John David Trimmier


1942

Textile Engineering

Attended Clemson during 1938-1940 school years.

Inman, SC

Parents - Mr. and Mrs. J. Lloyd Trimmier. He was also survived by 3 sisters, Mrs. Lane Merritt, Mrs. Wade Wordsworth, and Miss Mary Jane Daniel; and 2 brothers, Lloyd and Paige Trimmier.

Army Air Force, Second Lieutenant

Columbia Army Air Base

Apr 25, 1920

Dec 7, 1942

DNB (Death non-Battle). Lieutenant Trimmier died in an aircraft accident near Columbia, SC. The plane, a medium bomber was returning to the Columbia air base when it crashed 6 miles southeast of Columbia. Lieutenant Trimmier was the co-pilot. (See Accident Report)

Inman Presbyterian Church

SE

Additional Information

Accident Report # 43-12-7-2 Summary
 
Aircraft Model B-256; S/N. 41-13286
Organization: 3rd Bom. Com. 3rd AF
Location: Columbia Army Air Base Columbia, SC
Group: 309th Bomb Gp; Squadron: 378th Bomb Sq.
Place of Departure: Spartanburg, SC
Target or intended destination: Columbia, SC
Type of Mission: Transition training
Date: 7 December 1942; Time: 13:10 EST
Location of Crash: 9 mi. SE of Columbia, SC
Reason aircraft was Lost: excessive loadings caused by abrupt pullout at high speeds
Number of Persons aboard aircraft: 7
 
List of Crew (Crew position, Name, Rank, Status)
Pilot-Trimmier, John D-2nd Lt.-fatal.
Co-pilot-Thomas, Robert E. -2nd Lt.-fatal.
Engineer-Ford, Lawrence F. – S/Sgt.-fatal.
Engineer-Fynan, Earl-S/Sgt.-fatal.
Gunner-Aycock, Julian C. -Sgt.-fatal.
Gunner-Jones, Alton, J. -Sgt.-fatal.
Gunner-Dorman, William J. -S/Sgt.-fatal.

 

Narrative of eyewitness statements:

  1. The plane was returning to Columbia from Spartanburg.   Clearance was given at 1308.
  2. Witnesses to the crash stated the time of the accident at about 1:00pm.
  3. It is considered probable that the plane went into a very steep spiral from a right turn and was pulled out violently when just below the overcast which at the time was approximately 600 ft.
  4. Due to the loadings imposed by the abrupt pullout the plane disintegrated in the air.  Icing conditions encountered during the descent might have been a contributing factor but responsibility for the crash is undetermined.

Lieutenant Trimmier entered the Army Air Corps in January 1942 and received his wings on July 25.  He is also memorialized on the Oconee County (SC) War Memorial.

Related Images Click to Enlarge

Spartanburg Herald 12/09/1942

The State 12/08/1942 p1

Extra Documents

December 7 – Vignette written by Kelly Durham for The Echo