Crash of a Curtiss C-46A-60-CK Commando in Zhijiang: 45 killed

Date & Time: Oct 30, 1945 at 1915 LT
Type of aircraft:
Curtiss C-46 Commando
Operator:
Registration:
43-47228
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Zhijiang – Shanghai
MSN:
299
YOM:
1945
Location:
Zhijiang
Hunan
Country:
China
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
46
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
45
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff, while in initial climb, the aircraft banked right, stalled and crashed in huge explosion. 45 occupants, among them three crew members, were killed, while five others were seriously injured. Weather was good at the time of the accident. The copilot reported prior to departure that the right engine magneto check was unsatisfactory. The captain considered the check as good and started the takeoff procedure. It appears the aircraft did not gain sufficient height after rotation as its total weight was well above the admissible MTOW. There were 46 soldiers on board, with their full package and ammunition as well.
Crew:
Cpl Wayne N. Alquist,
1st Lt Stanley Tosh 2.

Crash of a Curtiss C-46D-10-CU Commando near Coos Bay: 3 killed

Date & Time: Oct 26, 1945
Type of aircraft:
Curtiss C-46 Commando
Operator:
Registration:
44-77561
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Sedalia – Fresno – McChord
MSN:
32957
YOM:
1944
Location:
Coos Bay
Oregon
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:
When the crew started the approach to McChord AFB, he was informed that a landing was not possible due to poor weather conditions. The captain decided to return to Fresno but while flying east of Coos Bay, the crew decided to bail out and abandoned the aircraft that crashed in a wooded area located 42 miles east of Coos Bay. Rescuers arrived on site two days later and nine occupants were evacuated. For unknown reason, two people were still in the aircraft and were killed while a third one was never found. The exact cause and circumstances of the accident remains unknown.

Crash of a Curtiss C-46F-1-CU Commando near Nanyuan AFB: 59 killed

Date & Time: Oct 16, 1945 at 1130 LT
Type of aircraft:
Curtiss C-46 Commando
Operator:
Registration:
44-78591
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Hankou – Nanyuan
MSN:
22414
YOM:
1945
Location:
Nanyuan AFB
Beijing
Country:
China
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
55
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
59
Circumstances:
On approach to Nanyuan AFB located south of Beijing, the crew encountered poor visibility with low clouds down to 300 feet. About 25 km northwest of the airport, the aircraft hit a radio antenna (about 300 meters high) and crashed in a field. All 59 occupants were killed. It appears that the pilot were unable to locate the antenna due the low visibility, and the antenna was not mentioned on any navigation chart.

Crash of a Curtiss C-46D-20-CU near Boana: 5 killed

Date & Time: Oct 10, 1945
Type of aircraft:
Curtiss C-46 Commando
Operator:
Registration:
44-78490
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Biak – Finschhafen
MSN:
22313
YOM:
1945
Location:
Boana
Morobe
Country:
Papua New Guinea
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
While cruising in poor weather conditions at an altitude of 11,000 feet, the aircraft hit the slope of Mt Sarwaged located 22 km north of Boana. The wreckage was found few hours later and all five occupants were killed. At the time of the accident, the visibility was reduced due to rain falls.

Crash of a Curtiss C-46A-1-CU Commando near Upland: 4 killed

Date & Time: Oct 5, 1945
Type of aircraft:
Curtiss C-46 Commando
Operator:
Registration:
41-5190
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Norton - Reno
MSN:
26392
YOM:
943
Location:
Upland
California
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
Few minutes after takeoff from Norton AFB, in San Bernardino, while cruising in poor weather conditions, the aircraft hit the west slope of Mt Baldy at a height of 10,064 feet. The wreckage was found a day later and all four occupants have been killed. At the time of the accident, visibility was poor due to low clouds and precipitations.

Crash of a Curtiss C-46D-5-CU Commando off Finschhafen

Date & Time: Sep 30, 1945
Type of aircraft:
Curtiss C-46 Commando
Operator:
Registration:
44-77317
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
MSN:
32713
YOM:
1944
Location:
Finschhafen
Morobe
Country:
Papua New Guinea
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crashed into the sea shortly after takeoff from Finschhafen Airport. The aircraft sank and was lost while all occupants were able to return safely to the shore.

Crash of a Curtiss C-46D-5-CU Commando in Chinkiang: 20 killed

Date & Time: Sep 28, 1945
Type of aircraft:
Curtiss C-46 Commando
Operator:
Registration:
42-101183
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
MSN:
30638
YOM:
1944
Location:
Chinkiang
Jiangsu
Country:
China
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
17
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
20
Circumstances:
Crashed in unknown circumstances about 32 km southeast of Chinkiang, killing all 20 occupants.

Crash of a Curtiss C-46D-20-CU into the Pacific Ocean

Date & Time: Sep 26, 1945
Type of aircraft:
Curtiss C-46 Commando
Operator:
Registration:
44-78352
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
MSN:
22175
YOM:
1945
Location:
Pacific Ocean
World
Country:
World
Region:
World
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crashed in unknown circumstances in the south Pacific Ocean. The crew fate remains unknown.

Crash of a Curtiss C-46A-5-CK near Dibrugarh: 3 killed

Date & Time: Aug 31, 1945
Type of aircraft:
Curtiss C-46 Commando
Operator:
Registration:
43-47003
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
MSN:
74
YOM:
1944
Location:
Dibrugarh-Mohanbari
Assam
Country:
India
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
Crashed in unknown circumstances 56 km northwest of Dibrugarh, killing all three crew members.
Crew:
F/O Clyde C. Finley,
T/Sgt Donald Frega,
2nd Lt Arthur H. Rogers.
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