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Ribbon cut for marker commemorating WWII-era collision of two Army airplanes
WILLIAM NORTHCUTT
On Monday, July 15, local political, civic, business leaders, as well as Dyersburg Army Air Base (DYAAB) representatives and historians held a ribbon cutting ceremony at for the third of three new historical markers erected in the area. This last marker is located at Fort Hudson Road and St. John Avenue. It commemorates a World War II era Army plane crash at that spot.
The marker reads, “While flying a training mission on January 24, 1945. two B-17 Flying Fortress bombers from Dyersburg Army Airfield, located at Halls, Tennessee, collided in mid-air, killing 16 airmen. One plane crashed southeast of this location near the Illinois Central Railroad track, killing all ten onboard. The second bomber continued northeast two miles further where four men managed to parachute to safety. However. the remaining crewmen were killed when it ultimately fell from the sky. This would be the last fatal crash flown from the base.”
Dyersburg Air Base historian Tim Bivens said, “The two planes were changing places in formation, and one cut the other in half. It dropped immediately.” He noted that four men had parachuted out of the second plane. “The other six tried to land it and thought they had found a level field.” However, they lost their lives.
Dyer County Mayor Quick was on hand to dedicate the marker, presenting a plaque to Bemis and DYAAB Assistant Museum Director Rebecca Carmack-Summar, who said, “I’m very happy about this…overwhelmed.”