Cargo

Operator:

Registration:

41-24667

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

MSN:

26588

YOM:

1943

Location:

Yunnan

Country:

China

Region:

Asia

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The crew was performing a cargo flight between Kunming and an airfield somewhere in Assam State, India. En route, an engine failed, forcing the crew to abandon the aircraft and to bail out. Out of control, the aircraft dove into the ground, crashed and was destroyed. Three crew members were unhurt while the fourth occupant, Pfc Frank J. Shebeskie, was killed.

Probable cause:

Engine failure.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-15-DL in Kunming

Date & Time: Oct 16, 1943

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

MSN:

10158

YOM:

1943

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Shortly after take off, while in initial climb, the right engine caught fire. The crew attempted to make an emergency landing but the aircraft stalled and crashed. While the aircraft was destroyed, both pilots were slightly injured.

Probable cause:

Engine fire.

Crash of a Douglas C-47-DL near Sumprabum: 3 killed

Date & Time: Oct 13, 1943

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Mountains

Schedule:

Kunming – Dinjan

MSN:

9110

YOM:

1943

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

While overflying the north of Burma, while on a cargo flight from Kunming to Dinjan, the was able to send a brief mayday message informing they were attacked by the pilot of a Japanese fighter. The aircraft crashed in flames near Sumprabum, some 120 km north of Myitkyina. All three occupants were killed.

Probable cause:

Shot down by a Japanese fighter.

Crash of a Douglas C-47 in Kunming

Date & Time: Oct 6, 1943

Type of aircraft:

Landing (descent or approach)

Operator:

Registration:

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

MSN:

6222

YOM:

1942

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Shortly after take off from Kunming, while on a cargo flight, the oil pressure was lost on one engine. The crew decided to return to Kunming but was unable to lower the gear due to a total loss of hydraulic pressure. The aircraft belly landed in a field and skidded for several yards before coming to rest in flames. While both crew members were uninjured, the aircraft was destroyed by fire.

Probable cause:

Hydraulic failure.

Crash of a Curtiss C-46A-20-CU Commando in Dibrugarh

Date & Time: Sep 21, 1943

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

41-24646

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Landing (descent or approach)

MSN:

26567

YOM:

1943

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Crashed on take off. No casualties.

Crash of a Lisunov LI-2 in Tashla: 5 killed

Date & Time: Sep 20, 1943 at 2110 LT

Type of aircraft:

Lisunov LI-2

Operator:

Registration:

CCCP-L4029

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

Schedule:

Sverdlovsk – Kuybychev

MSN:

184 62 01

YOM:

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Aircraft flight hours:

839

Circumstances:

After his departure from Sverdlovsk Airport, while on a cargo flight to Kuybyshev, the inexperienced crew made several navigational errors and the aircraft deviated from the prescribed flight path by 68 km to the northwest. As the ETA was reached, the crew thought he was at Kuybyshev and started the approach when the left engine failed. The aircraft crashed in a field located in Tashla and was destroyed. All five occupants were killed.

Probable cause:

At the time of the accident, there were about 106 kilos of fuel remaining in the tanks (about 20 minutes of flight) and investigations were unable to determine why the left engine was no running at impact.

Crash of a Curtiss C-46A-15-CU Commando in Kunming: 3 killed

Date & Time: Sep 16, 1943

Type of aircraft:

Landing (descent or approach)

Operator:

Registration:

41-12418

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Dibrugarh – Kunming

MSN:

26545

YOM:

1943

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Crashed on approach to Kunming-Wujiaba for unknown reason. All three crew members were killed.
Crew:
1st Lt Henry I. Idema,
Cpl John M. Kraus,
2nd Lt George R. Wendler.

Crash of a Curtiss C-46A-15-CU Commando in Chieh-tu

Date & Time: Sep 16, 1943

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

41-24651

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

MSN:

26572

YOM:

1943

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

En route, an engine failure forced the crew to abandon the aircraft and to bail out. The aircraft dove into the ground, crashed in a prairie and was destroyed. All three crew members were unhurt.

Probable cause:

Engine failure.

Crash of a Douglas C-47-DL in Yunnan: 3 killed

Date & Time: Sep 15, 1943

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

41-38597

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type: