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Crash of a Douglas C-47A-50-DL in Hamlin

Date & Time: Jun 23, 1947
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
42-24291
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
10153
YOM:
1943
Location:
Hamlin
Saskatchewan
Country:
Canada
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crashed on landing. There were no casualties.

Crash of a Boeing B-29A-70-BN Superfortress near Perkinsville: 12 killed

Date & Time: Jun 15, 1947 at 0014 LT
Type of aircraft:
Boeing B-29 Superfortress
Operator:
Registration:
44-62228
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Davis Monthan - Andrews - Hanscom Field - Davis Monthan
MSN:
11705
Location:
Perkinsville
Vermont
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
12
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
12
Circumstances:
The flight had originated the previous morning when the plane took off from Davis-Monthan Air Force Base in Tucson, Arizona, for a navigational training mission to the east coast. The plane was scheduled to land at Andrews Field (Later known as Andrews Air Force Base) in Washington, D.C., but due to bad weather was diverted to Pittsburgh Airport where it arrived at 1507LT. After refueling, the aircraft proceeded towards Hanscom Air Force Base in Bedford, Massachusetts, where it was to remain overnight before flying back to Arizona the following day. However, the weather grew worse, and with poor visibility and darkness falling the crew became lost, ending up over Vermont instead of Massachusetts. Shortly after midnight on June 15, the bomber crashed into the southeast side of Hawks Mountain and exploded. All twelve men aboard were killed, and to this day the incident remains the worst aviation accident to ever occur in Vermont.
Crew:
1st Lt Robert G. Fessler, pilot,
2nd Lt Wilfred E. Gassett, copilot,
2nd Lt Ceasare P. Fontana, observer,
M/Sgt D. D. Jack, crew chief,
T/Sgt Paul H. Fetterhoff,
T/Sgt Clayton K. Knight,
S/Sgt Oliver W. Hartwell,
S/Sgt Sylvester S. Machalac,
S/Sgt John J. O’Toole,
Cpl Harry C. Humphrey,
Cpl Robert Clark,
Pfc Robert M. Stewart.
Source:
http://www.newenglandaviationhistory.com/tag/b-29-44-62228/

Crash of a Douglas C-47D in Fort Knox

Date & Time: Jun 15, 1947
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
44-76244
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Military
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
15828/32576
YOM:
1945
Location:
Fort Knox
Kentucky
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crashed on landing. Crew fate unknown.

Crash of a Douglas C-54D-5-DC Skymaster near Atsugi: 41 killed

Date & Time: May 29, 1947 at 2245 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-54 Skymaster
Operator:
Registration:
42-72553
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Seoul – Tachikawa
MSN:
10658
YOM:
1945
Location:
Atsugi NAS
Kantō
Country:
Japan
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
8
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
33
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
41
Circumstances:
The aircraft was performing a flight from Seoul-Kimpo to Tachikawa AFB with several US officers and five civilians on board. While approaching the Tokyo area by night and from the southwest, the crew completed a turn at an altitude of 1,500 meters in marginal weather conditions when the aircraft hit the slope of a mountain located west of the city of Atsugi, about 30 km southwest of Tachikawa AFB. The aircraft was destroyed by impact forces and burned completely. All 41 occupants were killed. At the time of the accident, the visibility was 10 km with cumulus and altostratus between 1,000 and 2,500 meters.
Probable cause:
Apparently following an inappropriate flight planing, or maybe due to a lack of concentration or situational awareness, the crew did not check their instruments properly and failed to recognize that they were following a wrong heading to land at Tachikawa AFB. It is possible that strong winds (up to 40 knots at the time of the accident) may contribute to the deviation of the approach path.

Crash of a Boeing B-29F-100-BW Superfortress in Fort Wainwright AFB: 3 killed

Date & Time: May 29, 1947
Type of aircraft:
Boeing B-29 Superfortress
Operator:
Registration:
45-21848
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
13742
Location:
Fort Wainwright AFB (Ladd Field)
Alaska
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
12
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from Fort Wainwright AFB (Ladd Field), while in initial climb, the aircraft stalled and crashed in flames 3 miles east of the airfield. Nine crew members were rescued while three others were killed.

Crash of a Boeing XC-97 Stratofreighter in Wright-Patterson AFB: 5 killed

Date & Time: May 22, 1947
Type of aircraft:
Boeing C-97 Stratofreighter
Operator:
Registration:
43-27472
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
8483
Location:
Wright-Patterson AFB (Dayton)
Ohio
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
On final approach to Wright-Patterson AFB, the aircraft went out of control and crashed in flames in a field located 5 miles short of runway. Five crew members were killed while two others were seriously injured.

Crash of a Beechcraft C-45F Expeditor near Windsor: 6 killed

Date & Time: May 19, 1947
Type of aircraft:
Beechcraft C-45 Expeditor
Operator:
Registration:
44-87142
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
MSN:
8401
YOM:
1945
Location:
Windsor
Ontario
Country:
Canada
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Circumstances:
While approaching the Selfridge Air National Guard Base from the south, the twin engine aircraft crashed in unknown circumstances two miles south of Windsor, Ontario. All six occupants were killed.

Crash of a Douglas C-47B-10-DK near Livingston

Date & Time: May 19, 1947
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
43-49248
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Mountains
MSN:
15064/26509
YOM:
1944
Location:
Livingston
Montana
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Enroute, the crew encountered an unexpected situation and decided to abandon the aircraft and to bail out. The aircraft dove into the ground and crashed in a mountainous are located 5 miles southeast of Livingston. Both pilots were found unharmed.

Crash of a Fairchild C-82A-20-FA Packet near Austin

Date & Time: May 11, 1947
Type of aircraft:
Fairchild C-82 Packet
Operator:
Registration:
44-23028
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
10072
YOM:
1944
Location:
Austin-Bergstrom
Texas
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The crew was forced to make an emergency belly landing southeast of Bergstrom AFB, near Austin. There were no casualties but the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of a Beechcraft C-45F Expeditor in Songea

Date & Time: May 9, 1947
Type of aircraft:
Beechcraft C-45 Expeditor
Operator:
Registration:
44-47197
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Swartkop - Songea
MSN:
7131
Location:
Songea
Ruvuma Region
Country:
Tanzania
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crashed on landing in unknown circumstances. The aircraft was damaged beyond repair and all four occupants were rescued.
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