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

While cruising at a height of about 800 metres, the airplane suffered a structural failure. After the physical loss of engine n°1, the airplane entered an uncontrolled descent and crashed in a huge explosion near houses located in Huron. All 12 occupants were killed, among them three civilians.
Crew:
1st Lt Oliver L. Walker,
2nd Lt Norman K. Mattice,
2nd Lt George J. Morris,
2nd Lt Howard D. Stevens Jr.,
S/Sgt Charles Missana,
S/Sgt Michael Mitzka,
S/Sgt James D. White,
T/Sgt Gerald W. Baker,
T/Sgt Charles R. Hoobery.

Probable cause:

It was determined that panels from the port wing detached in flight, leading to further degradation of the wing, resulting in the n°1 engine detaching and loss of control of the airplane. Then panels from the starboard wing failed as well, causing the airplane to enter an uncontrolled descent.

Crash of a North American B-25C-5 Mitchell near La Romana

Date & Time: Feb 17, 1943

Type of aircraft:

North American B-25 Mitchell

Operator:

Registration:

42-53386

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

MSN:

90-11873

YOM:

1942

Location:

La Romana

Country:

Dominican Republic

Region:

Central America

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Forced landing 24 km north of La Romana due to a fuel exhaustion. There were no fatalities.

Probable cause:

Fuel exhaustion.

Crash of a Boeing B-17F-5-VE Flying Fortress near Guillac: 7 killed

Date & Time: Feb 16, 1943 at 1200 LT

Type of aircraft:

Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress

Operator:

Registration:

42-5717

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Thurleigh - Thurleigh

MSN:

6013

YOM:

1942

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The airplane departed RAF Thurleigh at 0900LT on an operation to Saint-Nazaire. After bombs were dropped, it was attack by enemy fire (German Flak and German fighters) and crashed at La Ville Dan, a hamlet located near Guillac. Seven crew members were killed and three parachuted to safety. Two evaded and one became PoW.
Crew:
Cpt William H. Warner, pilot, †
1st Lt Arnold R. Carlson, copilot, †
T/Sgt Clairborne W. Wilson, mechanic,
1st Lt Lewis H. Utley, navigator, †
T/Sgt Eddie Frank Espitallier, radio operator,
1st Lt Robert E. Kylius, bombardier,
S/Sgt Robert D. Kisling, air gunner, †
Sgt Walter C. Morgan, air gunner, †
Sgt Colin E. Neely, air gunner, †
Sgt William E. Williams, air gunner. †

Crash of a Boeing B-17F-40-BO Flying Fortress off Pointe de Plouha: 1 killed

Date & Time: Feb 16, 1943 at 1200 LT

Type of aircraft:

Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress

Operator:

Registration:

42-5175

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Bombing

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Schedule:

Thurleigh - Thurleigh

MSN:

3714

YOM:

1942

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The airplane departed RAF Thurleigh at 0800LT on an operation to Saint-Nazaire. Over the target area, it was severely damaged by the German Flak, damaging two engines and setting them on fire. The crew attempted to return to base but was attacked by several German fighters. Nine crew members bailed out, seven became PoW and two evaded. An air gunner was killed and the airplane crashed into the sea off Pointe de Plouha.
Crew:
1st Lt Joseph Alex Downing Jr., pilot,
2nd Lt Howard W. Kelly, copilot,
S/Sgt Allen Norman Robinson, mechanic,
1st Lt Howard Hisler Pratt, navigator,
S/Sgt Henry Harrison Jones, radio operator,
2nd Lt George Vernon Bryan, bombardier,
S/Sgt George William Green, air gunner,
Sgt Royal A. Green, air gunner,
Sgt Loras Charles Elliott, air gunner,
Sgt Harvey J. Ross, air gunner. †

Probable cause:

Shot down by German fighters.

