2nd Lt. R.G. “Bob” Bakula – PILOT - Service # 0774469 – Combat Crew 7739 out of Biggs Field, TX. His wife (possibly Rita or Mary Rita) lived in St. Louis, MO at time of crash on 19 Oct. 1944. Roommate of Lt. James Edward Briggs. He survived the military airplane crash on 19 Oct. 1944 over Deming, NM.

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Letter to another crew member's family from a survivor of the plane crash…

On 19 Oct 1944, Lt. Bakula was flying as pilot on the B-17 Flying Fortress which crashed 30 miles SE of Deming, NM at 9:45 p.m. MWT, 19 Oct. 1944, while on a training mission from Biggs Field, Texas to Blythe Field, California. About 20 min. after takeoff, the plane reached an altitude of 14,000 ft. and had been flying in level flight for 5 min. when fire developed in the #3 engine following failure of the #1 cylinder of that same engine.

Attempts to extinguish or control the fire were unsuccessful and both the pilot and the instructor pilot ordered the crew to bail out, sounding the alarm bell at the same time. The pilot went to the nose of the plane to personally assist personnel in that part of the ship while the co-pilot headed for the radio room for the same purpose.

The instructor pilot attempted to fly the plane until vibrations and flames forced him to relinquish the controls and get out. The pilot, instructor pilot, and two members of the crew in the nose succeeded in escaping by parachute, but those in the rear perished in the plane.

Four survived. Six others perished.

Letter to another crew member's family from a buddy who was not on the plane that crashed….

“They took off and started on a direct heading to Blythe. They discovered that a fuel leak on #3 engine had caught fire. The tail gunner called up three times and said flames were licking by the tail of the plane. The bail out order was given. The nose was cleared by the bombardier and navigator, and then the pilot and instructor pilot started to leave. An extra parachute was found as they reached for their own, and the co-pilot was in the radio room without a chute… Just as Sgt. Hegerle was leaving the plane, the wing exploded and his chute caught on the plane. The medical officer who made the examination reported that the Sgt. was unconscious when the Great Creator claimed him. He was not even scorched from the explosion and death came quickly. He never knew what happened after he left the plane. The rest of the details I’d rather not tell.”

SURVIVORS

BAKULA – 2nd Lt. R.G. “Bob” Bakula – PILOT - Service # 0774469 – Combat Crew 7739 out of Biggs Field, TX. His wife (possibly Rita or Mary Rita) lived in St. Louis, MO at time of crash. Roommate of Lt. James Edward Briggs. He survived.

De LOTTO – 2nd Lt. Reny A. De Lotto – BOMBARDIER – son of Utilde De Lotto of Clifton, NJ. He survived.

VAUGHN – 1st Lt. Shelby F. or Shelby H. Vaughn – INSTRUCTOR PILOT – son of Dora B. Vaughn of Tulia, Texas. He survived.

WILBURN – 2nd Lt. Joe W. or Gerald W. Wilburn – NAVIGATOR – son of Annie Wilburn of Nashville, TN. He survived.

KILLED IN CRASH

BRIGGS – Lt. James E. “Edward” Briggs -- CO-PILOT – son of Levy and Minnie Briggs of Alpena Pass, Arkansas – roommate of Bob Bakula. Killed in crash.

CROCKETT – Charles S. Crockett – RADIO OPERATOR -- son of Charles and Katherine Crockett of Burlingame, CA –brother of Betty Crockett age 26 in 1944– Charles Crockett was born 19 March 1923 – attended San Mateo Junior College and would have graduated in Dec. 1944 if he had not been drafted – thought to have bailed out, but chute did not open. Age 21 when Killed in crash

HEGERLE – S Sgt. Earle Hegerle

KLING – Cpl. Stanley J. Kling – GUNNER – spouse of Phyllis Kling of Winona, MN and who was visiting her husband at Biggs Field at the time of the crash. Killed in crash.

OLSON – Cpl. John G. Olson – GUNNER – son of Gust Olson of Centerville, Iowa. Brother of Vivian Olson age 17 in 1944 -- Cpl. Olson was born 4 Sep 1923 & age 21 when he was killed in the crash.

REUL – Henry G. Reul – GUNNER – son of Julia Reul of San Francisco. Killed in crash.

According to letters in the Hegerle Family Scrapbook from survivors, families, and military friends….

-Three of the men bailed out too late for their parachutes to save them.

-A wing exploded

-The navigator, bombardier, & pilot bailed out of the front emergency door. The instructor pilot kept flying and then jumped himself.

-Engine on one side caught fire causing the plane to go into a tailspin.

Robert G Bakula (1919)