Today In History:  12 September  [1945]   --  The first flight of the USAAF Northrop XP-79B turbojet flying wing ends in tragedy

The design of the XP-79 had the pilot operating the aircraft in a prone position, permitting him to withstand much greater g-forces in pitch. The first flight of the prototype ends in tragedy when the aircraft goes out of control during a slow roll and crashes 15 minutes into the flight, spinning vertically into the ground.  Test pilot Harry Crosby is struck by the plane and falls to his death while attempting to bail out. The XP-79 project is cancelled soon afterward.


PHOTO: The sole prototype XP-79B.

See the Historical Aviation Film Unit website at http://www.aviationfilm.com to get a new history tidbit every day.


Photo Attribution:  Public Domain  via Wikimedia.