B-25J 44-31401 crash east of Lake Havasu City AZ on August 11 1945

B-25J 44-31401 crash east of Lake Havasu City AZ on August 11, 1945

August 11, 1945, B-25J, 44-31401, based at Yuma AAF, crashed near present day Lake Havasu City. Little debris remains. According to the mishap report, the aircraft flew into the mountain after encountering low clouds and rain. All five men aboard the plane died. Small debris is scattered high on one of the ridges and one radial engine is easily accessible lower down the mountain.

Fatally Injured:
Robert L Laird
Juan S. Madero Jr.
John W. Winter
William G. Winter
William F. Strange

Remains of one of the rudders.

North American B-25J-1-NC (S/N 43-3892, the 23rd J model built), taken on April 17, 1944. (U.S. Air Force photo)

One of the rudders and the horizontal stabilizer.

Very little remains of the B-25 except small scattered remains.