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Crash of a Lockheed B-34 Lexington in Chadron: 3 killed

Date & Time: Oct 18, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Lockheed PV-1 Ventura
Operator:
Registration:
AJ282
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
4420
YOM:
1942
Location:
Chadron
Nebraska
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
The airplane crashed in unknown circumstances at Chadron Airport, killing all three crew members.
Crew:
2nd Lt Woodrow Wayland Syverson,
Pvt Chester F. Obal,
Pvt Elmer W. Putzier.

Crash of a Boeing B-17E Flying Fortress on Mt Sierra Grande: 11 killed

Date & Time: Oct 17, 1942 at 0615 LT
Type of aircraft:
Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress
Operator:
Registration:
41-9055
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Rapid City - Kelly AFB
MSN:
2527
YOM:
1941
Location:
Mt Sierra Grande
New Mexico
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
11
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
11
Circumstances:
The airplane departed Rapid City AAF in the early morning on a flight to Kelly AFB, San Antonio, TX. There were 11 crew members on board. While cruising at an altitude of 8,000 feet in limited visibility, the airplane impacted the north slope of Mt Sierra Grande (2,661 metres high) located 7 km southwest of Des Moines, NM. The airplane disintegrated on impact and all 11 occupants were killed.
Crew:
1st Lt Paul D. Cunningham Jr., pilot,
2nd Lt Charles W. Mann, copilot,
S/Sgt Joseph C. Lynch, flight engineer,
S/Sgt Ward Murie, assistant flight engineer,
2nd Lt Robert S. Connor Jr., navigator,
S/Sgt Emery F. Herzog, radio operator,
Sgt Milton Lakin, assistant radio operator,
2nd Lt Lawrence W. Hunter, bombardier,
Avc Edward W. Larson, student bombardier.
Sgt Jerome A. Krzmarzick, air gunner,
S/Sgt William R. Patton.
Probable cause:
Controlled flight into terrain after the airplane deviated from the prescribed route due to an unfavorable wind component. The crew sent a position report, indicating that they were 15 miles southwest of Garden City, Kansas. But Garden City did not receive the radio report. In fact, the message was heard by the station at La Junta, Colorado, which did not reply, as they thought the message was intended for the other station. Unaware of their actual position, the crew were off course and flying 175 miles further to the west than intended. The accident was due to a navigational error, caused by a failure of the crew to compensate the strong easterly wind component, resulting in a controlled flight into terrain. The lack of visibility was considered as a contributing factor.

Crash of a Martin B-10BM at Dale Mabry AAF

Date & Time: Oct 17, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Martin B-10 (Model 139 & 166)
Operator:
Registration:
34-73
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
604
YOM:
1934
Location:
Dale Mabry AAF (Tallahassee)
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:
The airplane crashed for unknown reasons at Dale Mabry AAF. There were no casualties.

Crash of a Douglas C-47-DL near Bodinumu: 3 killed

Date & Time: Oct 16, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
41-18585
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Supply
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Port Moresby - Port Moresby
MSN:
4710
YOM:
1942
Location:
Bodinumu
Central
Country:
Papua New Guinea
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
The airplane departed Port Moresby-5 Mile Airfield on a supply mission. The crew was supposed to drop food and supplies to the Australian Army soldiers based in the Kokoda Trail. The airplane failed to return to base and the wreckage was later found in an uninhabited area near Bodinumu. All three crew members were killed.
Crew:
2nd Lt Wilson C. Cater, pilot,
S/Sgt Glenn E. Webb, copilot,
M/Sgt Donald A. Mackey, crew chief.

Crash of a North American B-25C-1 Mitchell in Grapevine: 6 killed

Date & Time: Oct 16, 1942
Type of aircraft:
North American B-25 Mitchell
Operator:
Registration:
41-13206
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Rosecrans - Dallas
MSN:
82-5841
YOM:
1941
Location:
Grapevine
Texas
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Circumstances:
The airplane departed Rosecrans AFB on a flight to Dallas-Love Field Airport, carrying six crew members. Approaching Fort Worth, the pilot encountered poor weather conditions. While flying low in bad visibility, the airplane collided with the cable of a radio tower and crashed in Grapevine. All six occupants were killed.
Crew:
Col Edward S. Fee,
Cpt Louis M. Rawlins Jr.,
Cpt James M. Treeweek.
S/Sgt Wilfred E. Miller,
Cpl Joseph L. Tyndall,
Pvt William Echko.

Crash of a Martin B-26 Marauder off Kiska Island: 4 killed

Date & Time: Oct 16, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Martin B-26 Marauder
Operator:
Registration:
40-1478
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Bombing
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Adak - Adak
MSN:
1478
YOM:
1940
Location:
Kiska Island
Alaska
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
The airplane departed Adak AFB to attack two Japanese destroyers (Oboro & Hatsuharu) cruising some 50 km northeast off Kiska Island. While approaching the target, the airplane was shot down by enemy fire and crashed into the sea. All four crew members were killed.
Crew (28th BG):
2nd Lt John E. Joyce,
2nd Lt Ralph D. O'Riley
S/Sgt Edward J. McCallick Jr.,
Cpl William F. Moran.
Probable cause:
Shot down by enemy fire.

Crash of a Martin B-26 Marauder off Kiska Island: 4 killed

Date & Time: Oct 16, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Martin B-26 Marauder
Operator:
Registration:
40-1387
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Bombing
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Adak - Adak
MSN:
1387
YOM:
1940
Location:
Kiska Island
Alaska
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
The airplane departed Adak AFB to attack two Japanese destroyers (Oboro & Hatsuharu) cruising some 50 km northeast off Kiska Island. While approaching the target, the airplane was shot down by enemy fire and crashed into the sea. All four crew members were killed.
Crew (28th BG):
2nd Lt Dean Mendenhall,
2nd Lt Jack H. Pebworth,
Sgt Morris W. Hancock,
Sgt Dick Tryon.
Probable cause:
Shot down by enemy fire.

Crash of a Douglas C-49E in Chicago: 9 killed

Date & Time: Oct 15, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-49 (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
42-43619
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Sedalia - Chicago
MSN:
1494
YOM:
1935
Location:
Chicago-Midway
Illinois
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
9
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
9
Circumstances:
On final approach to Chicago-Midway Airport following a flight from Sedalia AFB, the airplane crashed and burned. All nine occupants were killed.
Crew:
Cpt Charles A. Dafoe,
1st Lt Walter Jackson,
2nd Lt Walter L. Cravey,
2nd Lt Richard A. Roper,
2nd Lt Paul A. Stenz,
2nd Lt William J. Tichy Jr.,
2nd Lt Clarence J. Tompkins,
S/Sgt Max L. Bybee,
Sgt Francis A. Kokenge.

Crash of a Douglas A-20 Havoc at Morris Field

Date & Time: Oct 15, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Douglas A-20 Havoc/DB-7 Boston
Operator:
Registration:
AL837
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Location:
Charlotte-Douglas
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:
The airplane crashed on landing at Morris Field prior to be delivered to the Royal Air Force. There were no casualties.
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