Blast Rips Big Plane, 8 Killed Superfort Explodes Over Georgia City
Waycross, Ga., Oct. 9, — A B-29 superfortress bomber exploded high over Waycross today, killing eight persons and spreading fragments of bodies and plane over 20 acres. The big four-engine bomber was on a special research mission testing secret electronic equipment, said public relations officer Harold R. Daniel at the plane's base, Warner Robins, Ga. "The whole town" heard a roar "like a terrific thunder clap" and hundreds stood frozen watching the disaster, eyewitnesses said. Four of those aboard leaped from the hurtling wreckage and landed safely by parachute in a farm field. Four bodies were trapped in the tail section, which snapped along with one wing from the main fuselage. Four other bodies were found scattered in two to four feet of water in a swamp at the edge of town where the wreckage fell. Daniel said several civilians were aboard the plane as electronic experts. He said guards were sent by air to recover and protect as much of the confidential equipment as possible. Capt. H. W. Moore of Wilkinsburg. Pa., one of the survivors, said he could not discuss the cause of the explosion or how he and the others escaped. He said the craft was to land "somewhere in Florida." One motor was buried in mud more than 250 yards from the largest remnant of the big plane. The Waycross Journal - Herald, which first reported the crash, said ''flesh, legs and arms are all over the area." A puff of light smoke, like a giant smoke ring, preceded the thunderous roar. Then the plane began ripping apart and plummeting downward. [Bluefield Daily Telegraph | Bluefield, West Virginia | Thursday, October 07, 1948 | Page 1 - Submitted by Janice Rice]


B-29 0n Secret Test Blows Up Over Georgia At Least Eight Killed, Some Survive By Parachuting After Blasted From Plane
WAYCROSS, Ga. — A B-29 Bomber exploded yesterday over Waycross, killing at least eight of its occupants, but "three of four" others survived by pulling their parachute ripcords as they were blown into space. The Superfortress was said to have been on a secret experiment flight, - possibly involving cosmic ray research, when it met disaster high in the clear blue sky over this south Georgia city. Thirteen men, some of them civilians, were reported aboard the plane when it left the Warner-Robins test base near Macon, Ga., an hour earlier. With a roar like a "clap of thunder", the blast ripped the big bomber as it cruised at 8,000 to 10,000 feet over the heart of Waycross, witnesses reported. There was one report that the plane railed a plume of black smoke just before the explosion. The disintegrating bomber fell in smoking fragments covering 20 acres of marshland on the edge of the great Okefenokee swamp. Three bodies were found in the tall section, the largest intact piece of the plane, police reported, another was wedged in a small forward section of the fuselage. Four other bodies, charred and mangled, were pulled from the muck of the marsh. Three men who got down by parachute were brought to a hospital here for treatment. They included the co-pilot, Capt. W. H. Moore of near Pittsburgh, Pa. Moore did not appear to be hurt badly but one of the other survivors was reported seriously injured. A fourth man was reported to have got his chute opened but this was not confirmed and his fate was unknown. [Logansport Pharos-Tribune | Logansport, Indiana | Thursday, October 07, 1948 | Page 19 - Submitted by Janice Rice]

Carey Thomas Killed by Vicious Negro Today
Shot While Trying To Make Arrest
Was Shot and Killed Today by Isaac McBride, Local Negro, Who Escaped
Carey A. Thomas, deputy sheriff was shot and instantly killed this morning (Friday) at the old Freeman Walker place several mites north of Homerville, by Isaac McBride, colored, three bullets taking effect.
The homicide occurred while Mr. Thomas was trying to arrest the negro. Mr. John Kay of Cogdell, had gone along with the officer but was not shot. The shooting occurred in the old Walker residence known to many as the late home of Mack T. Herrin, now owned by Sessoms Land and Securities Company.
McBride escaped. A posse of perhaps two hundred men is scouring the woods of northern Clinch this afternoon for him.   Bloodhounds from Berrien county have  been brought over to aid in tracking   him   down. The posse seems to be cool-headed in their temper, but it is not thought that it will be possible to capture McBride alive if he is caught up with due to the desperateness of his situation.
No announcement has been made as to funeral but it will probably be held Saturday.
Surviving are the widow and two little sons, and the parents, Mr. and Mrs. R. A. Thomas, and several brothers and sisters.
The body of the plain officer was brought into town about noon producing much excitement. The widow, Mrs. Thomas, with other close relatives, were grief-stricken.
McBride is a son of John McBride and was born and reared in Holmes Chapel, negro community six miles north of town. He was serving a probation sentence cm a charge of driving a car intoxicated last year and
also resisting arrest; he was arraigned at that time in Clinch Court and drew a fine and probation sentence. He paid the fine and went free.
Clinch County News January 14, 1938

Fugitive Slayer Is Caught By Officers
Corporal J.E. Davis of Waycross Shot But Not Seriously wounded
Corporal J. E. Davis of the state highway patrol, wounded Saturday afternoon in an exchange of shots with Isaac McBride, Negro fugitive wanted for the murder of Deputy Sheriff Carey Thomas of Clinch county, will not suffer serious effects from his wound, it was revealed here today.
Davis narrowly missed death when a shot from the Negro's pistol grazed his neck, leaving a skin wound only.
The patrolman returned the fire, breaking the Negro's arm. Davis was given emergency treatment at Douglas where he took an anti-tetanus "shot," and has since gone to his home at Taylorville for a short leave of absence. He was attached to the Waycross division office of the state patrol.
The details of McBride's capture were revealed today.
Manhunt
An intensive manhunt had been in progress for McBride since Friday noon, when Sheriff J. F. Poppell of Clinch county sounded an alarm to officers of surrounding counties. Deputy Sheriff Thomas had gone from Homerville Friday morning to serve a warrant on McBride at his home near Cogdell, accompanied by John Ray, naval stores operator. Ray reported that when they approached the Negro he showed no signs of resisting, and that after stating he would go with them peaceably, he whipped out a pistol and fired three shots into Thomas body. Ray dodged for cover, and the Negro fled to the woods after taking the slain deputy's pistol.
Officers and dogs of several counties joined in the search which continued through Friday night and Saturday.
On Saturday afternoon about sunset a party composed of Corporal Davis and Patrolman J. R. Cook, with John Ray of Cogdell and J. G. Newton and J. R. Harris of Homerville, penetrated a swamp section several miles from the scene of the slaying.
From Ambrush
McBride fired from ambush when the searching party approached a stump behind which he was hiding, according to Corporal Davis. The searchers had not seen the fugitive and had no warning of the impending pistol battle.
Davis, calm despite the fact that he had been "nicked" in the neck, broke the Negro's arm with a well placed shot, and McBride surrendered.
The prisoner was lodged in an unannounced jail.
The slain deputy is survived by his widow and two children, his parents, Mr. and Mrs. R. A. Thomas, and several brothers and sisters. Funeral services were held Saturday afternoon.
McBride was a native of Clinch county. He was serving a probated sentence for driving a car under the influence of whiskey, and resisting arrest, according to Clinch county authorities.—Waycross Journal-Herald.
Clinch County News January 21, 1938

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