Crash of a Douglas C-47A-60-DL near Topham: 9 killed

Date & Time: Dec 17, 1943
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
43-30739
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Topham - Topham
MSN:
13890
YOM:
1943
Location:
Topham (Canton Island)
All Kiribati
Country:
Kiribati
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
7
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
9
Circumstances:
The crew was performing a local trip around Canton Island following maintenance. While flying along the shore at a too low altitude (about 30 feet), the aircraft hit a tree with its right wing that was partially sheared off. The aircraft lost height and eventually crashed in flames some 400 metres further on. All nine occupants were killed.
Crew:
S/Sgt Walter W. Gebhardt,
2nd Lt George W. Gee,
2nd Lt John A. Harcharik Jr.,
Cpl Charles H. Lohman,
2nd Lt William A. Prater,
T/Sgt Leslie A. Roberts Jr.,
Pfc Joseph F. Scogna,
2nd Lt Morris M. Steinberg 1.

Crash of a Douglas C-47-DL in Shivpuri

Date & Time: Dec 16, 1943
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
41-18552
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
MSN:
4677
YOM:
1942
Location:
Shivpuri
Madhya Pradesh
Country:
India
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
En route, the crew bailed out for unknown reason. Out of control, the aircraft dove into the ground and crashed. There were no casualties.

Crash of a Douglas C-47-DL off the Turtle Head Island

Date & Time: Dec 14, 1943 at 0905 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
A65-3
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Cooktown – Horn Island
MSN:
9012
YOM:
1943
Location:
Turtle Head Island
Queensland
Country:
Australia
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
11
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
While flying along the east shore of Queensland, the left engine failed. For unknown reason, the propeller was not feathered, causing an excessive drag. In such situation, the captain decided to ditch the aircraft 1,5 km south of the Turtle Head Island. While all 14 occupants were rescued, the aircraft sank and was lost. At the time of the accident, the aircraft was carrying a load of cargo for a total of 2,740 kilos and 660 gallons of fuel. This caused the plane to be 1206 lbs (550 kg) overloaded.
Crew (36th Squadron):
F/Lt John Donellan Balfe, pilot,
Sgt Norman Properjohn,
F/Sgt T. H. Dennis.
Passengers:
P/O L. R. Ballard,
W/O P. G. Brown,
F/Lt R. S. Lovell,
Sgt R. Lucus,
ACI M. Van de Velde,
ACI E. C. Nason,
LAC C. T. Haylen,
LAC S. S. Collinson,
F/Sgt F. Potten,
Lt Fagg,
Col Collines.
Probable cause:
Overloaded, left engine failure (fuel exhaustion).

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-30-DL in Fort Hertz

Date & Time: Dec 10, 1943
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
42-23593
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
MSN:
9455
YOM:
1943
Location:
Fort Hertz
Kachin State
Country:
Myanmar
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Shot down and crashed near Fort Hertz, Burma. No casualties.
Probable cause:
Shot down by enemy fire.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-35-DL off Lae

Date & Time: Dec 8, 1943
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
42-23851
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
MSN:
9713
YOM:
1943
Location:
Lae
Morobe
Country:
Papua New Guinea
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The aircraft crashed into the Huon Gulf off Lae following a dual engine failure. All four crew members were rescued while the aircraft sank 1,6 km offshore.
Probable cause:
Dual engine failure.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-DL in Fort Benning AFB: 1 killed

Date & Time: Dec 4, 1943 at 1030 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
41-19494
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Test
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Fort Benning - Fort Benning
MSN:
6137
YOM:
1942
Location:
Fort Benning AFB (Lawson AAF)
Georgia
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
The left engine has been changed and the crew was completing a test flight following maintenance. The aircraft left Fort Benning AFB at 0946LT for a control flight. While cruising at a height of 3,500 feet, the crew encountered technical problems with the right engine that was over speeding. The captain decided to shut down the right engine and to feather the propeller but this was not possible, causing a high drag. He attempted to return to the base and informed ground of the when, on approach, the aircraft stalled and crashed in a field located 5 miles from runway 32 threshold. Two crew members were injured while the third occupant, 2nd Lt Robert A. Duclos, was killed.
Probable cause:
Right engine failure.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-65-DL off the Lundy Island

Date & Time: Dec 3, 1943
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
42-100511
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
MSN:
18974
YOM:
1943
Location:
Lundy Island
Devonshire
Country:
United Kingdom
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crashed in unknown circumstances in the Bristol Channel, off the Lundy Island. While the aircraft sank and was lost, all occupants were rescued.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-60-DL in Tsuyung AFB

Date & Time: Dec 2, 1943
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
42-24365
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
10227
YOM:
1943
Location:
Tsuyung AFB (Chuxiong)
Yunnan
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 at Tsuyung AFB. There were no casualties.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-30-DL near Port Moresby

Date & Time: Dec 1, 1943
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
42-23659
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Townsville – Port Moresby
MSN:
9521
YOM:
1943
Location:
Port Moresby
National Capital District
Country:
Papua New Guinea
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
While approaching Port Moresby-Jackson Airfield at a height of 4,000 feet, both engines failed. The captain attemted an emergency landing in a prairie located 20 miles west of aerodrome, near the Vanapa River. While the aircraft was damaged beyond repair, all four crew members were unhurt.
Probable cause:
Double engine failure.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-60-DL in Townsville

Date & Time: Dec 1, 1943
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
43-30752
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
13903
YOM:
1943
Location:
Townsville
Queensland
Country:
Australia
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crashed on landing at Townsville-Garbutt Airfield for unknown reason. There were no casualties.
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