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

On final approach to Elmendorf AFB, the airplane crashed for unknown reasons, bursting into flames. All five crew members were killed.
Crew (6th RCF):
Lt Col Herbert W. Kent +4.

Crash of a Boeing B-17G-110-BO Fortress into the Pacific Ocean: 3 killed

Date & Time: Aug 16, 1947

Type of aircraft:

Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress

Operator:

Registration:

43-39465

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Schedule:

Tokyo – Honolulu – Los Angeles – Washington DC

MSN:

10443

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

While approaching the Hawaiian coast of Oahu Island on a flight from Tokyo, the crew encountered a fuel exhaustion and was forced to ditch the aircraft about 60 miles west of Hickam Field where it should land. Ten people were rescued while three others were killed, among them George Acheson, personal advisor of General McArthur and President of the Allied Council in Japan.

Probable cause:

Fuel exhaustion.

Crash of a Fairchild C-82A-1-FA Packet in New Germany

Date & Time: Aug 14, 1947

Type of aircraft:

Fairchild C-82 Packet

Operator:

Registration:

44-22960

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Training

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Wright-Patterson - Wright-Patterson

MSN:

10004

YOM:

1944

Location:

Wright-Patterson AFB (Dayton)

Ohio

Country:

United States of America

Region:

North America

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Crashed in a garden in New Germany while on approach to Wright-Patterson AFB. All four crew members were injured and the aircraft was written off.

Crash of a North American TB-25J-32-NC Mitchell near Kelso: 2 killed

Date & Time: Aug 1, 1947 at 0230 LT

Type of aircraft:

North American B-25 Mitchell

Operator:

Registration:

44-31316

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

McChord - Hamilton

MSN:

108-37391

Location:

Kelso

Washington

Country:

United States of America

Region:

North America

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The twin engine aircraft left McChord AFB at 0212LT bound for Hamilton AFB located in Novato, California. About fifteen minutes into the flight, the left engine caught fire and smoke spread into the cabin. Two crew members bailed out when the left wing broke off. Out of control, the aircraft dove into the ground and crashed in a pasture located 15 miles east of Kelso. Both crew who bailed out were able to walk away and to find help while both pilots were killed in the crash.

Probable cause:

Fire on left engine.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-25-DK in Oberröblingen

Date & Time: Jul 12, 1947

Type of aircraft:

Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)

Operator:

Registration:

42-93802

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

MSN:

13754

YOM:

1944

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

An engine failed enroute, forcing the crew to attempt an emergency landing. The aircraft crash landed in a field in Oberröblingen. There were no casualties but the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of a Douglas C-54G-1-DO Skymaster into the Sargasso Sea: 6 killed

Date & Time: Jul 3, 1947

Type of aircraft:

Douglas C-54 Skymaster

Operator:

Registration:

45-0519

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Schedule:

Hamilton - Morrison

MSN:

35972

YOM:

1945

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The four engine aircraft departed Hamilton, Bermuda, bound for Morrison AFB located in Palm Beach, Florida. While cruising about 294 miles northeast of the Florida coast, the crew encountered severe weather conditions with thunderstorm activity and turbulence. The aircraft went out of control and crashed into the sea. Some debris were found but no trace of the six occupants who were considered as deceased.

Probable cause:

After considering all available facts and existing weather conditions, it is the opinion of the Accident Investigating Board at Morrison Field, Florida, that the aircraft encountered violent turbulence and the pilot lost control of the aircraft. It is possible that structural failure was a factor prior to contact with the ocean. No evidence of fire exists. There was no evidence of a ditching attempt and the debris found indicates that the crew compartment was torn apart on contact with the ocean. The last plotted position of the aircraft and the corresponding position of the frontal zone substantiates the weather assumption. Contributing factors to this accident were possible navigational error allowing aircraft to drift north of course to frontal zone and pilot error in that no apparent effort was made to circumnavigate the frontal weather.

Crash of a Beechcraft C-45F Expeditor on Mt Makiling: 6 killed

Date & Time: Jun 25, 1947

Type of aircraft:

Beechcraft C-45 Expeditor

Operator:

Registration:

44-87231

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Site:

Mountains

MSN:

8490

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

While flying in marginal weather conditions, the twin engine aircraft hit the slope of Mt Makiling (1,090 meters high) located southeast of Calamba. The wreckage was founded three days later about 50 meters below the summit. All six occupants were killed.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-50-DL in Hamlin

Date & Time: Jun 23, 1947

Type of aircraft:

Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)

Operator:

Registration:

42-24291

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

MSN:

10153

YOM:

1943

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Crashed on landing. There were no casualties.

Crash of a Boeing B-29A-70-BN Superfortress near Perkinsville: 12 killed

Date & Time: Jun 15, 1947 at 0014 LT

Type of aircraft:

Boeing B-29 Superfortress

Operator:

Registration:

44-62228

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Training

Survivors:

Site:

Mountains

Schedule:

Davis Monthan - Andrews - Hanscom Field - Davis Monthan

MSN:

11705

Location:

Perkinsville

Vermont

Country:

United States of America

Region:

North America

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The flight had originated the previous morning when the plane took off from Davis-Monthan Air Force Base in Tucson, Arizona, for a navigational training mission to the east coast. The plane was scheduled to land at Andrews Field (Later known as Andrews Air Force Base) in Washington, D.C., but due to bad weather was diverted to Pittsburgh Airport where it arrived at 1507LT. After refueling, the aircraft proceeded towards Hanscom Air Force Base in Bedford, Massachusetts, where it was to remain overnight before flying back to Arizona the following day. However, the weather grew worse, and with poor visibility and darkness falling the crew became lost, ending up over Vermont instead of Massachusetts. Shortly after midnight on June 15, the bomber crashed into the southeast side of Hawks Mountain and exploded. All twelve men aboard were killed, and to this day the incident remains the worst aviation accident to ever occur in Vermont.
Crew:
1st Lt Robert G. Fessler, pilot,
2nd Lt Wilfred E. Gassett, copilot,
2nd Lt Ceasare P. Fontana, observer,
M/Sgt D. D. Jack, crew chief,
T/Sgt Paul H. Fetterhoff,
T/Sgt Clayton K. Knight,
S/Sgt Oliver W. Hartwell,
S/Sgt Sylvester S. Machalac,
S/Sgt John J. O’Toole,
Cpl Harry C. Humphrey,
Cpl Robert Clark,
Pfc Robert M. Stewart.
Source:
http://www.newenglandaviationhistory.com/tag/b-29-44-62228/