Crash of a Douglas C-47 in Dali: 3 killed

Date & Time: Jan 7, 1945
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
102
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Kunming – Dinjan
MSN:
20805
YOM:
1944
Location:
Dali
Yunnan
Country:
China
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
While overflying the Dali Lake, the airplane suffered an engine failure. It lost height, hit obstacles and eventually crashed in a cemetery overhanging the city of Dali. All three crew members were killed.
Probable cause:
Engine failure in flight.

Crash of a Curtiss C-46A-45-CU Commando near Carson City: 5 killed

Date & Time: Jan 6, 1945 at 0715 LT
Type of aircraft:
Curtiss C-46 Commando
Operator:
Registration:
42-96690
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Reno - Reno
MSN:
30352
YOM:
1944
Location:
Carson City
Nevada
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
The crew departed Reno AAF at 0650LT for a local training mission. While cruising east of Carson City, a fire erupted in the left engine. Shortly later, the left wing on fire detached and hit the tail. The aircraft went out of control, disintegrated and eventually crashed in a mountainous area located some 31 miles east of Carson City. All five crew members were killed.
Crew:
Cpt William A. Beven,
Pvt William R. Carl,
Pvt Fred R. Davis,
F/O Donovan J. Hogan,
1st Lt Walter E. Schmidt.
Probable cause:
Engine fire in flight.

Crash of a Curtiss C-46A-40-CU Commando near Yunnanyi

Date & Time: Jan 6, 1945
Type of aircraft:
Curtiss C-46 Commando
Operator:
Registration:
42-61046
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
MSN:
26921
YOM:
1944
Location:
Yunnanyi
Yunnan
Country:
China
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
An engine failure in flight forced the crew to attempt an emergency landing. The airplane crash landed in a field located 32 km northwest of Yunnanyi and was damaged beyond repair. All three crew members escaped unhurt.
Probable cause:
Engine failure in flight.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.84 Dragon in Mount Druitt: 5 killed

Date & Time: Jan 5, 1945 at 1215 LT
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DH.84 Dragon
Operator:
Registration:
A34-65
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Richmond - Richmond
MSN:
2054
YOM:
1943
Location:
Mount Druitt
New South Wales
Country:
Australia
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
While on a training flight out from RAAF Richmond, the pilot lost control of the airplane that entered a dive and crashed in Mount Druitt, in the suburb of Sydney. All five crew members were killed.
Crew:
P/O George Ashurst,
P/O Kenneth Arthur Henry Biggs,
W/O Ian Castles Powell,
Cpl Bruce Allan Brownjohn,
LAC Henry Alan Taylor.
Probable cause:
It appears that the loss of control was caused by engine problems.

Crash of a Lockheed L-414 Hudson II in Richmond: 8 killed

Date & Time: Dec 20, 1944 at 1635 LT
Type of aircraft:
Lockheed L-414 Hudson
Operator:
Registration:
A16-68
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Test
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Richmond - Richmond
MSN:
1921
Location:
Richmond AFB
New South Wales
Country:
Australia
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
8
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
8
Circumstances:
During the day, technical anomalies were noted on the engines and the captain decided to perform a test flight. The twin engine aircraft left Richmond Airfield at 1620LT. Ten minutes into the flight, the captain informed ground about technical problems and elected to return to the airport. On final approach, while at a height of 200-300 feet, the left engine failed. The aircraft banked left, hit power cables and crashed in a huge explosion some 400 yards short of runway threshold. All eight occupants were killed.
Crew:
F/Lt Ronald William Shore, pilot,
F/O John James Broderick, wireless operator and air gunner,
LAC Francis Fletcher Smith,
ACW Nancy Margaret Ralph,
Cpl Robert Henry McIlroy, instrument maker,
LAC Joseph Michael Gleeson,
Cpl John McLennon Allen,
LAC Noel Austin Chamberlain.
Probable cause:
Failure of the left engine.

Crash of a Curtiss C-46A-45-CU Commando in Misamari

Date & Time: Dec 19, 1944
Type of aircraft:
Curtiss C-46 Commando
Operator:
Registration:
42-96650
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Military
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
30312
YOM:
1944
Location:
Misamari
Assam
Country:
India
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crashed shortly after take off from Misamari Airbase following an engine failure. Crew fate remains unknown.
Probable cause:
Engine failure.

Crash of a Douglas C-49J in Memphis: 3 killed

Date & Time: Dec 17, 1944 at 1009 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-49 (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
43-1976
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
6316
YOM:
1942
Location:
Memphis
Tennessee
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
6
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Captain / Total hours on type:
9.00
Circumstances:
Just after lift off from runway 17, while in initial climb, the aircraft banked right, stalled and crashed on a storehouse. Three passengers were killed while all three other occupants were injured.
Probable cause:
The loss of control was caused by a failure of the right engine shortly after take off. It is also confirmed that the pilot had just nine flying hours on this type of aircraft and that he had never been officially checked.

Crash of a Curtiss C-46A-40-CU Commando in Myitkyina: 5 killed

Date & Time: Dec 9, 1944
Type of aircraft:
Curtiss C-46 Commando
Operator:
Registration:
42-60942
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
MSN:
26817
YOM:
1944
Location:
Myitkyina
Kachin State
Country:
Myanmar
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
Crashed south of Myitkyina while on a cargo flight, following an in flight fire. All five occupants were killed.

Crash of a Ford 5 in Tegucigalpa: 16 killed

Date & Time: Nov 29, 1944 at 1500 LT
Type of aircraft:
Ford 5
Operator:
Registration:
XH-TAN
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Tegucigalpa – San Pedro Sula
YOM:
1935
Location:
Tegucigalpa
Francisco Morazán
Country:
Honduras
Region:
Central America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
14
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
16
Circumstances:
Shortly after lift off, while in initial climb, the right wing failed. The aircraft went out of control and crashed in a huge explosion. All 16 occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
It appears the loss of the right wing was caused by a structural failure due to excessive vibrations accumulated during operations on difficult and rough terrain.

Crash of a Consolidated B-24L-10-FO Liberator in Nottingham: 9 killed

Date & Time: Nov 29, 1944 at 0930 LT
Type of aircraft:
Consolidated B-24 Liberator
Operator:
Registration:
44-49669
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Manchester – Gander
MSN:
4524
Location:
Nottingham
New Hampshire
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
9
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
9
Circumstances:
Few minutes after take off from Grenier Field AFB in Manchester, en route to Gander, the aircraft went out of control, nosed down and crashed in the Pawtuckaway State Forest in Nottingham, some 16 miles northeast of Manchester. All nine crew members were killed.
Crew:
Cpl Robert Hunter Wells,
2nd Lt Paul E. Hackstock,
2nd Lt Wilbur C. Stephensen,
F/O Russell L. Jones,
Cpl Calvin R. Rickenbach,
Cpl Thomas L. McDougall,
Cpl William L. Swarmer Jr.,
Cpl Preston K. Smith,
Cpl Kenneth J. Young.
Probable cause:
It appears the loss of control occurred when a tail surface hinge failed.
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