Crash of a Douglas A-20B-DL Havoc near Seymchan: 3 killed

Date & Time: May 27, 1943
Type of aircraft:
Douglas A-20 Havoc/DB-7 Boston
Operator:
Registration:
41-3645
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Seymchan - Seymchan
MSN:
5975
YOM:
1941
Location:
Seymchan
Magadan oblast
Country:
Russia
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Aircraft flight hours:
35
Circumstances:
The airplane departed Seymchan on a training flight with one pilot, one inspector and one technician on board. Following single engine maneuvers, the crew continued to the south where the visibility was poor. The airplane failed to return to base and was declared missing. Local farmers found the wreckage on 15 June 1943 some 50 km southeast of Seymchan, 18 km northeast of the Boriskine mine. The airplane was destroyed and all three occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
The exact cause of the accident could not be determined. However, it is believed that the airplane disintegrated in the air, maybe following a structural failure, and was destroyed by a post crash fire. The right wing and the tail were found 1,5 - 2 km from the fuselage.

Crash of a Douglas P-70 Havoc near Leesburg: 3 killed

Date & Time: May 25, 1943
Type of aircraft:
Douglas A-20 Havoc/DB-7 Boston
Operator:
Registration:
39-759
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Location:
Leesburg
Florida
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:
Crashed in unknown circumstances 16 km south of Leesburg. Three crew members were killed.
Crew:
2nd Lt Arthur C. Tilton,
Sgt Walter H. Johnson,
Pfc Albert J. Thonen.

Crash of a Douglas DB-7B Boston III near RAF Rougham: 3 killed

Date & Time: May 22, 1943 at 1620 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas A-20 Havoc/DB-7 Boston
Operator:
Registration:
AL285
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Rougham - Rougham
Location:
Rougham AFB (RAF Bury St Edmunds)
Suffolk
Country:
United Kingdom
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
The French crew was performing a local training exercise at RAF Rougham. While flying at a too low altitude in the vicinity of the airfield, the airplane collided with a tree and crashed. Three crew members were killed and the pilot was injured.
Crew:
Lt Marcel Le Bivic, pilot,
Lt Roland Jaquinot,
Sgt/C Léonce Cohen,
Cpl/C John Deserteaux.
Probable cause:
Pilot error.

Crash of a Douglas A-20G-1-DO Havoc in Zhatai: 2 killed

Date & Time: May 22, 1943 at 0900 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas A-20 Havoc/DB-7 Boston
Operator:
Registration:
42-53625
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Delivery
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Yakutsk - Kirensk
MSN:
10960
YOM:
1943
Location:
Zhatai
Republic of Yakutia (Sakha)
Country:
Russia
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
The airplane departed Yakutsk Airport on a delivery flight to Kirensk and was the last of a group of five. Shortly after takeoff, while climbing to a height of 10-15 metres, the left engine failed. The crew raised the landing gear and attempted an emergency landing when the airplane stalled and crashed in Zhatai, some 10 km northeast of the airport, bursting into flames. The airplane was destroyed and both crew members were killed.
Crew:
S/Lt Ivan Alekseevich Timoshenko, pilot,
Sgt Mikhail Vasilievich Smirnov, radio operator.
Probable cause:
The left engine stopped during initial climb following a failure of the fuel pump. The airplane was fully loaded at the time of the accident.

Crash of a Douglas A-20 Havoc in Tomponsky: 3 killed

Date & Time: May 21, 1943
Type of aircraft:
Douglas A-20 Havoc/DB-7 Boston
Operator:
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Location:
Tomponsky
Republic of Yakutia (Sakha)
Country:
Russia
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
While cruising in poor weather conditions, the airplane impacted the slope of a mountain located in the Tomponsky District. All three crew members were killed.
Crew:
S/Lt Vladimir Grigorievich Lesnykh, pilot,
Lt Sergey Akimovich Sivelgin, navigator,
T/Sgt Georgy Georgievich Vedmitsky.
Probable cause:
Controlled flight into terrain.

Crash of a Douglas A-20A Havoc west of Topolinoye: 3 killed

Date & Time: May 21, 1943
Type of aircraft:
Douglas A-20 Havoc/DB-7 Boston
Operator:
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Seymchan - Yakutsk
Location:
Topolinoye
Republic of Yakutia (Sakha)
Country:
Russia
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
A group of three Douglas A-20A Havoc departed Seymchan on a flight to Yakutsk despite unfavorable weather conditions and without suitable communication with the ground. After passing Oymiakon, the crew continued in clouds at an altitude of 15,000 feet. Approaching Khandyga, the cloud layer became thick and the pilot decided to modify his route, heading 270° to 300°. About 25 minutes later, thinking he was flying vertical to the Aldan River, the pilot elected to reduce his altitude when the airplane impacted the slope of a mountain and crashed. All three crew members were killed. The wreckage was found by a a reindeer herder in May 1983 at coordinated 64° 6' N 133° 18' E, some 130 km west of Topolinoye. Both other airplanes landed safely in Yakutsk.
Probable cause:
Controlled flight into terrain while flying in clouds.

Crash of a Douglas A-20C Havoc near Lynchburg: 1 killed

Date & Time: May 20, 1943
Type of aircraft:
Douglas A-20 Havoc/DB-7 Boston
Operator:
Registration:
41-19203
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
MSN:
7605
YOM:
1941
Location:
Lynchburg
Tennessee
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
Crashed in unknown circumstances northeast of Lynchburg. A crew was killed.
Crew:
2nd Lt Fred J. Habian.

Crash of a Douglas A-20B-DL Havoc off Great Inagua Island

Date & Time: May 19, 1943
Type of aircraft:
Douglas A-20 Havoc/DB-7 Boston
Operator:
Registration:
41-3466
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
MSN:
5796
Location:
Great Inagua Island
Inagua
Country:
Bahamas
Region:
Central America
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The airplane crashed in unknown circumstances into the sea off Great Inagua Island. All three crew members (Clark, Bunch and Murray) were rescued while the airplane sank and was lost.

Ground accident of a Douglas DB-7B Boston III at RAF Thurleigh

Date & Time: May 16, 1943
Type of aircraft:
Douglas A-20 Havoc/DB-7 Boston
Operator:
Registration:
AL490
Flight Phase:
Taxiing
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Thurleigh - Thurleigh
Location:
Thurleigh AFB
Bedfordshire
Country:
United Kingdom
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The airplane suffered an accident while taxiing at RAF Thurleigh and was damaged beyond repair. There were no fatalities.

Crash of a Douglas DB-7B Boston IIIA near RAF West Malling

Date & Time: May 15, 1943
Type of aircraft:
Douglas A-20 Havoc/DB-7 Boston
Operator:
Registration:
BZ260
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Bombing
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Great Massingham - Great Massingham
MSN:
7554
YOM:
1941
Location:
West Malling
Kent
Country:
United Kingdom
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Great Massingham at 1540LT on an operation to Poix-de-Picardie. On return, it crashed for unknown reasons while on approach to RAF West Malling. A crew bailed out and parachuted to safety while three other occupants remained on board and were injured.
Crew:
Sgt W. C. Truxler, pilot,
Sgt D. D. H. Skipp,
Sgt S. E. Millbank,
Sgt A. S. Brady.
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