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Crash of a Douglas C-47B-20-DK in Pomigliano AFB: 2 killed

Date & Time: Mar 29, 1945
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
43-49912
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Supply
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
27173/15728
YOM:
1945
Location:
Pomigliano AFB
Campania
Country:
Italy
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
Crashed on takeoff for unknown reason, killing both pilots.
Crew:
Cpl Samuel R. Johnston,
F/O Arvid M. Weidman.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-90-DL in Xi'an: 2 killed

Date & Time: Mar 29, 1945
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
43-15901
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Supply
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
20367
YOM:
1944
Location:
Xi'an
Shaanxi
Country:
China
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
Crashed on takeoff for unknown reason, killing both crew members.
Crew:
1st Lt Lawrence F. Ireson Jr.,
Sgt Wilbur P. L. Kirkpatrick.

Crash of a Curtiss C-46A-55-CK Commando in Chinkiang

Date & Time: Mar 29, 1945
Type of aircraft:
Curtiss C-46 Commando
Operator:
Registration:
43-47140
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
211
YOM:
1945
Location:
Zhenjiang
Jiangsu
Country:
China
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The approach was too high and the aircraft landed too long. After touchdown, the remaining distance was insufficient. The pilot observed a ditch at the end of the runway and turn steeply to the right. The aircraft went out of control and came to rest. There were no casualties but the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
Wrong approach configuration on part of the crew. The pilot was stressed and confused at the time of the accident as he just witnessed the explosion of a USAAF B-25 in flight.

Crash of a Curtiss C-46A-55-CK Commando in Myanmar

Date & Time: Mar 27, 1945
Type of aircraft:
Curtiss C-46 Commando
Operator:
Registration:
43-47158
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Supply
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
MSN:
229
YOM:
1945
Location:
Myanmar
All Myanmar
Country:
Myanmar
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crashed in an isolated area located somewhere in Burma. All four crew members survived the crash and walked for three weeks before reaching a village, finding treatment and returning to their base.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-90-DL into the Coral Sea: 24 killed

Date & Time: Mar 27, 1945
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
43-16011
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Cooktown – Finschafen
MSN:
20477
YOM:
1944
Location:
Coral Sea
World
Country:
World
Region:
World
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
20
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
24
Circumstances:
Crashed enroute into the Coral Sea, while on a flight from Cooktown to Finschafen, Morobe Province. SAR operations were conducted but no trace of the aircraft was ever found.
Crew:
Cpt Eldred E. Kellogg,
Cpt James E. Dickey,
S/Sgt William P. Caruthers,
S/Sgt Morris Cohen.
Passengers:
Cpt Robert F. Mekker,
1st Lt Richard F. Stanley,
S/Sgt William I. Shaw,
2nd Lt Harvey J. McHenry,
1st Lt Victor Paschild,
2nd Lt Gregor N. Bronson,
S/Sgt Luigi F. Bettina,
S/Sgt Fred O. Miller,
Sgt Frank A. Lovalle,
Sgt James F. Tyres,
Sgt Glenn E. Sinclair,
Sgt Albert L. Descochers,
Sgt Harry C. Gould,
Sgt Michael Mikula,
Sgt Emerson A. Tanner,
Sgt Selby L. Yates,
2nd Lt Robert A. Daube,
2nd Lt Thomas D. Galey,
2nd Lt Kenneth W. Sober,
2nd Lt Robert G. Powell.

Crash of a Curtiss C-46A-40-CU Commando near Yunnanyi

Date & Time: Mar 25, 1945
Type of aircraft:
Curtiss C-46 Commando
Operator:
Registration:
42-61005
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Mountains
MSN:
26880
YOM:
1944
Location:
Yunnanyi
Yunnan
Country:
China
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Enroute, the crew encountered an unexpected situation (maybe an engine failure) and was forced to abandon the aircraft that crashed in a mountainous area. All crew members survived but the aircraft was lost.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-25-DK in Wesel: 5 killed

Date & Time: Mar 24, 1945 at 0957 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
42-93798
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Chipping Ongar - Chipping Ongar
MSN:
13750
YOM:
1944
Location:
Wesel
North Rhine-Westphalia
Country:
Germany
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
The crew left RAF Chipping Ongar, Essex, taking part to the 'Operation Varsity'. While approaching Wesel, the aircraft was shot down by the German Flak and crashed in a field. All five crew members were killed.
Crew:
Maj Thomas C. Cargill,
2nd Lt John B. Rothrock,
T/Sgt Olen E. St John,
S/Sgt Earl E. Straley,
Cpt George A. Tovey.
Probable cause:
Shot down by the German Flak.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-40-DL in Wesel: 5 killed

Date & Time: Mar 24, 1945
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
42-24038
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
MSN:
9900
YOM:
1943
Location:
Wesel
North Rhine-Westphalia
Country:
Germany
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
The crew was taking part to the 'Operation Varsity'. While approaching Wesel, the aircraft was shot down by the German Flak and crashed in a field, killing all five crew members.
Crew:
S/Sgt Raymond W. Coburn Jr.,
Sgt George W. Myers,
1st Lt John W. Nelson,
1st Lt Emanuel Schapiro,
1st Lt Mark M. Thall.
Probable cause:
Shot down by the German Flak.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-90-DL in Wesel: 4 killed

Date & Time: Mar 24, 1945
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
43-15659
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
MSN:
20125
YOM:
1944
Location:
Wesel
North Rhine-Westphalia
Country:
Germany
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
The crew was taking part to the 'Operation Varsity'. While approaching Wesel, the aircraft was shot down by the German Flak and crashed in a field, killing all four crew members.
Crew:
Cpt James Bramlette Jr.,
2nd Lt Alton A. Manning Jr.,
S/Sgt Bertil E. F. Waller,
1st Lt Rudolph J. Zelek.
Probable cause:
Shot down by the German Flak.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-80-DL in Wesel: 2 killed

Date & Time: Mar 24, 1945
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
43-15092
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Châteaudun - Châteaudun
MSN:
19558
YOM:
1944
Location:
Wesel
North Rhine-Westphalia
Country:
Germany
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
The crew left Châteaudun AFB bound for Wesel, towing a glider, and was taking part to the 'Operation Varsity'. While approaching Wesel, the aircraft was shot down by the German Flak and crashed in a field. Two crew members, 2nd Lt Ralph M. Becker and 1st Lt William J. Grieb, were killed while two others were injured.
Probable cause:
Shot down by the German Flak.
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