Crash of a Douglas DC-3-227B in Arques: 2 killed

Date & Time: May 23, 1940
Type of aircraft:
Douglas DC-3
Operator:
Registration:
OO-AUI
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
MSN:
2094
YOM:
1938
Location:
Arques
Pas-de-Calais
Country:
France
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
The aircraft was performing a flight from Brussels to the British Isles. While overflying the region of Merville, the aircraft was hit by the German Flak. The crew attempted to make an emergency landing when the aircraft crashed in a field located near Arques and was destroyed by a post crash fire. The pilot and the navigator were killed while both other crew members and both passengers became PoW.
Crew:
Sgt Raymond Chartier, pilot, †
Capt John M.H. Hoare, navigator, †
P/O Benson Freeman,
Pier Vrebos, engineer.
Source: http://luchtvaartgeschiedenis.be/
Probable cause:
Shot down by the German Flak.

Crash of an Armstrong Whitworth AW.27 Ensign in Merville

Date & Time: May 23, 1940
Type of aircraft:
Armstrong Whitworth AW.27 Ensign
Operator:
Registration:
G-ADSZ
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
AW.1164
YOM:
1935
Location:
Merville
Nord
Country:
France
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The aircraft was performing an international flight when over France, it was attacked by enemy fire. The crew diverted to Merville-Calonne Airport but on final approach, the aircraft stalled and crashed in a field, bursting into flames. There were no casualties.
Probable cause:
Shot down by the German Flak.

Crash of a Savoia-Marchetti SM.75C in Barcelona: 8 killed

Date & Time: May 16, 1940
Type of aircraft:
Savoia-Marchetti SM.75
Operator:
Registration:
I-LUPI
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Barcelona – Rome
MSN:
32038
YOM:
1939
Location:
Barcelona
Catalonia
Country:
Spain
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
5
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
8
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff, while in initial climb, the three engine aircraft nosed up, stalled and crashed on the runway, bursting into flames. All eight occupants were killed. The airplane was on its way back to Italy on behalf of the Italian Air Force (Aeronautica Militare Italiane).
Probable cause:
On rotation, the cargo shifted to the rear, modifying the center of gravity and unbalancing the aircraft that went out of control and crashed.

Crash of a Savoia-Marchetti SM.83 in Léopoldville

Date & Time: May 5, 1940
Type of aircraft:
Savoia-Marchetti SM.83
Operator:
Registration:
OO-AUC
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
34003
YOM:
1938
Location:
Kinshasa
Kinshasa City Province
Country:
Democratic Republic of Congo
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crashed in unknown circumstances. There were no casualties.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.89 Dragon Rapide in Rawang: 3 killed

Date & Time: May 3, 1940
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DH.89 Dragon Rapide
Operator:
Registration:
VR-SAV
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Penang - Singapore
MSN:
6360
YOM:
1937
Location:
Rawang
Selangor
Country:
Malaysia
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
The airplane departed Penang on a flight to Singapore-Kallang Airport, carrying three people. While cruising in thunderstorm activity, the pilot lost control of the airplane that crashed in the Waterfall Estate rubber plantation located near Rawang, some 30 km north of Kuala Lumpur. The airplane was destroyed and all three occupants were killed.
Crew:
G. McCausland.
Passengers:
John Samuel Radford,
Herbert Charles Pinching.

Crash of a Fairchild 71C in the Canada Bay

Date & Time: Apr 30, 1940
Type of aircraft:
Fairchild 71
Operator:
Imperial Airways (Canada)
Registration:
VO-AFG
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
MSN:
14
YOM:
1936
Location:
Canada Bay
Newfoundland & Labrador
Country:
Canada
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crashed in unknown circumstances into the Canada Bay while completing a flight from England. The exact date remains unknown, somewhere in April 1940. Occupant's fate unknown.

Crash of a Lockheed 14-WF62 Super Electra in Loch Lomond: 5 killed

Date & Time: Apr 22, 1940
Type of aircraft:
Lockheed 14 Super Electra
Operator:
Registration:
G-AFKD
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Stockholm – Perth – Heston
MSN:
1484
YOM:
1939
Location:
Loch Lomond
Dunbartonshire
Country:
United Kingdom
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
The twin engine aircraft named 'Loch Invar' departed Stockholm-Bromma Airport at 0042LT bound for Heston via Perth, Scotland. After the stop in Perth, the aircraft deviated from the prescribed course by 10 miles to the west. At night, the airplane impacted the slope of a mountain located near Loch Lomond. All five occupants were killed.
Crew:
Douglas S. King, pilot,
D. E. Eveleigh, copilot,
J. W. Elliot, radio operator.
Probable cause:
Controlled flight into terrain.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.84 Dragon II at RAF Hatston

Date & Time: Apr 19, 1940
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DH.84 Dragon
Operator:
Registration:
G-ACNG
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Glasgow – Hatston
MSN:
6069
YOM:
1934
Location:
Hatston AFB (Kirkwall)
Orkney
Country:
United Kingdom
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
8
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Following an uneventful flight from Glasgow, the airplane crashed in unknown circumstances while on approach to RAF Hatston near Kirkwall. The aircraft was destroyed and all 9 occupants were uninjured.

Crash of a Douglas DC-2-112 in Pittsburgh

Date & Time: Apr 3, 1940
Type of aircraft:
Douglas DC-2
Operator:
Registration:
NC13786
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
1296
YOM:
1934
Location:
Pittsburgh-Allegheny County
Pennsylvania
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
12
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The approach was completed in a poor weather conditions with thunderstorm activity, turbulences, strong winds and heavy rain falls. After touchdown, the aircraft went out of control and came to rest upside down. All 1 occupants evacuated safely while the aircraft was destroyed.
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