Crash of a Boeing B-17F-30-BO Flying Fortress in Le Favre: 8 killed

Date & Time: Feb 16, 1943 at 1112 LT

Type of aircraft:

Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress

Operator:

Registration:

42-5058

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Chelvestson - Chelveston

MSN:

3597

YOM:

1942

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The airplane departed RAF Chelveston in the morning on an operation to Saint-Nazaire. Approaching the target area, it was shot down by a German fighter and crashed in Le Favre, 25 km northeast of Vannes. Eight crew members were killed and two others became PoW.
Crew:
1st Lt Henry M. Burman, pilot,
2nd Lt Robert Ralph Mericle, copilot, †
T/Sgt Ralph Alexander Livengood, mechanic, †
2nd Lt Dominick Nicholas Lazzaro, navigator,
T/Sgt Herbert Hemby Burnette, radio operator, †
2nd Lt Leonard Ervin Duncan, bombardier, †
S/Sgt Erban Lloyd Jones, air gunner, †
S/Sgt Howard Maughan Jones, air gunner, †
S/Sgt Carl Edwin Olson Jr., air gunner, †
Sgt Michael J. Stanko, air gunner. †

Probable cause:

Shot down by a German fighter.

Crash of a Boeing B-17F-27-BO Flying Fortress near Pleucadeuc: 1 killed

Date & Time: Feb 16, 1943 at 1100 LT

Type of aircraft:

Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress

Operator:

Registration:

41-24611

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Bombing

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Schedule:

Chelvestson - Chelveston

MSN:

3296

YOM:

1942

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The airplane departed RAF Chelveston at 0900LT on an operation to Saint-Nazaire. While approaching the target area at an altitude of 17,000 feet, it was shot down by a German fighter. Ten crew members bailed out and parachuted to safety while the navigator was killed. Three evaded and seven became PoW. The airplane dove into the ground and crashed into the Étang du Grand Gournava, some 2,3 km southwest of Pleucadeuc.
Crew:
Cpt Charles James Steenbarger, pilot,
1st Lt Thomas Palmer Mayo, copilot,
1st Lt John E. Carpenter Jr., navigator, †
T/Sgt Carey Bernard Ford, mechanic,
S/Sgt Frederick J. Dewig, radio operator,
1st Lt Joe John Varhol, bomb aimer,
S/Sgt Lowell Ray Lewis, air gunner,
S/Sgt Dale Markland, air gunner,
T/Sgt Donald Ray Wall, air gunner,
S/Sgt Charles L. Gilbert, air gunner,
T/Sgt Norris Charles Miller, photographer.

Probable cause:

Shot down by a German fighter.

Crash of a Boeing B-17F-25-BO Flying Fortress off Crozon: 6 killed

Date & Time: Feb 16, 1943

Type of aircraft:

Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress

Operator:

Registration:

41-24541

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Bombing

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Schedule:

Molesworth - Molesworth

MSN:

3226

YOM:

1942

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The airplane departed RAF Molesworth on an operation to Saint-Nazaire. While returning to base, it was shot down by a German fighter and crashed into the sea some 30 km off Crozon. Six crew members were killed and four others parachuted to safety and became PoW.
Crew:
1st Lt Lawrence G. Dunnica, pilot, †
1st Lt Leonard E. Thornton, copilot, †
T/Sgt Harry W. Tucker, mechanic,
2nd Lt Orson E. Pacey, navigator,
T/Sgt Bertis W. Holland, radio operator, †
1st Lt Robert Otis Scheible, bombardier,
S/Sgt Robert L. Dew, air gunner, †
Sgt Wayne E. Harker, air gunner, †
S/Sgt Claude F. Taylor, air gunner, †
S/Sgt Philip T. Cascio, air gunner.

Probable cause:

Shot down by a German fighter.

Crash of a Douglas C-47-DL near Takoradi

Date & Time: Feb 16, 1943

Type of aircraft:

Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)

Operator:

Registration:

41-38581

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

MSN:

4530

YOM:

1942

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

For unknown reasons, the crew was forced to make an emergency landing near Takoradi. The airplane was damaged beyond repair and there were no fatalities.