A Veterans Day celebration ended in tragedy in Dallas. Two World War II military aircraft participating in an air show at Dallas Executive Airport collided in midair and crashed to the ground. Clay Jenkins, Dallas County Judge, confirmed that six people died in the collision.
The events occurred during the Commemorative Air Force (CAF) Wings Over Dallas WWII air show. Some 4,000-6,000 spectators came, many with their families, to enjoy the aerial-acrobatics at the airport. Not long after, the networks were filled with videos of witnesses sharing what had happened.
*WARNING* Dallas airshow took a turn for the worse. Prayers to all involved. We came to celebrate Veteran's Day with the kids. Fortunately my children were in the hanger and did not see it happen. God bless. @dallasexecutive @FoxNews pic.twitter.com/Pw94whi0p3
— Aubrey Young (@aubdog1218) November 12, 2022
#BREAKING: New angle of the mid-air collision obtained by @WFAA shows B-17 and other aircraft flying formations at #WingsOverDallas at 1:21p today, when it was hit by a P-63 and fell to the ground over the airfield at Dallas Executive Airport (RBD). pic.twitter.com/6NAS93b3re
— Jason Whitely (@JasonWhitely) November 12, 2022
The investigation into what happened continues
Clay Jenkins, Dallas County Judge, informed 24 hours after the tragedy, the exact number of dead: Six people lost their lives as a result of the collision. In a tweet, the official assured that the identification of the victims and the investigation of what happened continue.
According to our Dallas County Medical Examiner, there are a total of 6 fatalities from yesterday's Wings over Dallas air show incident. Authorities will continue working today on the investigation & identification of the deceased. Please pray for their families and all involved.
— Clay Jenkins (@JudgeClayJ) November 13, 2022
"They're great airplanes."
The president of CAF, Hank Coates, explained in statements to Fox 4 that the B-17 usually has a crew of four to five on board and that the P-63 is a single-pilot fighter. Coates noted that "This was a WWII flight demonstration-type airshow where we highlight the aircraft and their capabilities and what actually happened in WWII. It’s very patriotic. The maneuvers that they were going through were not dynamic at all. It was what we call bombers on parade."
Coates also denied that the incident was due to the poor condition of the planes themselves. "This is not about the aircraft. It's just not. These are great aircraft. They are very well maintained. The pilots are very well trained." The pilots, as explained by the CAF president himself, are volunteers, usually active or retired pilots, who, in any case, must pass a very demanding training process.
Two captains among the deceased
The Allied Pilots Association confirmed the identity of two of the deceased. They are Captains Terry Barker and Len Root, who were among the members of the B-17 at the time of the collision.
We are saddened to report that former APA members CA Terry Barker and CA Len Root were among the crewmembers lost on B-17 Flying Fortress during the Wings Over Dallas airshow today. Our hearts go out to their families, friends, and colleagues past and present.
— Allied Pilots (@AlliedPilots) November 13, 2022
