New York City experienced a peacetime disaster on July 28, 1945, when a U.S. Army B-25 Mitchell bomber, navigating through dense fog, accidentally crashed into the Empire State Building. The incident, which occurred on a Saturday morning, resulted in the deaths of 14 people and caused significant damage to the iconic skyscraper. As highlighted in a recent social media post, the bomber "crashed into the Empire State Building in 1945, slicing through the 79th floor and killing 14 people in a fog-shrouded peacetime disaster."
The B-25 Mitchell, piloted by Lieutenant Colonel William Franklin Smith Jr., was on a routine personnel transport mission from Bedford Army Air Field in Massachusetts to Newark Metropolitan Airport in New Jersey. Heavy fog severely reduced visibility over Manhattan, causing the pilot to become disoriented. Despite warnings about the conditions, the aircraft proceeded, ultimately striking the north side of the Empire State Building.
The bomber impacted the building between the 78th and 80th floors, specifically the 79th, creating an 18-by-20-foot hole. The collision ignited aviation fuel, leading to a fire that spread through several floors but was remarkably extinguished by New York firefighters within 40 minutes. While the crash caused approximately $1 million in damages, equivalent to about $17 million in 2024, the building's structural integrity remained intact.
Of the 14 fatalities, three were crew members aboard the bomber, and eleven were individuals working within the building. Among the injured was elevator operator Betty Lou Oliver, who miraculously survived a 75-story fall after the elevator cables snapped due to the impact. The rapid response and the building's robust construction allowed for repairs to be completed within just three months, demonstrating its resilience.
The 1945 crash remains a notable event in New York City's history, underscoring the dangers of aerial navigation in adverse weather conditions. It also stands as a testament to the structural strength of the Empire State Building, which withstood a direct impact from a military aircraft. This historical incident continues to be a point of interest, illustrating a unique moment of accidental tragedy in an otherwise peaceful post-war period.