Categories: Transport

Empire State Building B-24 Crash – 1945

Empire-State-Building-B-24-Crash–1945Empire-State-Building-B-24-Crash–1945

If a pilot heading into the lofty urban jungle of New York City on a foggy morning rejects the chance to land at LaGuardia Airport and is told by the tower ‘From where I’m sitting I can’t see the top of the Empire State Building’, the outcome would not be entirely unpredictable.

That’s precisely the situation that Lt Col William Smith found himself facing one Saturday morning in July 1945 as he piloted a USAAF B-25 Mitchell bomber towards Newark to pick up a senior officer. After showing up over LaGuardia, he requested a weather report and rashly carried on.

Diving low to get his bearings, Smith found himself among Manhattan’s skyscrapers. After avoiding the New York Central Building he weaved between skyscrapers until he suddenly came face to face with the towering Empire State Building. Smith put the heavy bomber into a steep climb and tried to bank away, to no avail. The B-25 tore into the north side, smashing a hole 5.5 m (18 ft) wide and 6 m (20 ft) deep between the 79th and 80th floors, instantly killing the crew.

Aviation fuel ignited, immolating office workers and sending a cascade of fire down the outside of the building, also scorching stairwells and hallways within down to the 75th floor. Debris rained towards the street but, luckily, most landed on the structure’s wider skirt. One engine was propelled right though the building, exploded through the opposite south-side windows and plummeted onto the roof of a building across 33rd Street, starting a fire that consumed the penthouse. Amazingly for such an explosive incident, the death toll was relatively light and there were not many serious injuries.

The fire was put out inside 40 minutes and most of the Empire State Building was open for business the following Monday.

When was the Empire State Building B-24 Crash: July 28 1945

Where was the Empire State Building B-24 Crash: New York City, USA

What was the Empire State Building B-24 Crash Death toll: 14 people died (three crew and 11 office workers) and 26 were injured.

You should know: The B-25’s second engine fell into a lift shaft and crashed down on an elevator car, which went into freefall until somewhat slowed by its automatic braking system. Miraculously, when rescuers reached the basement and untangled the wreckage, the two women in the mangled car were still alive, it remains the world’s longest survived elevator fall.

devastating

Share
Published by
devastating

Recent Posts

6 Ways Wildfires Grow Stronger Overnight

The wildfires that happened recently in California made us think about the ways wildfires grow…

2 days ago

4 Crops That Are Harming Our Planet

Did you know that some crops are actually harming our planet? Our food choices have…

2 weeks ago

Urgent Recall: Blood Pressure Medications Affected

Is YOUR blood pressure medication on the list? Of the medications recalled in recent months,…

2 weeks ago

4 Shocking Celebrity Tragedies: Stars Who Were Killed by Their Partners

What you're about to read might shock you: these celebs were killed by their partners!…

3 weeks ago

The 5 Most Violent Gangs in the United States

In some American cities, the streets are not a safe place to be, especially once…

3 weeks ago

10 Cities That Might Disappear by 2030

The threat of climate change, rising sea levels, natural disasters, and rapid urbanization is making…

3 weeks ago