Crash of a Consolidated B-24D Liberator in Collinsville: 3 killed

Date & Time: Jan 2, 1943
Operator:
Registration:
41-23974
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
MSN:
769
YOM:
1942
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
The airplane crashed in unknown circumstances in Collinsville. Three crew members were killed.
Crew:
2nd Lt Edward J. Hadraba,
2nd Lt Harvey Alton Hunewill,
Sgt Earl A. Miller,

Crash of a Cessna AT-17 Bobcat near Lubbock: 2 killed

Date & Time: Jan 2, 1943
Operator:
Registration:
42-330
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Location:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
The twin engine airplane crashed in unknown circumstances 24 km southwest of Lubbock. Both crew members were killed.
Crew:
Avc Joseph C. Smith,
Avc Marvin E. Sutton.

Crash of a Beechcraft AT-10 Wichita at Ellington AFB

Date & Time: Jan 2, 1943
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
41-26359
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
1634
YOM:
1942
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The airplane crashed on landing and was damaged beyond repair. There were no fatalities.

Crash of a Boeing B-17F-40-BO Flying Fortress near Wells: 10 killed

Date & Time: Jan 2, 1943
Operator:
Registration:
42-5152
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Wendover - Wendover
MSN:
3691
YOM:
1942
Location:
Crew on board:
10
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
10
Circumstances:
The airplane departed Wendover AFB on a navigation exercise with a crew of 10 on board. En route, weather conditions worsened and the crew decided to cancel some parts of the mission. While cruising at an altitude of 11,000 feet in limited visibility, the airplane impacted the east side of a peak located in the Ruby Mountain Range, near the Pole Canyon, about 37 km southwest of Wells. As the airplane failed to return to base, SAR operations were initiated but eventually suspended as no trace of the airplane nor the 10 occupants was found. The wreckage was spotted on 24 June 1943.
Crew:
2nd Lt Cyril J. Casey, pilot,
2nd Lt Ray C. Hochheimer, copilot,
2nd Lt Clifford J. Elliott, navigator,
2nd Lt Arthur F. Kelly, bombardier,
Sgt Michael J. DiSalvo, flight engineer,
Sgt Alexander C. Johnson, assistant flight engineer,
Sgt Seymour E. Sonkin, radio operator,
Sgt Byron E. Olson, assistant radio operator,
Sgt Lowell T. Stoner, air gunner,
Sgt James A. Karnspon, air gunner.
Probable cause:
Controlled flight into terrain. Official weather reports state that the mountain tops were probably obscured in stratocumulus clouds with scattered snow showers.

Crash of a North American B-25D Mitchell in Yunnanyi

Date & Time: Jan 1, 1943
Operator:
Registration:
41-29675
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Kunming - Yunnanyi
MSN:
87-7840
YOM:
1941
Location:
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The airplane was on its way from Kunming to Yunnanyi for the purpose of topping off tanks and picking up escort before an operation to Shwebo, Burma. On final approach, the pilot got into prop wash of another aircraft and was unable to right his plane in time to prevent a wing from hitting the ground. The airplane crash landed and was wrecked. There were no fatalities.

Crash of a Martin B-26B-1 Marauder off West Palm Beach: 3 killed

Date & Time: Jan 1, 1943
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
41-17687
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
The airplane crashed in unknown circumstances into the sea some 32 km east of West Palm Beach. At least three crew members were killed.
Crew:
2nd Lt John J. Cook,
2nd Lt Dan M. Erickson,
Cpl Walter Mann.

Crash of a North American B-25C-1 Mitchell in Hadjer el Hamis: 6 killed

Date & Time: Dec 31, 1942
Operator:
Registration:
41-13174
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
MSN:
82-5809
YOM:
1941
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Circumstances:
The airplane crashed in unknown circumstances near Hadjer el Hamis, killing the entire crew. It departed Kano earlier in the day.
Crew:
S/Sgt Chester V. Benson,
S/Sgt Reginald B. Dunklin,
S/Sgt George E. Shiffler,
S/Sgt James Harrison Troutt,
S/Sgt Thomas C. Wells,
F/O Donald W. Buckley.

Crash of a North American B-25C Mitchell near Lagos

Date & Time: Dec 31, 1942
Operator:
Registration:
41-12951
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
82-5586
YOM:
1941
Location:
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The airplane crashed for unknown reasons in a swampy area located 32 km northeast of Lagos. There were no fatalities.

Crash of a Boeing B-17F-35-BO Flying Fortress near Musselshell: 11 killed

Date & Time: Dec 30, 1942
Operator:
Registration:
42-5123
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Great Falls - Ainsworth Field
MSN:
3662
YOM:
1942
Crew on board:
10
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
12
Circumstances:
The airplane departed Great Falls on a flight to Ainsworth Field, Nebraska. En route, weather conditions worsened with clouds and icing. While flying over Melstone, the airplane entered an uncontrolled descent. In a relative flat attitude, it crashed on the slope of Mt Bull located south of Mussellshell. It slid along the ground passing between two pine trees which ripped off the wings and came to rest, bursting into flames. The airplane was destroyed and all 12 occupants were killed.
Crew (2nd BG):
1st Lt Edward Thomas Layfield, pilot,
2nd Lt Gerald K. Beem, copilot,
S/Sgt Frederick T. Brown, flight engineer,
2nd Lt Regis J. Newland, navigator,
S/Sgt Hulon B. Dutton, radio operator,
2nd Lt Chester A. Knight Jr., bombardier,
T/Sgt Wallace H. Hanson, air gunner,
S/Sgt Charles T. Valys, air gunner,
Cpl Fred E. Murray, air gunner,
Cpl Hobart L. Hall, air gunner.
Passengers:
Maj Orville A. Ralston,
Pfc Jacob V. Reiss.
Probable cause:
Examination of the wreckage from another B-17 showed that elevator fabric had torn loose from the supporting metal trailing edge structure. Boeing accident investigators concluded that separation of the fabric from the elevator was caused by a new attachment method. Unlike hand lacing where the needles passed between fabric threads, the pronged clips caused small tears in the fabric which escalated into attachment separation under pressure. An engineering fix had been designed and instituted on production models and follow-on Army Technical Orders were issued for retrofits on in-service aircraft. This plane had not been modified.

Crash of a Boeing B-17F-30-BO Flying Fortress off Pointe de Landunvez: 10 killed

Date & Time: Dec 30, 1942
Operator:
Registration:
42-5078
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
MSN:
3617
YOM:
1942
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
10
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
10
Circumstances:
The airplane was engaged in an anti submarine operation off Lorient. Flying along the French coast, it was shot down by a German fighter and crashed into the sea off Pointe de Landunvez. All 10 crew members were killed.
Crew:
1st Lt Floyd E. Love, pilot,
2nd Lt Kent H. Wolfsen, copilot,
T/Sgt Raymond N. Kirkendoll, flight engineer,
T/Sgt Roland B. Digman, radio operator,
2nd Lt Francis J. Wachel, navigator,
2nd Lt Laurence Goreski, bomb aimer,
S/Sgt Raymond E. Bandy, air gunner,
Sgt Larry C. de Bruin, air gunner,
Sgt Robert E. Joyce, air gunner,
S/Sgt Peter G. Galarza, air gunner.
Probable cause:
Shot down by a German fighter.