The two planes began a spiraling descent from approximately 15,000 feet as fire and explosions further destroyed the aircraft. All of the crew from the Alamogordo plane perished in the accident. Amazingly two men survived from the Clovis plane; 2nd Lt. Edwin Smith Co-Pilot and Gunner Cpt. Earl Wischmeier. Since Lt. Smith had unbuckled his seatbelt the impact sent him bouncing around the inside of the cabin, once he was able to sit back down he attempted to regain control of the spiraling plane. The controls were damaged too badly to control the plane and Smith quickly decided to escape the aircraft. He opened a window and attempted to climb out but became stuck by his parachute harness. The slipstream pinned him against the fuselage and Smith began to realize the end was near. Looking straight into the number three engine and unable to crawl out or back inside he began to pray for God's forgiveness and asked for help to prepare to die. By some miracle his chute ripped open and jerked him from the plane. As this happened his right leg was struck by the propeller of the number three engine but only breaking the bone and clipping off the end of his boot. He came to the ground with a few other injuries and was later found by a Captain in the medical corps from nearby Fort Wolter's Army Hospital.

Meanwhile in the back of the plane Cpt. Earl Wischmeier from West Burlington, Iowa was in a fight for his life as well. Wischmeier had removed his parachute prior to the crash but had remained in his harness. The impact and spiraling descent pinned him against the inside of the fuselage but a parachute sliding about nearby came within his grasp. He quickly donned the parachute and set about trying to escape the inferno beginning to rage around him. Fuel was also streaming along the outside of the fuselage and igniting into flame. He broke the sight off of his gun and began to strike the gun blister which if it broke would create an escape route. The blister was a clear protective shield through which the gunner could take aim at targets. After a few quick but destructive blows the fire weakened blister broke free and Wischmeier escaped the falling plane. However the parachute he had found failed to fully deploy and he fell a few hundred feet saved from certain death by landing in a tree. Despite breaking a leg, dislocating an ankle and suffering from serious burns he walked about half a mile to a home where his only request was for a drink of water.
After several weeks the men were released from the Fort Wolters Army Hospital and returned to their Clovis Airfield Barracks. It was a lonely and empty place without the companionship of their lost crew mates. Smith left the Air Corp soon after his recovery and returned home to Glasgow, Kentucky where he continues a career at 80 years old as a real estate broker. Wischmeier continued his career in the service of his country for another twenty years before retiring. Today he resides in Las Vegas, Nevada where he very active in the Catholic church and enjoys traveling at the young age of 83.

The Society is proud to be able to honor these men and are very pleased that they were joined by several family members from across the United States. Mr. Smith brought with him a nephew Woody Simmons of Kentucky, his daughter and family Patty Broom of Louisiana. Mr. Wischmeier was joined by daughters Laura French of California and Sharon Andrews of Washington. Another special guest was Emily Stinson of Kentucky who was the sister-in-law of 1st Lt. Aubrey Stinson, Pilot of the Alamogordo plane, who perished in the accident. The daughters of Mr. Wischmeier stated that their father had never really spoken of the accident and they learned of the details while attending the dedication. The men where also the Guests of Honor at a Big Band Hangar Dance that evening where they were warmly embraced by many of their fellow servicemen. Upon leaving for the hotel that evening an overwhelmed Wischmeier turned to those present and said "Well, I am finally free" as he has carried a survivor guilt within for many years, a guilt also shared by Smith who stated "I grieve today as I did 58 years ago and I will die with grief in my heart".

Among those touching moments of the dedication weekend October 17th - 19th, 2003 one of the most special was the reunion of these two brave men. For you see, after they left each other 58 years ago at the Fort Wolter's Army Hospital they had never seen each other again. Witnessing the rejoining of these military brothers was worth the wait alone to be able to honor what they and their lost servicemen had given to every man, woman and child both past, present and future of the United States of America.