Douglas C-53 Skytrooper (DC-3)

The airplane departed Van Nuys on a routine flight to George AFB, Victorville, carrying a crew of six. It was towing a Waco CG-4A glider registered 42-46327 with two crew on board. After passing the San Fernando Valley, the crew encountered poor weather conditions with clouds, icing and turbulence. After the tail section of the C-53 separated from the fuselage, the airplane entered an uncontrolled descent and crashed in a mountainous area located some 10 km northwest of Castaic. Three crew members were able to bail out and were found alive while three others remained on board and were killed. The crew of the glider immediately release the rope and later bailed out as they were unable to maintain control of the glider.
Those killed on C-53 were:
F/O Wilbur W. Boyd,
T/Sgt Charles Edward Burnett,
F/O Neil Wilford Rise.

The airplane departed Dinjan Airport at 1330LT on a routine flight to Fort Hertz, Burma. About 30 minutes later, it was spotted by the pilot of a Hudson flying at an altitude of 7,000 feet near the city of Kanku, Arunachal Pradesh. As the aircraft failed to arrive at destination, SAR operations were initiated but eventually suspended as no trace of the airplane nor the crew was found. The wreckage was found on 25 December 2017 at an altitude of 10,412 feet some 5 days walk northeast of the locality of Roing.
Crew:
F/O Hugh John Munro Campbell, pilot,
Sgt John Orson Nicholls, pilot,
Ac1 Thomas Gladstone Williamson, wireless operator,
P/O Kenneth Ross Phelps, air gunner,
W/O Joseph Jean Jacques Fernand Casaubon, air gunner.
Passenger:
Lt Norman Lee Baugh.

The airplane failed to arrive in Sookerating following a flight from Kunming. It is possible that it crashed in the mountains located in the northeast part of India. Lost without trace.
Crew:
Cpt Charles E. Floro, pilot +2.

The airplane crashed in unknown circumstances in a mountainous area of the State of Assam. It failed to arrive at destination and was declared as missing. The wreckage was found by a hunter in August 1977.
Crew:
Cpt Warren C. Peterson,
Pfc Forrest C. Reynolds,
Pvt George R. Lingenfelter.

The airplane departed South Plains Army Airfield in Lubbock on a flight to George AFB, Victorville, with an intermediate stop in Blythe. The purpose of the flight was to ferry a CG-64A glider to California. Shortly after a night takeoff from Blythe, in unknown circumstances, the airplane collided with the towed glider and crashed near the airport. All eight occupants were killed.
Crew:
2nd Lt John H. Alabaster,
S/Sgt Nathan J. Toretsky,
S/Sgt Leroy John Hopkins,
S/Sgt Gordon J. Jardina,
Sgt Edward H. Nance,
Pvt William C. Hart,
Pvt Donald Ralph Hinshaw,
Pvt James I. Smith.

The airplane crashed in unknown circumstances in Saint Joseph and was damaged beyond repair. There were no fatalities.

The airplane was on a transit flight from Prestwick to Presque Isle with intermediate stops in Reykjavik and Bluie West One (Narsarsuaq). It departed Reykjavik Airport at 0834LT bound to the west. Due to weather conditions, the airplane was forced to land on the east coast of Greenland. At approximately 1300LT, Reykjavik received a signal from the crew of the C-53, reporting they were down. The crew gave, what they thought were the correct coordinates, and were instructed to pop flares at designated times. The flares were seen from three different stations. After an exhaustive search, the crew of the C-53 were declared dead after 30 days. It was determined that with no battery, rations or proper cold weather clothing, the crew could not survive past 30 days.
Crew:
Cpt Homer C. McDowell, pilot,
2nd Lt William L. Springer,
S/Sgt E. L. Monahan,
Pvt William W. Everett,
Pvt Thurman Johannessen.

Sincere thanks to Jennifer Lehr, project leader, historian and family member of one of the crew, for her contribution.

The crew was returning to Lanzhou following a supply mission to Chinese troops based in east China. On approach at night, the airplane crashed, killing all four crew members. At the time of the accident, the airport was unlit because of a power outage.

The crew was performing a local training flight at Dinjan Airport after the airplane was recently delivered to the CNAC. During the takeoff run on a 600 metres long gravel runway, the captain realized he was unable to take off within the remaining distance available. He increased engine power but at liftoff, the airplane impacted trees, stalled and crashed, bursting into flames. Both pilots were injured while the aircraft was destroyed by a post crash fire.

After landing at Pope AFB, the airplane went out of control, veered off runway and collided with a parked USAAF Douglas C-47-DL registered 41-18379. There were no casualties and both airplanes were damaged beyond repair.