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Narrative:
This aircraft was orginally built as B-50B-55-BO, but later converted to a RB-50G with additional radar and B-50D type nose.
The B-50D on a routine weather reconnaissance mission crashed in flames due to mechanical failure within 100 yards of the rice ranch of Mr. and Mrs. A.R. Chittenden. Sections of the plane hit two grain storage bins, knocking them off their foundations and setting fire to one. T/Sgt. Natividad D. Vasquez, of Laredo, TX, miracously survived the crash seriously injured and three men had managed to bail out before the aircraft crashed and survived with minor injuries: S/Sgt. John E. Wittine, of Albany, NY; A2C William F. Imley, of Pittsburgh, PA and A2C John B. Patton, of Chicago, IL
The following crew members died in the crash:
Aircraft commander Maj. Park B. Herrick, of Fort Collins, CO
Maj. John M. Wirt, of Yuma, AZ
Capt. Otto Robinson, of Henderson, KY
Capt. Keith B. Wright, of Paducah, KY
1st Lt. John Swisher, of Kansas City, MO
1st Lt. John T. Vaughn, of Naugatuck, CT
M/Sgt. Charles M. Ford, of Dallas, TX
M/Sgt. Clarence Foster, of Cadillac, MI
M/Sgt. Howard J. Hansen, of Des Moines, IA
M/Sgt. Junior Townsend, of Speedwell, VA
A2C Daniel A. Baca, of Bolling, TX
A2C William S. Myers, of Philadelphia, PA
A2C Eddie L. Wynne, of Plains, MS
