Crash of a Consolidated B-24D-35-CO Liberator in Clovis: 9 killed

Date & Time: Apr 1, 1943 at 0015 LT
Operator:
Registration:
42-40164
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
MSN:
1241
YOM:
1943
Crew on board:
9
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
9
Circumstances:
The crew was performing a routine navigation training flight when he was forced to attempt an emergency landing at Clovis Airfield. While on approach at night, the airplane crashed and was destroyed. All nine occupants were killed.
Crew:
1st Lt Ray G. Hanson,
2nd Lt Fred Scagnetti,
2nd Lt John W. Foster Jr.,
2nd Lt Harold J. White,
S/Sgt Vernal D. Berreth,
S/Sgt William Henry Block,
S/Sgt Jack M. Day,
T/Sgt R. H. Blume,
T/Sgt Paul Henry Pricer.

Crash of a Consolidated B-24D-25-CO Liberator in Ploiești: 2 killed

Date & Time: Apr 1, 1943
Operator:
Registration:
41-24294
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
1089
YOM:
1942
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
10
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
The airplane was engaged in an operation to attack an oil refinery in Ploiești. Approaching the target area, it was hit by the German Flak then shot down by a German fighter and crashed. Two crew members were killed and eight others became PoW.
Crew:
1st Lt John D. Palm, pilot,
2nd Lt William F. Love, copilot,
T/Sgt Alexander Rockinson, flight engineer,
2nd Lt William K. Wright, navigator, †
T/Sgt Harold Black, radio operator,
2nd Lt Robert W. Merrell, bombardier, †
S/Sgt William E. Thompson, air gunner,
S/Sgt Austin D. Chastain, air gunner,
S/Sgt Dallis R. Robertson, air gunner,
S/Sgt Clay E. Snyder, air gunner.
Probable cause:
Shot down by a German fighter.

Crash of a Consolidated B-24D-20-CO Liberator in Yangon: 5 killed

Date & Time: Mar 31, 1943
Operator:
Registration:
41-24213
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Gaya - Gaya
MSN:
1008
YOM:
1942
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
9
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
The airplane departed Gaya Airfield on a Mission on The Pyinmana Railroad Yards. While cruising in the vicinity of Yangon, it was shot down by a Japanese fighter and crashed. Four crew members parachuted to safety while five others were killed.
Probable cause:
Shot down by a Japanese fighter.

Crash of a Consolidated B-24D-25-CO Liberator at Chabua AFB: 5 killed

Date & Time: Mar 31, 1943
Operator:
Registration:
41-24238
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
MSN:
1033
YOM:
1942
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
Crashed in unknown circumstances at Chabua AFB. Five crew members were killed.
Crew:
1st Lt Warren J. Murphy,
1st Lt Burton L. Watts,
1st Lt James Houston Henderson,
Cpl William L. Cervantes,
Cpl Francis X. Markley.

Crash of a Consolidated B-24D-CO Liberator in Whittlesey

Date & Time: Mar 29, 1943
Operator:
Registration:
FL950
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
158
YOM:
1941
Region:
Crew on board:
10
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Following an uneventful mission, the airplane was returning to base when it ran out of fuel, forcing all 10 crew members to bail out. Out of control, the airplane dove into the ground and crashed in Whittlesey. All 10 occupants parachuted to safety.
Probable cause:
Fuel exhaustion.

Crash of a Consolidated B-24E-5-FO Liberator at Holloman AFB: 7 killed

Date & Time: Mar 25, 1943 at 2210 LT
Operator:
Registration:
42-7019
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Holloman - Holloman
MSN:
43
YOM:
1943
Crew on board:
10
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
7
Circumstances:
The crew was engaged in a local training flight out from Holloman AFB. Upon takeoff, the engine n°2 caught fire. The pilot shut down the engine and feathered its propeller. Shortly after rotation, while turning to the left, the airplane impacted the ground and crashed near the airbase. Six crew members were killed and five others were injured. The copilot escaped unhurt. Two days after the accident, one of the survivors died from injuries sustained.
Crew:
1st Lt Frank W. Gardner, pilot,
S/Sgt Price A Keys, assistant flight engineer,
2nd Lt Will D. Willis, navigator,
S/Sgt Ralph M. Clark, air gunner,
S/Sgt Lawrence W. Suprenand, air gunner.
Passengers:
Sgt John A. Jarvis,
Pfc Francis X. Joyce.
Probable cause:
The engine n°2 caught fire on takeoff.

Crash of a Consolidated B-24D-35-CO Liberator on Mt Sangre de Cristo: 8 killed

Date & Time: Mar 25, 1943 at 2100 LT
Operator:
Registration:
42-40146
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Cannon AFB - Pueblo
MSN:
1223
YOM:
1943
Crew on board:
8
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
8
Circumstances:
The airplane departed Cannon AFB, Clovis, on a navigational training exercise to Pueblo. While cruising at night in instruments conditions, it crashed on Mt Sangre de Cristo located 19 km southeast of San Luis, CO. All eight crew members were killed.
Crew:
1st Lt George W. Wiggins, pilot,
2nd Lt William R. Bowerman, copilot,
S/Sgt Walter S. Ciesielski, flight engineer,
S/Sgt Franklin O. Bynum, assistant flight engineer,
2nd Lt John T. Crowley, navigator,
Sgt Walter G. Dymond, radio operator,
Sgt Edward P. Foley, assistant radio operator,
2nd Lt Hoyt A. Phelps, bombardier.
Probable cause:
Controlled flight into terrain.

Crash of a Consolidated B-24D-20-CO Liberator at Biggs AFB

Date & Time: Mar 25, 1943
Operator:
Registration:
41-24206
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
1001
YOM:
1942
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crashed on takeoff and damaged beyond repair. There were no fatalities.

Crash of a Consolidated B-24D-53-CO Liberator at Lowry AFB

Date & Time: Mar 23, 1943
Operator:
Registration:
42-40377
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
1454
YOM:
1943
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crashed on landing following a failure of the hydraulic system. There were no fatalities.
Probable cause:
Failure of the hydraulic system.

Crash of a Consolidated B-24D-20-CO Liberator off Baltrum Island: 10 killed

Date & Time: Mar 22, 1943
Operator:
Registration:
41-24191
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
MSN:
986
YOM:
1942
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
10
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
10
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Shipdham on an operation to Wilhelmshaven. While cruising along the east Frisian Islands, it was shot down by a German fighter and crashed into the sea off Baltrum Island. All 10 crew members were killed.
Crew:
1st Lt Virgil R. Fouts, pilot,
2nd Lt Frank Navas, copilot,
2nd Lt Robert H. Seaman, navigator,
1st Lt Joseph L. Brenner, bombardier,
S/Sgt Maurice H. Dobbins, flight engineer,
T/Sgt Richard K. Nordquist, assistant flight engineer,
S/Sgt Kenneth A. Klose, radio operator,
T/Sgt Eldo A. Russell, assistant radio operator,
S/Sgt Esward W. Lindau, air gunner,
S/Sgt Jerry H. Wieser, air gunner.
Probable cause:
Shot down by a German fighter.