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Crash of a Beechcraft AT-7 Navigator near Morenci

Date & Time: Dec 4, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Beechcraft AT-7 Navigator
Operator:
Registration:
41-21127
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Mountains
MSN:
1142
YOM:
1941
Location:
Morenci
Arizona
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:
For unknown reasons, the crew abandoned the airplane that crashed in a mountainous area located 16 km west-southwest of Morenci. All crew members parachuted to safety.

Crash of a Consolidated B-24D-5-CO Liberator in Moonlight Creek: 4 killed

Date & Time: Dec 3, 1942 at 0245 LT
Type of aircraft:
Consolidated B-24 Liberator
Operator:
Registration:
41-23762
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Bombing
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Lockhart River - Lockhart River
MSN:
557
YOM:
1942
Location:
Moonlight Creek
Queensland
Country:
Australia
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
10
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
The airplane departed Lockhart River-Iron Range Airport on a bombing mission against a Japanese convoy spotted north of Buna. While returning to base, the crew got lost over the Gulf of Carpentaria and the airplane ran out of fuel. The crew bailed out and the airplane crashed near Moonlight Creek. Six crew members parachuted to safety and four others were killed apparently after they decided to remain on board to help one of their colleague his parachute got stuck in the door frame.
Crew:
1st Lt Norman R. Crosson, pilot,
2nd Lt John D. Dyer, copilot,
2nd Lt Arthur N. Speltz,
2nd Lt Daleford V. Grimes
T/Sgt Grady S. Gaston,
S/Sgt James B. Hilton, †
S/Sgt Charles B. Workman, †
Sgt Loy L. Wilson,
Sgt Edward J. McKeon, †
Cpl John Geydos Jr. †
Probable cause:
Fuel exhaustion.

Crash of a Douglas C-47-DL in Popondetta

Date & Time: Dec 3, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
41-18571
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Port Moresby - Popondetta
MSN:
4696
YOM:
1942
Location:
Popondetta
Oro (Northern)
Country:
Papua New Guinea
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The airplane departed Port Moresby-Wards (5 Mile Drome) on a flight to Popondetta and crashed on approach following a pilot error. There were no fatalities.
Probable cause:
Pilot error.

Crash of a Martin B-26B Marauder off Venice: 7 killed

Date & Time: Dec 3, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Martin B-26 Marauder
Operator:
Registration:
41-17606
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Location:
Venice
Florida
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
7
Circumstances:
Almost immediately after takeoff from Venice Airport, the airplane stalled and crashed into the sea about 100 metres offshore. All seven crew members were killed.
Crew:
2nd Lt J. C. Workman,
2nd Lt Woodrow H. Hiebert,
2nd Lt Parker J. Matthews,
2nd Lt Daniel J. Murphy Jr.,
S/Sgt John E. Chase,
S/Sgt Henry Reicher,
Sgt Marvin N. Paige.

Crash of a Lockheed B-34 Lexington in Palacios

Date & Time: Dec 3, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Lockheed PV-1 Ventura
Operator:
Registration:
AJ291
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
4429
YOM:
1942
Location:
Palacios
Texas
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 on takeoff for unknown reasons. There were no fatalities.

Crash of a Douglas A-20 Havoc in Livingston: 2 killed

Date & Time: Dec 3, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Douglas A-20 Havoc/DB-7 Boston
Operator:
Registration:
AL847
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Location:
Livingston
Louisiana
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
The airplane crashed in unknown circumstances in Livingston while on a training flight. Both crew members were killed.
Crew:
2nd Lt Charles Davis Smith,
Pvt Thomas Jones.

Crash of a Douglas A-20C Havoc in Oklahoma City

Date & Time: Dec 3, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Douglas A-20 Havoc/DB-7 Boston
Operator:
Registration:
41-19188
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
7590
YOM:
1941
Location:
Oklahoma City-Will Rogers
Oklahoma
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:
For unknown reasons, the crew was forced to make an emergency landing at Oklahoma City-Will Rogers Airport. The airplane was damaged beyond repair and there were no fatalities.

Crash of a Boeing B-17E Flying Fortress in Port Moresby: 9 killed

Date & Time: Dec 2, 1942 at 0215 LT
Type of aircraft:
Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress
Operator:
Registration:
41-9194
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Bombing
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Port Moresby - Port Moresby
MSN:
2666
YOM:
1941
Location:
Port Moresby-Jackson (7 Mile Drome)
National Capital District
Country:
Papua New Guinea
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
9
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
9
Circumstances:
The airplane departed Port Moresby-Jackson (7 Mile Drome) in the late evening of December 1 on its third operation against Japanese convoy. While returning to base in the early morning, it nosed down and crashed with a 35° angle on hilly terrain located between the airports of Five Mile and Seven Mile. All nine crew members were killed.
Crew (43rd BG):
1st Lt Robert K. Freeman, pilot,
2nd Lt Clinton L. Smith, copilot,
2nd Lt Harry L. Moy,
S/Sgt Richard M. Cullisun,
S/Sgt James M. Iverson,
Sgt Wilbert H. Grogan,
Cpl Saul Berstein ,
Cpl Robert F. Wright,
Cpl Morris McFarland, air gunner.

Crash of a Martin B-26B-1 Marauder in Wilmington

Date & Time: Dec 2, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Martin B-26 Marauder
Operator:
Registration:
41-17652
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Location:
Wilmington
North Carolina
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:
Due to fuel exhaustion in flight, the crew bailed out and abandoned the airplane that crashed in Wilmington. There were no fatalities.
Probable cause:
Fuel exhaustion.

Crash of a Martin B-26B Marauder in Wilmington

Date & Time: Dec 2, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Martin B-26 Marauder
Operator:
Registration:
41-17644
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Location:
Wilmington
North Carolina
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:
Due to fuel exhaustion in flight, the crew bailed out and abandoned the airplane that crashed in Wilmington. There were no fatalities.
Probable cause:
Fuel exhaustion.
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