United States Army Air Forces - USAAF (1941-1947) | Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives

While cruising in very bad weather conditions, the crew decided to abandon the aircraft and bailed out. The aircraft entered a dive and crashed into the ground. While it was destroyed, all three crew members were unhurt.

Crash of a Douglas C-53-DO Skytrooper in Jacksonville: 1 killed

Date & Time: Dec 22, 1945 at 1656 LT

Type of aircraft:

Douglas C-53 Skytrooper (DC-3)

Operator:

Registration:

42-15562

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Augusta - Morrison

MSN:

7357

YOM:

1942

Location:

Jacksonville

Florida

Country:

United States of America

Region:

North America

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The crew was performing a flight from Augusta-Bush Field, Georgia, to Morrison AFB in West Palm Beach. Enroute, he encountered engine trouble and the captain elected to divert to Jacksonville Airport. On final approach, the aircraft stalled and crashed short of runway. A crewman was killed while the second occupant was injured. The aircraft was destroyed.

Probable cause:

Engine trouble caused by fuel mismanagement on part of the crew.

Crash of a Noorduyn UC-64A Norseman in Neckargartach

Date & Time: Dec 15, 1945

Type of aircraft:

Noorduyn Norseman

Operator:

Registration:

44-70502

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

MSN:

767

YOM:

1945

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Crashed in Neckargartach, north of Heilbronn. The aircraft was destroyed and the pilot Jack M. Ealy was injured.

Crash of a Douglas C-47B-20-DK in Heraklion: 3 killed

Date & Time: Dec 14, 1945

Type of aircraft:

Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)

Operator:

Registration:

43-49791

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

MSN:

15607/27052

YOM:

1945

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Crashed on takeoff for unknown reason, killing all three crew members.
Crew:
F/Sgt Frank F. Giordano,
Sgt Robert P. Marin,
1st Lt Leon I. McCaskill.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-20-DK in Villieu-Loyes-Mollon

Date & Time: Dec 14, 1945

Type of aircraft:

Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)

Operator:

Registration:

42-93159

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

MSN:

13040

YOM:

1944

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Enroute, the crew encountered poor weather conditions with fog and lost his orientation. Later, both engines failed due to fuel exhaustion and the captain decided to make an emergency landing. The aircraft crash landed in a field and came to rest. There were no casualties but the aircraft was written off.

Probable cause:

Double engine failure caused by a fuel exhaustion.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-80-DL in Mangaldan: 8 killed

Date & Time: Dec 13, 1945

Type of aircraft:

Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)

Operator:

Registration:

43-15231

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Site:

Mountains

MSN:

19697

YOM:

1944

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Crashed in a mountain in the region of Mangaldan, killing all eight crew members.
Crew:
T/Sgt William H. Burns,
Cpl Sam P. Davis,
S/Sgt Morgan De Foor Jr.,
F/Sgt Harold R. Johnson,
Pfc Marcello J. Lofaro,
2nd Lt Guy E. Matthews Jr.,
1st Lt William F. Stevenson,
Cpt Albert R. Tideswell.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-80-DL into the Pacific Ocean: 4 killed

Date & Time: Dec 11, 1945

Type of aircraft:

Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)

Operator:

Registration:

43-15423

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Schedule:

Tachikawa – Kadena

MSN:

19889

YOM:

1944

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The aircraft left Tachikawa AFB in Tokyo at 1212LT on a ferry flight to Kadena AFB, Okinawa. As the aircraft failed to arrive, SAR operations were conducted but eventually suspended one week later as no trace of the aircraft nor the crew was found.
Crew:
Cpl Wesley L. Connett Jr.,
1st Lt Floyd G. Levy,
Cpl Harry L. Proctor,
F/Lt Samuel J. Valerio.

