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Crash of a Douglas A-20C-10-DO Havoc into the Caribbean Sea: 3 killed

Date & Time: Feb 28, 1943
Type of aircraft:
Douglas A-20 Havoc/DB-7 Boston
Operator:
Registration:
42-33213
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
MSN:
6675
YOM:
1941
Location:
Caribbean Sea
World
Country:
World
Region:
World
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
Crashed in unknown circumstances into the Caribbean Sea. Three crew members were killed.
Crew:
F/O James W. Jones, pilot,
S/Sgt Robert C. Moore,
Sgt Orval L. Radcliff Jr.

Crash of a Beechcraft AT-7 Navigator near Pleasant Hill: 5 killed

Date & Time: Feb 28, 1943
Type of aircraft:
Beechcraft AT-7 Navigator
Operator:
Registration:
41-21140
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
MSN:
1155
YOM:
1941
Location:
Pleasant Hill
Louisiana
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
The twin engine airplane crashed in unknown circumstances 11 km southwest of Pleasant Hill. All five crew members were killed.
Crew:
2nd Lt Frank John Remein, pilot,
F/O Roy A. Lafser, pilot,
Avc Harry P. Bestor,
Avc Frederick C. Bigler,
Avc John B. Bingner.

Crash of a Douglas C-49F-DO near Del Valle AFB: 5 killed

Date & Time: Feb 28, 1943
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-49 (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
42-56628
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Del Valle - Del Valle
MSN:
2255
YOM:
1940
Location:
Austin-Bergstrom
Texas
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
Crashed in unknown circumstances 10 km northeast of Del Valle AFB, near Austin. All five crew members were killed. Del Valle AFB was renamed Bergstrom AFB one month later.
Crew:
2nd Lt William F. Ernest,
2nd Lt Fran H. Horton-Billard Jr.,
2nd Lt Jack E. McNeil,
2nd Lt Chester F. Steward,
T/Sgt Russell E. Sampson.

Crash of a North American B-25C-5 Mitchell near Cayenne: 7 killed

Date & Time: Feb 27, 1943
Type of aircraft:
North American B-25 Mitchell
Operator:
Registration:
42-53461
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
MSN:
90-11948
YOM:
1942
Location:
Cayenne
All French Guyana
Country:
French Guyana
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
7
Circumstances:
Crashed in unknown circumstances 29 km south of Cayenne while on a ferry flight from the US to North Africa via Trinidad & Tobago and Belém. All seven crew members were killed.
Crew:
1st Lt Jo Graham Davidson, pilot,
F/O Lester J. Long Jr.,
F/O Edwin R. Welcome,
S/Sgt John F. Roth, flight engineer,
S/Sgt Athel A. Pate,
T/Sgt Carlton F. Budd,
T/Sgt George S. Cummings.

Crash of a Lockheed B-34 Lexington into the Chesapeake Bay: 3 killed

Date & Time: Feb 27, 1943
Type of aircraft:
Lockheed PV-1 Ventura
Operator:
Registration:
AJ390
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
MSN:
4528
YOM:
1942
Location:
Chesapeake Bay
Maryland
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
The twin engine airplane ran out of fuel and was abandoned by the crew who bailed out. Out of control, the airplane crashed into the Chesapeake Bay and was destroyed. Three crew members were rescued and three others drowned.
Crew (16th Antisubmarine Squadron):
2nd Lt Raymond A. Fortin, pilot,
T/Sgt Roy R. Jones, †
Sgt Arthur F. O'Hare, †
T/Sgt Earl E. Ragsdale. †
Probable cause:
Fuel exhaustion.

Crash of a Douglas A-20C-10-DO Havoc near Eglin AFB

Date & Time: Feb 27, 1943
Type of aircraft:
Douglas A-20 Havoc/DB-7 Boston
Operator:
Registration:
42-33239
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
MSN:
6701
YOM:
1941
Location:
Eglin AFB (Valparaiso)
Florida
Country:
United States of America
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 19 km northwest of Eglin AFB. There were no fatalities.

Crash of a Beechcraft AT-10-BH Wichita in Kansas City

Date & Time: Feb 27, 1943
Type of aircraft:
Beechcraft AT-10 Wichita
Operator:
Registration:
41-26704
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
1979
YOM:
1942
Location:
Kansas City
Kansas
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crashed upon landing and damaged beyond repair. There were no fatalities.

Crash of a Beechcraft AT-10-BH Wichita in Vicksburg: 1 killed

Date & Time: Feb 27, 1943
Type of aircraft:
Beechcraft AT-10 Wichita
Operator:
Registration:
41-26368
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
MSN:
1643
YOM:
1942
Location:
Vicksburg
Mississippi
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
Crashed in unknown circumstances in Vicksburg. A crew member was killed.
Crew:
2nd Lt Perry W. Blain.

Crash of a Boeing B-17F-55-BO Flying Fortress at Biggs AFB: 10 killed

Date & Time: Feb 26, 1943 at 2119 LT
Type of aircraft:
Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress
Operator:
Registration:
42-29528
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Biggs - Biggs
MSN:
4642
YOM:
1942
Location:
Biggs AAF (El Paso)
Texas
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
11
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
10
Circumstances:
The airplane departed Biggs AFB on a night training exercise. Shortly after takeoff, the pilot lost control of the airplane that lot height and crashed near the airfield. Ten crew members were killed and the pilot was seriously injured.
Crew:
2nd Lt Edward M. Kelley, pilot,
F/O Charles G. Novak, copilot, †
Sgt Victor A. Berreth, flight engineer, †
S/Sgt Melvin P. Simms, assistant flight engineer, †
1st Lt James W. Bishop, navigator, †
Sgt Adelbert J. Burke, radio operator, †
Sgt Woodrow W. Erwin, assistant radio operator, †
2nd Lt Ernest F. Pasqua, bombardier, †
S/Sgt Joseph P. Baucom, air gunner, †
Sgt Robert M. Parchman, air gunner, †
Sgt Howard T. Speak. †
Probable cause:
The pilot stated to investigators that while following approximately 30 seconds behind another B-17 departing, he could not see the horizon after the end of runway lights. His vision followed the leading aircraft's lights and he began flying by instruments. Apparently the lead's propeller turbulence had caused his aircraft to drift to the right, and not gaining elevation, the bomber flew into rising, rough terrain. Investigators noted that had the landing lights been used during takeoff, the accident may have been avoided.

Crash of a Boeing B-17F-10-BO Flying Fortress off Wilhelmshaven: 10 killed

Date & Time: Feb 26, 1943
Type of aircraft:
Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress
Operator:
Registration:
41-24447
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Bombing
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Bassingbourn - Bassingbourn
MSN:
3132
YOM:
1942
Location:
Wilhelmshaven
Lower Saxony
Country:
Germany
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
10
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
10
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Bassingbourn on an operation to Wilhelmshaven. Over the target area, it was shot down by the German Flak. The engine n°4 caught fire then the airplane went out of control and crashed into the sea. All 10 crew members were killed.
Crew:
Cpt John T. Swais,
1st Lt Harry O. Green,
2nd Lt Ralston E. Bixler,
2nd Lt Cassius Brandenburg,
S/Sgt Robert A. De Barbrie,
S/Sgt Herbert E. Fisher,
S/Sgt Gregg Nesemeier,
S/Sgt Arthur A. Sullivan,
T/Sgt Everett Gause,
T/Sgt Walter E. Gilroy.
Probable cause:
Shot down by the German Flak.
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