The sole remaining (of 2) Martin XB-51 Bomber aircraft, stationed at Edwards Air Force Base, California, taxis and takes off at El Paso International Airport. Moments after breaking ground on takeoff, this first prototype, number 46-0685, settles back onto the runway and crashes in fire and smoke. Flight engineer, S/Sgt. Wilbur R. Savage, of Rte. 3, Dawsonville, Georgia is killed in the crash and Maj. James O. Rudolph, pilot, succumbed to his injuries the next month.