United States Army Air Forces - USAAF (1941-1947)

Crashed on takeoff for unknown reason, killing a crew member, 1st Lt Lyle C. Ethell.

Shortly after takeoff from Venosa AAF, while climbing, a life raft deployed accidentally in the cabin, went through the left door intentionally let opened and hit the port stabilizer. The captain ordered his crew to bail out and three of them were able to abandon the aircraft before it crashed in a field located 13 km northeast of Spinazzola, about 25 km east of Venosa. The aircraft was destroyed by impact forces and seven other crew members were killed.
Crew:
1st Lt Erwin W. Bussick, navigator, †
T/Sgt Richard H. Callaham Jr., flight engineer, †
1st Lt William Craven Jr., †
Maj Philip Edward Cummings, pilot, †
S/Sgt Aloysius F. Gasiorek, †
1st Lt Glenn Wilson Jones, copilot, †
S/Sgt Mike J. Kovich, air gunner, †
T/Sgt George Kavanaugh, radio operator,
S/Sgt Richard Peath Ball, air gunner,
Lt Argie Simmons, bombardier

Lost without trace on a flight from Clark AFB to Bayug Airfield, Leyte.
Crew:
1st Lt Sam T. Barr,
Cpl Steve P. Brawner,
F/O Eugene D. Crow,
T/Sgt Henry L. Heberlee,
Cpt Charles Lamon.

The crew was engaged in a test flight at Wright-Patterson AFB. Shortly after takeoff, in initial climb, the twin engine aircraft went out of control and crashed in a huge explosion in a hangar. Many explosions occurred, the hangar was destroyed as well as several aircraft, including a Consolidated B-32 Dominator registered 42-10873, a Douglas C-47A-10-DL registered 42-23357 and a Boeing B-29 Superfortress registered 42-63598. All three crew members and five employees in the hangar were killed in the accident.
Those killed were:
1st Lt Elwin I. Brawner Jr.,
Pfc Eugene L. Fisher,
2nd Lt Robert E. Jackson,
Pfc John L. Ravegum,
Pvt Browder A. Richmond,
T/Sgt Russel P. Schryer,
Sgt Albert B. Weathers,
Sgt William W. Wilson.

During the takeoff roll, the aircraft went out of control, veered off runway and came to rest in a ditch. There were no injuries but the aircraft was written off.

The crew was returning to Lawrenceville-George AFB after completing a glider tow mission. While approaching at an altitude of 2,400 feet, the aircraft collided with a USAAF C-47 registered 42-24101 and carrying a crew of 2. Following the collision, the crew was able to reach the airport and completed a safe belly landing. All seven crew members were unhurt but unfortunately, the aircraft was considered as damaged beyond repair. The other C-47 crashed in a field located 3 miles north of the airfield, killing its both pilots.

The crew was completing a training mission at Lawrenceville-George AFB. While descending to the airport at an altitude of 2,400 feet, the aircraft collided with a USAAF C-47 registered 43-16144 and carrying a crew of 7. The first C-47 lost a part of its right wing, went out of control and crashed in a field located 3 miles north of the airfield. Both pilots were killed. The crew of the second C-47 was able to reach the airport and completed a safe belly landing. All seven crew members were unhurt but unfortunately, the aircraft was considered as damaged beyond repair.
Crew killed were:
2nd Lt Robert Wayne Stroh,
2nd Lt Douglas Cook Woodbury.

The crew was returning to his base in RAF Folkingham after he delivered a glider at Achiet-B54 AFB, Pas-de-Calais. Approaching the London area, the crew encountered poor weather conditions and low visibility. At 1925LT, the radio operator informed ground that he was lost and, while cruising at an altitude of 10,000 feet, was unable to locate the aerodromes of Hawkinge, Lympne or Detling. Thus, the crew decided to leave the area and continued to the east to reach an airport out of the London area. While approaching Ipswich, the aircraft was mistakenly shot down by a British antiaircraft battery and crashed into the sea few hundred yards off Orford. All four crew members were killed.

Crashed in unknown circumstances in Tring, killing one crew member, 2nd Lt Charles V. Smith Jr.

On final approach to Ledo Airfield, while completing a turn, the aircraft stalled and crashed, killing all 27 occupants, among them 15 female nurses and several officers.
Crew:
1st Lt Walter S. Amsler Jr.,
2nd Lt Francis H. Blalock,
2nd Lt Thomas E. Dellinger,
1st Lt Henry D. Hammack Jr.,
2nd Lt Joseph R. Launier,
Cpt Charles W. Loucks,
Cpt John J. Lukaszczyk,
Cpt Nicholas J. Mandoukos,
1st Lt Grady A. Masters,
Cpt Edward R. Moore.