Crash of a Curtiss C-46D-5-CU Commando in Barrackpore

Date & Time: Jun 30, 1945
Type of aircraft:
Curtiss C-46 Commando
Operator:
Registration:
42-101050
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Supply
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
30505
YOM:
1944
Location:
Barrackpore
West Bengal
Country:
India
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crashed on landing for unknown reason. There were no casualties.

Crash of a Curtiss C-46A-40-CU Commando in Gold Run: 3 killed

Date & Time: Jun 22, 1945 at 2337 LT
Type of aircraft:
Curtiss C-46 Commando
Operator:
Registration:
42-107339
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Reno – Long Beach
MSN:
27026
YOM:
1944
Location:
Gold Run
California
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
The crew departed Reno on a high level training flight bound for Long Beach, California. Enroute, weather conditions worsened and the captain decided to return to Reno. Few minutes later, the aircraft went out of control, dove into the ground and crashed in the American River Canyon located in Gold Run. The aircraft was destroyed and all three crew members were killed. There are conflicting versions about the reason of occurrence as one revealed that the loss of control was caused by an explosion in the right wing and the separation of both wings shortly later, and the second version mentioned a fire in the cockpit.

Crash of a Curtiss C-46A-55-CK Commando in Laohwangping

Date & Time: Jun 16, 1945
Type of aircraft:
Curtiss C-46 Commando
Operator:
Registration:
43-47094
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
165
YOM:
1944
Location:
Laohwangping
Guizhou
Country:
China
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
During a night approach, the aircraft undershot and crashed. There were no casualties.

Crash of a Curtiss C-46A-55-CK Commando in Chichiang

Date & Time: Jun 15, 1945
Type of aircraft:
Curtiss C-46 Commando
Operator:
Registration:
43-47166
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
237
YOM:
1945
Location:
Chichiang
Chongqing
Country:
China
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crashed on approach to Chichiang Airfield. There were no casualties.

Crash of a Curtiss C-46D-15-CU Commando in Jackson: 17 killed

Date & Time: Jun 14, 1945 at 1120 LT
Type of aircraft:
Curtiss C-46 Commando
Operator:
Registration:
44-77948
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Dallas – Jackson
MSN:
33344
YOM:
1945
Location:
Jackson
Mississippi
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
15
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
17
Circumstances:
On approach to Jackson Airport, at a height of 3,000 feet, the aircraft was hit by lightning. The captain was unable to maintain the control of the aircraft that crashed in flames in a wooded area located near Oakridge Drive. A passenger survived while 17 other occupants were killed.
Crew:
Sgt Henry G. Beasley,
Pvt Clifford W. Canady,
Pvt Joe Capes Jr.,
1st Lt Edward Carnot,
Pfc Betty J. Coleman,
2nd Lt John N. Ferrier,
2nd Lt Donald E. Hiller,
Pvt Charles H . Hines,
1st Lt Elmer F. Irwin Jr.,
2nd Lt Robert A. Petty,
1st Lt Harry L. Provasco,
S/Sgt William Richards,
Cpl Willard O. Rogers,
Cpt William R. Ross.

Crash of a Curtiss C-46D-5-CU Commando into the Pacific Ocean: 6 killed

Date & Time: Jun 13, 1945
Type of aircraft:
Curtiss C-46 Commando
Operator:
Registration:
44-77353
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
MSN:
32749
YOM:
1944
Location:
Pacific Ocean
World
Country:
World
Region:
World
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Circumstances:
Lost without trace in the west part of the Pacific Ocean while performing a flight from Papua New Guinea to Indonesia.
Crew:
2nd Lt Ray F. Cochran,
Cpl Theron S. Hensel,
1st Lt Robert W. McCullough,
2nd Lt Daryl W. Porter,
T/Sgt Oliver Edison Smiley,
Sgt Clifford E. Trainor.

Crash of a Curtiss C-46D-5-CU Commando into the Pacific Ocean: 5 killed

Date & Time: Jun 11, 1945
Type of aircraft:
Curtiss C-46 Commando
Operator:
Registration:
44-77336
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
MSN:
32732
YOM:
1944
Location:
Pacific Ocean
World
Country:
World
Region:
World
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
Crashed in unknown circumstances while performing a flight between The Philippines and Indonesia. Probably crashed in the west part of the Pacific. No trace of the aircraft nor the crew was found. The date of May 26 is also mentioned for this mishap.
Crew:
S/Sgt James A. Lyerly,
2nd Lt Thomas J. O'Brien,
2nd Lt Edward Y. Ong,
Sgt William B. Pemberton,
Sgt Ernest Gilbert Radcliff.

Crash of a Curtiss C-46A-30-CU Commando near Myitkyina: 4 killed

Date & Time: May 25, 1945
Type of aircraft:
Curtiss C-46 Commando
Operator:
Registration:
41-24749
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Supply
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
MSN:
26670
YOM:
1943
Location:
Myitkyina
Kachin State
Country:
Myanmar
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
Crashed 40 km northwest of Myitkyina while performing a supply mission. All four crew members were killed.
Crew:
F/O Max Stewart Gillespie,
F/O Stephen B. Pound Jr.,
T/Sgt Frank A. Radics Jr.,
Cpl Donald W. Stage.

Crash of a Curtiss C-46D-10-CU Commando in Taillefontaine: 44 killed

Date & Time: May 23, 1945
Type of aircraft:
Curtiss C-46 Commando
Operator:
Registration:
44-77507
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Ambulance
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
MSN:
32903
YOM:
1944
Location:
Taillefontaine
Aisne
Country:
France
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
40
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
44
Circumstances:
The aircraft was on its way to Paris with 40 US and German wounded and unnamed soldiers on board. Enroute, an engine caught fire and exploded. The aircraft dove into the ground and crashed in a field near the village of Taillefontaine. All 44 occupants were killed.
Crew:
1st Lt Rex L. Pond,
1st Lt Claude H. Weid,
Sgt Edward Vermillion,
Sgt Edward Hill.
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