Crash of a Douglas C-53-DO Skytrooper near Pang: 1 killed

Date & Time: Apr 7, 1943
Operator:
Registration:
58
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Schedule:
Dinjan – Kunming
MSN:
7407
YOM:
1942
Location:
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
One hour after departure from Dinjan, the crew encountered bad weather and severe icing conditions. While the aircraft continued to lose altitude, pilots realized they were facing a mountain. The captain made a sharp turn to the right when the left wing hit a rocky peak. The aircraft stalled and crashed at an altitude of about 4,200 metres. Injured, both pilots managed to escape and to find help. However, the aircraft was destroyed and the radio navigator was killed.
Crew:
C. Joseph Rosbert, pilot,
Ridge Hammell, copilot,
Y. T. Wong, radio operator. †

Crash of a Consolidated B-24D-25-CO Liberator at Chabua AFB: 5 killed

Date & Time: Mar 31, 1943
Operator:
Registration:
41-24238
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
MSN:
1033
YOM:
1942
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
Crashed in unknown circumstances at Chabua AFB. Five crew members were killed.
Crew:
1st Lt Warren J. Murphy,
1st Lt Burton L. Watts,
1st Lt James Houston Henderson,
Cpl William L. Cervantes,
Cpl Francis X. Markley.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim V near Jodhpur

Date & Time: Mar 28, 1943 at 0530 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
BA931
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The airplane suffered a bird strike and crashed 8 km southeast of Jodhpur, bursting into flames. All three crew members escaped with minor injuries.
Probable cause:
Bird strike.

Crash of a Douglas DC-3 Dakota II in Agartala

Date & Time: Mar 25, 1943
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
MA928
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
4931
YOM:
1942
Country:
Region:
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 fatalities.

Crash of a Consolidated B-24D-30-CO Liberator near Itanagar: 10 killed

Date & Time: Mar 21, 1943
Operator:
Registration:
42-40069
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Kunming – Chabua
MSN:
1146
YOM:
1943
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
10
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
10
Circumstances:
The airplane named 'Pregnant Swan' departed Kunming on a flight to Chabua AFB, Assam. The crew failed to locate the destination airport and continued to the west. As the airplane failed to arrive in Chabua, SAR operations were initiated but eventually suspended as no trace of the airplane nor the crew was found. The wreckage was found 20 September 2008 in a dense wooded area located at an altitude of 2,800 feet near Itanagar, some 160 km west southwest of Chabua AFB. All 10 occupants were killed.
Crew:
Maj Robert W. Fensler, pilot,
2nd Lt Phillips G. Huffman, pilot,
2nd Lt Gerald E. Owens, copilot,
T/Sgt Erle H. Thayer, flight engineer,
S/Sgt Aubrey E. Stevenson, assistant flight engineer,
2nd Lt Frederick W. Ossenfort, navigator,
T/Sgt ​​Norman H. Prix, radio operator,
S/Sgt Louis F. Verhaegen, assistant radio operator,
2nd Lt Harvey M. Nix, bombardier,
S/Sgt Sandav E. Rivardo, air gunner.
Probable cause:
Controlled flight into terrain.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.85 Leopard Moth in New Delhi

Date & Time: Feb 11, 1943
Operator:
Registration:
T1776
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
7068
YOM:
1934
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The airplane bounced on landing, causing the undercarriage to collapse. It was damaged beyond repair and all three occupants escaped uninjured.

Crash of a Douglas C-53-DO Skytrooper near Roing: 6 killed

Date & Time: Jan 31, 1943
Operator:
Registration:
MA929
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Dinjan – Fort Hertz
MSN:
4933
YOM:
1942
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Circumstances:
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.

Crash of a Douglas C-53-DO Skytrooper in India: 3 killed

Date & Time: Jan 26, 1943
Operator:
Registration:
41-20128
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Kunming - Sookerating
MSN:
4898
YOM:
1942
Location:
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
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.

Crash of a Douglas C-49G-DO in Tezpur

Date & Time: Jan 12, 1943
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
LR235
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
1949
YOM:
1937
Location:
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from Tezpur Airport, one of the engine failed. The crew elected to return to the airport for an emergency landing. In marginal weather conditions (drizzle and low ceiling), the pilot made a belly landing in a field where the airplane collided with a clump of bamboo before coming to rest. All five crew members escaped unhurt. The airplane was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
Engine failure after takeoff.

Crash of a North American B-25C Mitchell at Chakulia AFB: 6 killed

Date & Time: Jan 12, 1943
Operator:
Registration:
41-12671
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Chakulia - Chakulia
MSN:
82-5306
YOM:
1941
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Circumstances:
The airplane was engaged in a local training mission at Chakulia AFB with a crew of six on board. While circling in the vicinity of the airbase, it collided with a second USAAF North American B-25 Mitchell registered 41-12436 and carrying a crew of five. Following the collision, both airplanes dove into the ground and crashed near the airfield. All 11 crew members were killed.
Crew:
2nd Lt Nicholas Marich,
2nd Lt William J. Alton,
S/Sgt Robert L. Propst,
Sgt Guy V. Horn,
Cpl Finley H. Ganoe,
Pvt Anthony M. Mandello.