Tornado Outbreak of 1945

A series of tornadoes that struck Arkansas on April 12, 1945, killed twenty-two people and caused widespread damage.

The April 12, 1945, tornado outbreak began in central Oklahoma and moved northeast through Arkansas and into Missouri, killing a total of 107 people in the three states, including twenty-two in Arkansas. The first two casualties in the state occurred as a twister hit Dora (Crawford County), just west of Van Buren (Crawford County).

A twister ravaged Madison County, where the Madison County Record reported about 100 buildings destroyed “and inestimable damage done to residence and business property, school houses and church buildings, farm lands and equipments. Many farm animals were killed.” The tornado blacked out Rural Electrification Administration power from Berryville (Carroll County) to Huntsville (Madison County).

The tornado initially hit Crosses (Madison County), killing one person and leaving only two buildings standing, before moving to Asher (Madison County) and Japton (Madison County), killing a man in each of those communities. It then hit Aurora (Madison County), where “practically all of the few buildings…were destroyed,” and then to Marble (Madison County) where the home of the Sam Doss family “was picked up, tossed into a hollow nearby and smashed into splinters.” Mrs. Doss and her six children were killed. Madison County would also suffer heavy flooding from the storm.

In Logan County, a tornado landed near Chismville (Logan County) around 8:30 p.m., and as it moved between there and East Prairie (Logan County) two people were injured, and many buildings damaged. It skipped the area between Caulksville (Logan County) and Ratcliff (Logan County) before hitting the home of Ruben Bowen east of Paris (Logan County), which was “blown from its foundation, turned over and rolled off down the hillside, where it was torn to pieces.” Bowen died, and his wife was injured.

The tornado continued into the McKendra (Logan County) area, killing three people, including an eleven-year-old girl who suffocated when her storm shelter collapsed. It continued on through Subiaco (Logan County) and Crossroads (Logan County) before killing a twelve-year-old boy at Union (Logan County). A local official estimated damage in Logan County at $200,000.

Johnson County was also hard hit. A tornado struck the Minnow Creek area around 9:00 p.m., killing three people, and then killed a person near Clarksville (Johnson County) before hitting the airport owned by the College of the Ozarks (now University of the Ozarks), where it destroyed hangars and five airplanes. It then struck Jamestown (Johnson County), mortally injuring a man, and on to Spadra (Johnson County), where it dissipated. Fifty people were hurt in Johnson County, and at least eighty-nine left homeless by the storm.

Another twister hit south of Harrison (Boone County), “causing considerable damage but no loss of life.”

For additional information:
Collier, Myrtle Alma Perren. “The Tornado of 1945.” Johnson County Historical Journal 19 (April 1993): 3–7.

“Fifth Johnson County Victim Dies.” Arkansas Gazette, April 18, 1945, p. 9.

“Homer Tedder of Asher Killed, Wife Hurt When Tornado Hits.” Northwest Arkansas Times, April 14, 1945, p. 1.

Madison County Record, April 12, 1945, p. 1., col. 5–7.

“The Terrible Tornado of 1945.” Wagon Wheels 17 (Fall/Winter 1997): 12–19.

“Tornado Kills 107 Persons in Three States.” Arkansas Gazette, April 14, 1945, p. 1, 12.

“Tornado Worst Disaster in Madison County History.” Madison County Record, April 19, 1945, p. 1.

Mark K. Christ
Little Rock, Arkansas