Military | Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives

While on approach to Parnamirim AFB, Natal, the airplane crashed in unknown circumstances 5 km west of the airfield. All five crew members were killed.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.84 Dragon III in Toowoomba

Date & Time: Mar 2, 1943 at 0720 LT

Type of aircraft:

De Havilland DH.84 Dragon

Operator:

Registration:

A34-49

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Mountains

Schedule:

Brisbane - Toowoomba

MSN:

2038

YOM:

1942

Location:

Country:

Region:

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The pilot was approaching Toowoomba Airport when he encountered poor visibility due to low clouds. Too low, the airplane collided with trees and crashed in a valley located in Redwood Park, about 7 km east of Toowoomba Airfield. Both occupants were injured and the airplane was destroyed by a post crash fire.
Crew:
Sgt A. A. Pearson, pilot.
Passenger:
Ac1 A. Hunt.

Crash of a Junkers JU.88 off Isle of Capo Passero: 2 killed

Date & Time: Mar 2, 1943

Type of aircraft:

Junkers JU.88

Operator:

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Location:

Country:

Region:

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Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

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Crashed in unknown circumstances off the Isle of Capo Passero. Two crew members were killed and two others were injured. The wreckage was discovered in 2024.

Crash of a Martin B-26B Marauder in Avon Park: 5 killed

Date & Time: Mar 2, 1943

Type of aircraft:

Martin B-26 Marauder

Operator:

Registration:

41-17715

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

Location:

Avon Park

Florida

Country:

United States of America

Region:

North America

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

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Pax fatalities:

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Circumstances:

Crashed on takeoff and crashed in Avon Park. All five crew members were killed.
Crew:
2nd Lt Eugene J. Laurier,
2nd Lt William H. Wahl.
2nd Lt Jeffery J. Fitzpatrick,
S/Sgt Thomas M. Brown,
Sgt James J. Gorman.

Crash of a Lisunov LI-2 in Sol-Iletsk: 9 killed

Date & Time: Mar 2, 1943

Type of aircraft:

Lisunov LI-2

Operator:

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Mountains

Schedule:

Astrakhan – Chkalovsk

Location:

Country:

Region:

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Circumstances:

En route from Astrakhan to Chkalovsk, the crew encountered below minima weather conditions due to snowfalls. In poor visibility, the pilot decided to divert to Sol-Iletsk Airport but on final, the airplane impacted a snow covered hill located between Boyevaya Gora and Saratovka. All occupants survived the crash but nine of them froze to death within few hours.

Probable cause:

Controlled flight into terrain.

Crash of a Douglas DB-7B Boston in Aïn Oussera

Date & Time: Mar 1, 1943 at 1230 LT

Type of aircraft:

Douglas A-20 Havoc/DB-7 Boston

Operator:

Registration:

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Blida - Laghouat

Location:

Country:

Region:

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Circumstances:

The airplane departed Blida Airfield at 1200LT on a transit flight to Laghouat. At 1225LT, while cruising 25 km from Aïn Oussera, the left engine lost power and black smoke was coming out from the nacelle. The crew decided to divert to Aïn Oussera but was unable to maintain a safe height because the left propeller could not be feathered. On final, the airplane stalled and crash landed, bursting into flames. All four crew members escaped unhurt while the airplane was destroyed.
Crew:
Sgt/C Jean Mérigon, pilot,
Adj/C Georges Touzé, cdt,
Sgt Albert Roure, mechanic,
Sgt/C Henri Juret, radio operator.

Probable cause:

Failure of the left engine in flight.

Crash of a Junkers JU.88D-5 into the North Sea: 4 killed

Date & Time: Mar 1, 1943

Type of aircraft:

Junkers JU.88

Operator:

Registration:

A6+EH

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

MSN:

430206

Location:

Country:

Region:

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Failed to return to base and believed to have crashed somewhere into the North Sea. Lost without trace.
Crew:
Obfw Hans Schubert, pilot,
Obfw Heinfried Eskuche, observer,
Fw Heinrich Schumacher, radio operator,
Fw Friedrich Neumann, air gunner.

Crash of a Martin B-26B Marauder in Avon Park: 2 killed

Date & Time: Mar 1, 1943

Type of aircraft:

Martin B-26 Marauder

Operator:

Registration:

41-17676

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

Location:

Avon Park

Florida

Country:

United States of America

Region:

North America

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

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Circumstances:

Crashed in unknown circumstances in the Avon Park Bombing Range. Two crew members were killed.
Crew:
2nd Lt Stanley Kirshman,
Sgt Frank L. Szarfiniski.