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Crash of a Boeing B-17E Flying Fortress near Rapid City: 3 killed

Date & Time: Oct 9, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress
Operator:
Registration:
41-9186
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Ellsworth - Ellsworth
MSN:
2658
YOM:
1941
Location:
Rapid City
South Dakota
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:
Shortly after takeoff from Ellsworth AFB, the airplane impacted a ridge located 5 km north of the city. All three crew members were killed.
Crew:
2nd Lt Edwin Wadley Smith, pilot,
Sgt James F. Hackney,
Pvt Harold E. LeFever.

Crash of a Douglas A-20 Havoc at Argentia NAS

Date & Time: Oct 8, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Douglas A-20 Havoc/DB-7 Boston
Operator:
Registration:
AL864
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Location:
Argentia NAS
Newfoundland & Labrador
Country:
Canada
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 pilot was forced to make an emergency near Argentia NAS. There were no casualties and the airplane was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of a Douglas A-20B-DL Havoc near Palm Springs: 1 killed

Date & Time: Oct 8, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Douglas A-20 Havoc/DB-7 Boston
Operator:
Registration:
41-3295
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
MSN:
5625
YOM:
1941
Location:
Palm Springs
California
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
The pilot was completing a solo training exercise when he lost control of the airplane that crashed about 15 km north of Palm Springs and was destroyed. The pilot, Cpt Don E. Brown, was killed. He was the son of the American actor Joe E. Brown.

Crash of a Boeing B-17B Flying Fortress in Río Hato

Date & Time: Oct 8, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress
Operator:
Registration:
38-221
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
2014
YOM:
1938
Location:
Río Hato
Coclé
Country:
Panama
Region:
Central America
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The airplane ground looped on takeoff from Río Hato Airport and was damaged beyond repair. There were no casualties.

Crash of a Lockheed L-14-WF62 Super Electra in Rockhampton

Date & Time: Oct 7, 1942 at 0900 LT
Type of aircraft:
Lockheed 14 Super Electra
Operator:
Registration:
VH-CXK
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Brisbane - Rockhampton - Townsville
MSN:
1443
YOM:
1938
Location:
Rockhampton
Queensland
Country:
Australia
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
6
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The twin engine airplane departed Brisbane-Archerfield Airport at 0610LT on a flight to Townsville with an intermediate stop in Rockhampton. On board were six passengers (RAAF officers) and four crew members. Upon landing at Rockhampton Airfield, the undercarriage collapsed. The airplane slid for few dozen metres then came to rest, bursting into flames. All 10 occupants evacuated the cabin but suffered serious burns. The airplane was totally destroyed by fire. This airplane was later designated as C-111 and re-registered 44-83235.
Crew:
1st Lt James O. Cobb, pilot +3.
Probable cause:
Undercarriage collapsed on landing, probably due to sabotage.

Crash of a Lockheed B-34 Lexington at Camp Stewart: 5 killed

Date & Time: Oct 6, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Lockheed PV-1 Ventura
Operator:
Registration:
AJ420
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
MSN:
4558
YOM:
1942
Location:
Fort Stewart AFB (Camp Stewart)
Georgia
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
Following an engine failure in flight, the pilot attempted an emergency landing when the airplane crashed in Camp Stewart and was destroyed. A crew survived and five others were killed. The airplane was supposed to be delivered to the Royal Air Force.
Crew:
2nd Lt William L. Ineson, pilot +5.
Probable cause:
Engine failure in flight.

Crash of a Cessna AT-17 Bobcat at Columbus AFB

Date & Time: Oct 6, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Cessna T-50 Bobcat (AT-8/AT-17/UC-78 & Crane)
Operator:
Registration:
42-400
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Location:
Columbus AFB (Kaye Field)
Mississippi
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 twin engine airplane crashed on landing and was damaged beyond repair. There were no casualties.

Crash of a Boeing B-17E Flying Fortress at Holloman AFB

Date & Time: Oct 6, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress
Operator:
Registration:
41-2541
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
2352
YOM:
1941
Location:
Holloman AFB (Alamogordo)
New Mexico
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 suffered an unknown technical failure and crashed on landing at Holloman AFB, bursting into flames. There were no casualties.
Probable cause:
Unknown technical failure.

Crash of a North American B-25C Mitchell in Columbia

Date & Time: Oct 5, 1942
Type of aircraft:
North American B-25 Mitchell
Operator:
Registration:
41-12617
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
82-5252
YOM:
1941
Location:
Columbia
South 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 and was damaged beyond repair. There were no casualties.

Crash of a Boeing B-17E Flying Fortress near Rabaul: 9 killed

Date & Time: Oct 5, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress
Operator:
Registration:
41-9196
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Bombing
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Mareeba - Port Moresby - Mareeba
MSN:
2668
YOM:
1941
Location:
Rabaul
East New Britain
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 Mareeba, Queensland, then made a fuel stop at Port Moresby-Seven Mile Airport. It then continued to Rabaul on a mission to attack the Vunakanau Airfield. Approaching the target area, it was attacked and shot down by 11 Mitsubishi Zero and crashed. All nine crew members were killed.
Crew (19th BG):
1st Lt Earl L. Hageman Jr.,
1st Lt Dale E. Hanson,
2nd Lt Angelo P. Bianco,
2nd Lt Wade H. Lowry,
S/Sgt Michael G. Adamow,
Sgt Thomas H. Jack,
Cpl Frank J. Mehock,
Pfc Thomas W. Wilzbacher,
Sgt Frank W. Plunkett, air gunner.
Probable cause:
Shot down by Japanese fighters.
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