Crash of a Lockheed PV-1 Ventura off Olevuga Island: 5 killed

Date & Time: Oct 5, 1944 at 1000 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
NZ4561
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
MSN:
6005
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
During an anti-submarine mission, one of the engine failed. The captain reduced his altitude in an attempt to ditch the aircraft when control was lost. Aircraft dove into the sea and crashed few miles off shore. All five crew members were killed.
Crew (1st Squadron):
P/O George Parker,
P/O Thomas Vautier,
F/Sgt Leo Comesky,
Sgt Barry Rosenberg,
Sgt Leslie Smith.
Probable cause:
Engine failure.

Crash of a Lockheed PV-1 Ventura off the Solomon Islands: 5 killed

Date & Time: Sep 9, 1944 at 1200 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
NZ4614
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Honiara - Honiara
MSN:
6270
YOM:
1944
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
The crew was engaged in a bombing mission over Rabaul with two other similar aircraft and left Honiara at 0525LT. While approaching the target, NZ4614 disappeared and apparently crashed into the Solomon Sea. The crew of both other aircraft started a SAR mission to find the wreckage but without success. All operations were eventually suspended on September 17 as no trace of the aircraft was found. As the Japanese forces evacuated the region in February 1944, it was concluded the crash was not caused by enemy action.
Crew:
F/Lt Roye Stevens,
F/O John Carson,
W/O Geoffrey Innes,
P/O Stanley Dawson,
F/O John McGuire.

Crash of a Consolidated C-87-CF on Florida Island: 27 killed

Date & Time: Jul 26, 1944 at 2030 LT
Operator:
Registration:
41-11706
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Canton Island - Honiara
MSN:
202
YOM:
1941
Region:
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
21
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
27
Circumstances:
The aircraft left Canton Island (Kiribati) at 1100LT bound for Honiara Airport, on Guadalcanal Island, Solomon Islands, with an ETA at 2100LT. While on approach by night, the four engine aircraft hit a mountain slope (2,000 feet high) located on the Florida Island, north of Honiara. The wreckage was spotted two days later, on July 28. Debris were found some 200 feet from the summit and all 27 occupants were killed.
Crew:
Hugh W. Prince, pilot,
Frederick F. Gundrum Jr., copilot,
Willard L. Churchill, flight engineer,
Eddie B. Hult, navigator,
J. Arthur Strumph, radio operator,
William A. Staley, traffic clerk.
Passengers:
Air Commodore Isaac John Fitch,
Lt Col John C. Pearson,
Maj R. R. Barton-Tates,
Lt Col Paul H. Berkowitz,
Lt Col Euliss L. Duggan,
Col Charles P. Burnett Jr.,
1st Lt Stephen J. Maliszewski,
2nd Lt William P. Foil,
Cpt Herbert R. Gore,
Cpt John S. Ingraham,
Maj Morton L. Talley Jr. 10
Source, photo and more info on
http://www.archaehistoria.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=123:site-flor5-aircraft-top-secret-cargo-consairway-c-87-liberator-express-41-11706&catid=21&Itemid=102

Crash of a Douglas R4D-5 on Guadalcanal Island: 15 killed

Date & Time: Jun 12, 1944
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
17180
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
MSN:
12778
YOM:
1944
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
12
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
15
Circumstances:
While cruising over the Guadalcanal Island, the aircraft hit a mountain slope and crashed. All 15 occupants were killed.

Crash of a Douglas R4D-5 off the Solomon Islands: 23 killed

Date & Time: May 18, 1944
Operator:
Registration:
39073
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Torikina - Honiara
MSN:
10093
YOM:
1943
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
20
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
23
Circumstances:
The aircraft left Torikina Airfield on Bougainville Island at 1008LT bound for Honiara on Guadalcanal Island. The last radio contact was just after take off completed in marginal weather conditions (light rain and visibility limited to one mile). The aircraft never arrived in Honiara and all SAR operations did not find any trace of the aircraft nor the 23 crew members.

Crash of a Consolidated PBY-5A Catalina on Choiseul Island: 9 killed

Date & Time: Mar 8, 1944
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
48259
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Site:
MSN:
1621
Region:
Crew on board:
9
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
9
Circumstances:
En route, while cruising over the Choiseul Island, the seaplane hit a mountain and was destroyed. All nine occupants were killed.
Crew:
Lieutenant C. Burkhardt, pilot, 8.

Crash of a Douglas R4D-5 off Telin Island: 22 killed

Date & Time: Feb 5, 1944
Operator:
Registration:
12434
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
MSN:
9617
YOM:
1943
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
20
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
22
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from Talina Island (Telin Island), while climbing, the aircraft crashed in unknown circumstances into the sea, few yards off shore. All 22 occupants were killed.

Crash of a Lockheed PV-1 Ventura off Domo Cove: 4 killed

Date & Time: Dec 7, 1943 at 0543 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
NZ4508
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
5323
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
While completing a turn in poor weather conditions and low visibility, the twin engine aircraft crashed into the sea and exploded. A crew member was able to swim to the beach while four other occupants were killed.
Crew (1st Squadron):
P/O Charles Harney, †
F/O Gifford Stansell, †
F/Sgt Leslie Smith, †
W/O James Burton, †
Sgt H. Ham.

Crash of a Consolidated PBY-5 Catalina off Malaita Island: 5 killed

Date & Time: Nov 19, 1943
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
08388
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Region:
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
Crashed into the sea off Malaita Island during a maritime patrol mission. Two crew members were rescued while five others were killed.

Crash of a Douglas R4D-5 in Honiara: 1 killed

Date & Time: Aug 27, 1943
Operator:
Registration:
12433
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
9616
YOM:
1943
Region:
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
Crashed on take off from Honiara-Henderson Field. At least one crew member was killed.