four airmen crashed and burned shortly after takeoff from Pease Air Force Base.  When it reached an altitude of 1,000 feet it suddenly plunged into a wooded area about two miles from the end of the runway.  All aboard were killed.  The resulting fire burned two unoccupied cabins.

     The dead were identified as:

     (Pilot) Major Daniel J. Campion Jr., 34.  To learn more about Major Campion click on link :  https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/195224062/daniel-james-campion

     (Co-pilot) Captain Truman A. Burch, 28. To learn more click on link.  https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/159408585/truman-a-burch

     (Navigator) Major John R. North III, 30. To learn more click on link.  https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/225582794/john-reeder-north

     (Observer) Captain Bennie Ward Forrester, 27.  To learn more click on link.  https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/159008480/bennie-ward-forrester

       The plane was with the 351st Bomb Squadron, 100th Bomb Wing, assigned to Pease AFB.

Sources:

      The Morning Record, “Air Force Jet Carrying Four Crashes, Burns”, Dec. 8, 1964, pg. 1    (The same article also mentioned that on November 5, 1964, a KC-97 tanker plane crashed at the edge of a highway near the base killing all five crewmen aboard.)

     New York Times, “B-47 With Four Aboard Crashes In New Hampshire”, December 8, 1964

     Schenectady Gazette, December 9, 1964, Page 17.

     www.findagrave.com

 

 

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