Crash of a Boeing B-17G-105-BO Flying Fortress in Saint-André-la-Côte: 5 killed

Date & Time: Dec 10, 1945 at 1815 LT

Type of aircraft:

Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress

Operator:

Registration:

43-39236

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Plain, Valley

MSN:

10214

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The crew was performing a flight from England to Lyon-Bron Airfield. While approaching Lyon from the west, the crew encountered poor weather conditions and low visibility due to the night. Suddenly, the four engine aircraft christened 'Blinkin Betsy' stalled and crashed in a field located in Saint-André-la-Côte. All three passengers and two crewmen were killed, three others were seriously injured.
Crew:
Lewis R. Ahner Jr., pilot,
Weldon C. Bragg, copilot,
Frederick C. Milne, flight engineer,
Desire L. Massicotte, navigator, †
Alexander W. Andrews, radio operator. †
Passengers:
John Anthony Blagg, †
John P. Tarro, †
Norman D. DeClarke. †

Probable cause:

It is believed that the loss of control was caused by an excessive accumulation of ice on all surfaces of the aircraft, creating a loss of lift and causing the aircraft to stall. Indeed, severe frost risks had been reported in the area before the accident.

Crash of a Douglas C-47B-45-DK in Billings: 19 killed

Date & Time: Dec 8, 1945 at 0113 LT

Type of aircraft:

Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)

Operator:

Registration:

45-0922

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Minneapolis – Fargo – Billings

MSN:

16925/34183

YOM:

1945

Location:

Billings-Logan

Montana

Country:

United States of America

Region:

North America

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The crew was performing a flight from Fargo to Billings with 21 veterans on board. In flight, the weather conditions at destination worsened and visibility dropped from 10 miles to half a mile due to heavy snow storm. On final approach to Billings Airport, the aircraft was too low, hit a tree and crashed in flames in a snow covered field, 400 meters short of runway threshold. Both pilots and 17 passengers were killed, four others were seriously injured. Those killed were:
Crew:
Cpt George D. Miller, pilot,
Cpt Vernon Pfannkuch, pilot.
Maj Ray Craft,
S/Sgt Thomas Thomsen,
T/Sgt Glenn Marr,
Sgt Don Haley,
Tec Virgil Kinne,
Tec Warren Parrish,
Lt Anthony Alnsky,
Pfc Clayton Thompson,
Tec Fred Chapman,
Pfc Maceo Hobbs,
Pfc Walter Orchard,
Tec John Marshall,
Sgt Charles Ennen,
Cpl Lorrell Cassell,
Tec Ned Neasham,
Pfc David Gillett,
Tec Adolph Tokie.
Those who survived were:
Tec Emil A. Hasch,
Pfc Raymond Parkins,
Cpl Milford Barnes,
Tec Raymond Emerson.

Probable cause:

According to the Air Force Historical Research Agency, it appears that the pilot descended too rapidly during the last turn to the left and failed to allow for the possibility of a downdraft. At any rate, (the) pilot wound up below the level of the field, still in a turning attitude, (then the) aircraft struck a tree, crashed and burned.

Crash of a Douglas C-47B-5-DK near Carlos Pellegrini: 14 killed

Date & Time: Dec 3, 1945

Type of aircraft:

Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)

Operator:

Registration:

43-48602

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Site:

Mountains

Schedule:

Asunción – Montevideo

MSN:

14418/25863

YOM:

1944

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Enroute, while flying at a too low altitude, the aircraft hit a hill located 16 km southeast of Carlos Pellegrini, killing all 14 occupants.
Crew:
Cpl Charles W. Brown,
Sgt Frank G. Dubinskas,
1st Lt Zane W. Gilcher,
Cpl David S. Kellogg,
1st Lt Earl S. King Jr.,
1st Lt Reuben Klein,
Pfc Theodore H. Leopold,
1st Lt Chester F. Lowe,
1st Lt Orville A. Michelsen,
1st Lt William B. Nunemaker,
Sgt James R. Roberson,
T/Sgt Richard W. Schweitzer,
Sgt Clarence Joseph Setko.