Empire State Building Sustained Crash (Plane hit Empire State Building)

ABC News ^ | 10/11/06 | ABC News

[Rb ver. 2.0]

Sept. 11 The last time a plane crashed into a New York City skyscraper was July 28, 1945. A U.S. bomber flying through thick fog at about 200 mph crashed into the Empire State Building, one of the most recognized structures in the world.

Fourteen people were killed, and dozens injured.

Eyewitnesses, aware the United States was in the midst of World War II, feared the worst.

"Thought we'd been bombed," Doris Pope, Boynton Beach, Fla. told the The Palm Beach Post in 1999. "I worked for the Office of Office of Price Administration in the Empire State Building. That day, as we were getting ready to take our coffee break, we heard this terrible noise, and the building started to shake. … As we looked out our third-floor window, we saw debris fall on to the street. We immediately thought New York was being bombed.

"We were then told that an airplane hit the building," she continued.

Plane Cleared to Land in Newark

On that day in 1945, an Army Air Corps B-25 bomber headed from Bedford, Mass., to Newark, N.J., was lumbering low over Manhattan in extremely thick fog, according to reports.

Lt. Col. William F. Smith Jr., the pilot of the B-25, was told to land at Municipal Airport in Queens (now known as LaGuardia). But he insisted for clearance at Newark, according to a New York Times report.

Reports say that just as Smith was cleared to land, he was already headed toward disaster. Government regulations said that aircraft should fly at least 2,000 feet over Manhattan. The plane struck the building 913 feet above the ground, at 34th Street in midtown. The plane's nose had crashed into the building's north side.

"It was rainy, overcast," Louis Triandafilou, an Army Air Forces photographic lab chief stationed at Newark Airport who took aerial photographs of weather conditions told the Clearwater Times in 1991. "You couldn't see the peak of the Empire State Building, and part of the Statue of Liberty's torch was obscured by fog."

When the plane crashed, one of its engines whizzed from the north wall, and through the south wall, ultimately landing on the roof of a nearby building. Debris from the building and plane also severed through elevator cables, and sent two cars and passengers into freefall.

Smith was killed, along with the other two crewmembers, in addition to another 11 people working at their desks, and over two dozen more were injured. The workers were on the staff of the National Catholic Welfare Service, now known as Catholic Relief Services, who still keep their offices on the 79th floor.

About $1 million in damage was reportedly done to the building. Because it was Saturday, the offices were not fully staffed, perhaps preventing more damage and injuries, reports say.

Eyewitnesses Remember Panic

Eyewitnesses who are still alive and were there for the incident remember midtown Manhattan being in a state of panic.

"I heard a horrendous noise," eyewitness Helen J. Hurwitt, from Greenacres, Fla., told the Post. "My husband and I were in a building directly opposite the Empire State Building. … Large plate-glass windows looked out onto 34th Street. The floor we were on was pretty high. At some point, we heard a horrendous noise and rushed to the windows. … We were horrified to see a B-25 half in and half out of the Empire State Building."

Reports say that it took three months to repair the 78th and 79th floors, both of which were damaged. Crews had to repair bent girders, seal the walls, and restore the two floors of offices.

Today, the building remains structurally sound, say reports.

[Rb ver. 2.0]

Bizarre coincidence this article was published today in light of the current situation.

[Mr. Mojo]

Saw an interesting show on the History Channel a few months back about the building of the ESB.

They sure don't build 'em like they used to...

[ClearCase_guy]

Coincidence?????? I think not!! Bush is behind this! And the Jooooooos!

[newgeezer]

The workers were on the staff of the National Catholic Welfare Service, now known as Catholic Relief Services, who still keep their offices on the 79th floor.

Wow. Nice digs.

[Tijeras_Slim]

July 28, 1945. A U.S. bomber flying through thick fog at about 200 mph crashed into the Empire State Building... Eyewitnesses, aware the United States was in the midst of World War II, feared the worst.

Yep, 10 days before Hiroshima the dreaded Japanese kamikaze offensive on NYC began.

Who writes this stuff?

[Zuben Elgenubi]

The last time a plane crashed into a New York City skyscraper was July 28, 1945

ABC cannot even get this one right. The last time a plane crashed into a New York City skyscraper was September 11, 2001.

[traderrob6]

Actually this is the best possible scenario for Republicans, it brings up graphic memories of 9-11 but does not open them up for the criticisms of not protecting the people from a terrorist attack.

[PeaceBeWithYou]

Photo by Ernie Sisto/New York Times

Too late the pilot of the U.S. Army B-25 bomber with three men aboard, saw the Empire State Building loom up before his eyes. At 300 miles per hour, he plunged through the 34th Street side of the building wreaking havoc. The major portion of the wreckage penetrated the 78th floor. An engine hurtled down an elevator shaft igniting a furious fire in the basement. Parts of the motor and landing gear tore through the entire building landing on top of a 13-story ediface across the street and igniting a second conflagration.

With legs held down by two newsmen, photographer Ernie Sisto crawled out on a harrowing ledge and took the historic photo. It ran on page one of the New York Times.

[TexasCajun]

I think ABC may really asking if the Empire State Bldg didn't collapes when hit by a B52 why did the WTC buildings fall?

[ClearCase_guy]

Actually this is the best possible scenario for Republicans

What can I say? Rove is a real smart fella.

[eyespysomething]

Wow, just wow.

[HawaiianGecko]

Gee, and all this time I thought the last plane to hit a NYC skyscraper was United flight 175 on 9/11/01 at 9:03am.  Unless 110 stories isn't tall enough to be called a skyscraper.

 

[Uncle Hal]

I remember this crash. I was 10 at the time. It got a lot pf publicity.

[Williams]

Not sure of your point, with WW2 still raging, Americans would think of an attack whether on the East or West coast. There had been some attempted saboteurs apprehended and teh whole nation was on a war footing. And no one knew Hiroshima was about to happen.

[ASOC]

Yup - park a B-25 next to an F-15D/E.

Guess which one is bigger and heavier?

Which can carry a bigger bomb load, has greater range and a smaller crew?

Some things do get better with new tech, tho, as a COIN aircraft, the B-25 (modified) was formidable.

[Tijeras_Slim]

Granted all your points, but it was more a comment on the hyperbole of the author. Whom I doubt has your grasp of history.

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

They wanted to forget that one!!!

[AppyPappy]

Yo B-25. not B-52

[UNGN]

I think ABC may really asking if the Empire State Bldg didn't collapes when hit by a B52 why did the WTC buildings fall?

B-25's and B-52's are two completely different animals.

A fully loaded B-52 hitting the empire state building, brings it down.

A B-25 is small and light in comparison.

[Wuli]

ABC has become the beacon of hype, slime and sleaze.

You have an actual plane crash at a building in Manhattan and low and behold ABC follows with "Empire State Building Sustained Crash" as if its a breaking story.

Those people are nuts.