Crash of a Curtiss C-46A-40-CU Commando on Masirah Island: 4 killed

Date & Time: Apr 15, 1945
Type of aircraft:
Curtiss C-46 Commando
Operator:
Registration:
42-60958
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
MSN:
26833
YOM:
1944
Location:
Masirah Island
Ash Sharqiyah North Governorate
Country:
Oman
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
Crashed on Masirah Island following an engine failure. All four crew members were killed.

Crash of a Curtiss C-46A-55-CK near Ledo

Date & Time: Apr 8, 1945
Type of aircraft:
Curtiss C-46 Commando
Operator:
Registration:
43-47115
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
MSN:
186
YOM:
1944
Location:
Ledo
Assam
Country:
India
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Enroute, an unknown technical failure forced the crew to abandon the aircraft. After both crew members bailed out, the aircraft dove into the ground and crashed near Ledo. The aircraft was destroyed while both occupants were unhurt.
Probable cause:
Unknown technical failure.

Crash of a Curtiss C-46A-55-CK Commando in Lawrenceville-George AFB: 2 killed

Date & Time: Apr 7, 1945 at 1348 LT
Type of aircraft:
Curtiss C-46 Commando
Operator:
Registration:
43-47187
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
258
YOM:
1945
Location:
Lawrenceville-George AAF
Illinois
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
Two minutes after its departure from runway 23 at Lawrenceville-George AFB, while climbing to a height of 400 feet, the aircraft stalled and crashed in a field located two miles from the airbase. The aircraft was destroyed by impact forces and both crew members were killed.
Crew:
1st Lt Hadley R. Edmondson,
1st Lt Donald L. Ferrier.
Probable cause:
Failure of the crew to prepare the flight correctly and to follow the pre-departure check-list. It was determined that the loss of control was caused by the fact that the elevator gust locks were not removed prior to departure on part of the crew.

Crash of a Curtiss C-46A-60-CK Commando in China: 4 killed

Date & Time: Apr 7, 1945
Type of aircraft:
Curtiss C-46 Commando
Operator:
Registration:
43-47211
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Hanchung – Liangshan
MSN:
282
YOM:
1944
Location:
China
All China
Country:
China
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
Went out of control and crashed in unknown circumstances in an isolated area somewhere in China. The wreckage was never found.
Crew:
T/Sgt Francis P. Bufkin Jr.,
F/O Robert M. Fiske,
T/Sgt Bert N. Wright.

Crash of a Curtiss C-46A-55-CK near Shin Bway Yang: 3 killed

Date & Time: Apr 5, 1945
Type of aircraft:
Curtiss C-46 Commando
Operator:
Registration:
43-47146
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Supply
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
MSN:
217
YOM:
1945
Location:
Shin Bway Yang
Kachin State
Country:
Myanmar
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
Crashed in unknown circumstances some 75 km west of Shin Bway Yang, while on a supply mission. All three crew members were killed.
Crew:
2nd Lt Willard C. Perry,
2nd Lt Garrett E. Peterson,
Cpl William D. Robertson.

Crash of a Curtiss C-46A-30-CU Commando in Lüliang

Date & Time: Apr 4, 1945
Type of aircraft:
Curtiss C-46 Commando
Operator:
Registration:
41-24772
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
26693
YOM:
1943
Location:
Lüliang
Shanxi
Country:
China
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crashed on takeoff for unknown reason. There were no casualties.

Crash of a Curtiss C-46A-55-CK near Chabua AFB

Date & Time: Apr 3, 1945
Type of aircraft:
Curtiss C-46 Commando
Operator:
Registration:
43-47165
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
MSN:
236
YOM:
1945
Location:
Chabua AFB (Dibrugarh)
Assam
Country:
India
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff, while climbing, a technical failure occurred on one engine. The crew decided to bail out and abandoned the aircraft that crashed 24 km southeast of Chabua AFB. While the aircraft was destroyed, both pilots were uninjured.
Probable cause:
Engine failure.

Crash of a Curtiss C-46A-40-CU Commando in Chabua AFB: 1 killed

Date & Time: Mar 31, 1945
Type of aircraft:
Curtiss C-46 Commando
Operator:
Registration:
42-61018
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Supply
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
26893
YOM:
1944
Location:
Chabua AFB (Dibrugarh)
Assam
Country:
India
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
Crashed near the Chabua Airbase, killing at least one crew member, 2nd Lt John L. Cain.

Crash of a Curtiss C-46A-55-CK in Kunming

Date & Time: Mar 31, 1945
Type of aircraft:
Curtiss C-46 Commando
Operator:
Registration:
43-47149
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
220
YOM:
1945
Location:
Kunming
Yunnan
Country:
China
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crash landed at Kunming-Wujiaba Airport. There were no casualties.

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

Date & Time: Mar 29, 1945
Type of aircraft:
Curtiss C-46 Commando
Operator:
Registration:
43-47140
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
211
YOM:
1945
Location:
Zhenjiang
Jiangsu
Country:
China
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The approach was too high and the aircraft landed too long. After touchdown, the remaining distance was insufficient. The pilot observed a ditch at the end of the runway and turn steeply to the right. The aircraft went out of control and came to rest. There were no casualties but the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
Wrong approach configuration on part of the crew. The pilot was stressed and confused at the time of the accident as he just witnessed the explosion of a USAAF B-25 in flight.
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