Memorials › Milton Earl Chatham

Milton Earl Chatham

24 Mar 1921 – 5 Apr 1984

Birth24 Mar 1921
Death5 Apr 1984
CemeteryHouston National Cemetery
Houston , Harris County , Texas , USA
Added byKAREN LOVY on 26 Mar 2013
FaGhttps://www.findagrave.com/memorial/97823021

Bio

Maj. Chatham, was one of four survivors of a midair collision between his aircraft and a KC-135A on Oct. 15, 1959 over Hardinsburg, KY. A USAF Boeing B-52F Stratofortress, 57-036, collides with Boeing KC-135A Stratotanker, 57-1513, over Hardinsberg, Kentucky, crashes with two nuclear weapons on board, killing four of eight on the bomber and all four tanker crew. One bomb partially burned in fire, but both are recovered intact. Bombs moved to the AEC's Clarksville, Tennessee storage site for inspection and dismantlement. Both aircraft deployed from Columbus AFB, Mississippi. **************************************************** Following is an abstract from an article of the Kentucky Historical Society. At 31,500 feet above the farming community of Hardinsburg, Kentucky at 6:40 PM (CST) the two aircraft began to refuel and six minutes into the operation both aircraft came into contact with each other. The resulting collision generated an intense fireball seen up to 150 miles away in Cincinnati, Ohio and French Lick, Indiana. Children on a hayride traveling on Highway 261 looked up and observed the two bright explosions. They immediately turned around and went home. Others thought oil exploration wells had exploded generating the intense fireballs on the ground. The B-52 stayed together long enough for four of the eight crew members to successfully eject. The four surviving crewmembers landed near the village of Glen Dean. Major Chatham and Captain Gutshall were assisted by Mr. Ray Ashey and Mr. Raymond Sosh who brought them to Critchelow's Store. A local physician, Dr. Walter R. Morris, was summoned to treat Major Chatham's injuries suffered during the ejection. Captain Strother and First Lieutenant Fugazzi were also transported to the hastily arranged "command post." The aircraft remains landed two miles from each other. The KC-135 landed near the farm of Mrs. Ruby Jones and Mr. Briscoll Thurman's farmhouse. The resulting trench was 75 feet long and 35 feet wide. The main portion of the B-52 hit the ground near the Whitier farm; with other significant wreckage on the Reason Sebastian farm near the village of McQuady. The aircraft portion where the weapons were loaded formed a crater 35 feet long, 10 feet wide, and four feet deep. According to the official accident report: "The weapons survived the accident in remarkably good condition…with no radiological hazards." Air Force authorities were immediately notified, and local law enforcement arrived on-scene to assess the situation. News media also appeared to inform the public of this significant national security incident and report the unfortunate loss of the aircrews. Luckily there were zero casualties on the ground though a few close calls. An engine off the B-52 landed 50 feet from where Mr. Sebastian was standing and the predominate wreckage from the KC-135 missed Mrs. Jones farmhouse by about 100 yards. The surviving crew members would spend the night awaiting Air Force personnel to arrive the next morning. The land where the aircraft crashed is located on private property; however, the marker honoring the airmen who flew this mission and were lost is located adjacent to the Black Lick Baptist Church. Lest We Forget… Crewmen of B-52F (* indicates survivor) * Capt. William G. Gutshall, Acft Commander * Maj. Milton E. Chatham, Instructor Pilot 1 Lt. Donald Arger, Co-pilot * Capt. James W. Strother, Radar Navigator 1 Lt. John W. Mosby, Navigator * 1 Lt. Gino Fugazzi, Electronic Warfare Officer Capt. Lyle P. Burgess, Instructor Navigator TSgt. Howard L. Helms, Tail Gunner Crewmen of KC-135A Maj. Robert H. Imhoff, Acft Commander 1 Lt. William E. Epling, Co-pilot 1 Lt. Harold E. Hemlick, Navigator SSgt. Paul E. Thomasson, Boom Operator Contributor: Kevin R. Parker (48885994), 2025

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US Air Force - WW II & Korea &Vietnam

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