Crash of a Curtiss C-46A-45-CU Commando in the Sudanese Desert: 9 killed

Date & Time: Feb 23, 1945
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
42-96541
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
MSN:
30203
YOM:
1944
Location:
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
9
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
9
Circumstances:
In flight, the pilot lost control of the aircraft following an engine failure. The aircraft crashed in a desert area located some 185 km north of Wadi Seidna AFB, in the suburb of Khartoum. All nine crew members were killed.
Crew:
Cpl John M. Anderson,
Cpt Harold Billups,
Pfc George Brodsky,
2nd Lt Norman Crossley,
1st Lt Frederick P. Downing,
T/Sgt Charles W. Hammock,
S/Sgt Noel A. Holleman,
Pfc Silvio T. Scardapane,
Pfc Milton J. Warrick.
Probable cause:
Engine failure.

Crash of a Douglas C-47B-1-DL off Biak: 20 killed

Date & Time: Feb 23, 1945
Operator:
Registration:
43-16224
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Tacloban – Biak
MSN:
20690
YOM:
1944
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
16
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
20
Circumstances:
While descending to Biak Island while on a flight from Tacloban, the aircraft crashed in unknown circumstances into the sea, killing all 20 occupants.
Crew:
Pfc Conrad W. Andrews,
Sgt Oscar Arnold,
S/Sgt Howard E. Burlew Sr.,
2nd Lt Robert C. Greenmeyer,
Pfc Albert P. Herbst,
Cpt Edward D. Hirst,
S/Sgt Kendric L. Johnson,
2nd Lt Clarence M. Lindquist,
T/Sgt John F. Lisowski,
1st Lt Robert Marpet,
1st Lt Harold R. McMillan,
S/Sgt John A. Moore,
S/Sgt Henry C. Ousley Jr.,
1st Lt Horace V. Petty,
Cpl George R. Powell,
Pfc Sylvester J. Raba,
S/Sgt Bert J. Shelata Jr.,
Sgt John F. Stucky,
T/Sgt George G. Sullivan,
T/Sgt Judd N. Wommack.

Crash of a Curtiss C-46A-45-CU Commando in Casablanca: 13 killed

Date & Time: Feb 23, 1945
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
42-107377
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
27064
YOM:
1944
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
26
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
13
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from Casablanca-Cazes Airport, while climbing, the aircraft stalled and crashed 3 km from the airfield. Thirteen occupants were killed while 17 others were injured.
Crew killed were:
R. Garrett,
F/O J. Harrington,
1st Lt Stanley E. Indyk,
1st Lt Eric B. Ives,
Sgt R. T. Johnson,
Cpl Watters L. Lamkin,
1st Lt Samuel W. Lipscomb,
Pfc Michael A. Miraglio,
Lt Col Harry Paller,
1st Lt Bernard A. Perlick,
Maj George E. Skiriey,
Cpt E. Wertman,
Lt Col Charles L. Wheaton.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-10-DK in Vélizy-Villacoublay: 4 killed

Date & Time: Feb 22, 1945
Operator:
Registration:
42-92742
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
MSN:
12576
YOM:
1944
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
While approaching the Vélizy-Villacoublay Airbase, the aircraft was shot down by antiaircraft fire and crashed, killing all four crew members. The origin of the fire remains unknown.
Crew:
S/Sgt Morey Cutler,
2nd Lt Miles C. Matthews,
2nd Lt Bruce A. McKern,
Sgt Thomas J. Quattrene.
Probable cause:
Shot down by antiaircraft fire.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-75-DL near Romagnese: 7 killed

Date & Time: Feb 22, 1945
Operator:
Registration:
42-100954
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
MSN:
19417
YOM:
1944
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
7
Circumstances:
The aircraft left Rosignano AFB at 2030LT with a crew of five and two passengers on board. Few minutes later, in good weather conditions, the aircraft hit the slope of a mountain located west of Romagnese. All seven occupants were killed.
Crew:
1st Lt Robert Ernest Wallin, pilot,
2nd Lt Donald R. Faull, copilot,
1st Lt Lloyd C. Poole, navigator,
Sgt John V. Rupnik, crew chief,
Sgt Richard J. Perzyk, radio operator.
Passengers:
Edward J. Ford,
David C. Saynor.
Source:
http://www.gracpiacenza.com/c-47-dakota-monte-calenzone.html

Crash of a Curtiss C-46A-40-CU Commando in Xi'an

Date & Time: Feb 21, 1945
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
42-107332
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
27019
YOM:
1944
Location:
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
After touchdown, the aircraft was unable to stop within the remaining distance, overran and came to rest in a ditch. There were no casualties but the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of a Douglas C-49K in Long Beach

Date & Time: Feb 20, 1945
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
43-2009
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
6334
YOM:
1942
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crashed in unknown circumstances in Long Beach. There were no fatalities.

Crash of a Douglas C-47B-1-DL near Wau: 2 killed

Date & Time: Feb 19, 1945
Operator:
Registration:
43-16204
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
MSN:
20670
YOM:
1944
Location:
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
Crashed near Wau, killing both pilots.
Crew:
S/Sgt Ralph C. Coffman,
2nd Lt Jacob Enneus. Wondaal.

Crash of a Consolidated B-24J-1-FO Liberator near Burnley: 8 killed

Date & Time: Feb 19, 1945
Operator:
Registration:
42-50668
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Schedule:
North Pickenham - Burtonwood
MSN:
2553
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
6
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
8
Circumstances:
While performing a flight from RAF North Pickenham to RAF Burtonwood, the four engine aircraft hit the slope of Mt Black Hameldon located near Burnley. Eight occupants were killed while three others were injured. The aircraft was totally destroyed.
Crew (854th Bombing Squadron):
1st Lt Charles Albert Goeking, pilot,
2nd Lt George H. Smith, copilot, †
1st Lt Frank E. Bock, navigator, †
T/Sgt Howard E. Denham, flight engineer, †
T/Sgt Leslie E. Johnson, radio operator.
Passengers:
2nd Lt Joseph B. Walker III, †
2nd Lt Elmer R. Brater, †
F/O Gerald Procita, †
F/O David A. Robinson, †
Sgt Randolph R. Mohlhenrich, †
Sgt Robert D. Hyett.

Crash of a Curtiss C-46A-45-CU Commando in Abadan: 4 killed

Date & Time: Feb 18, 1945
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
42-96544
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
MSN:
30206
YOM:
1944
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from Abadan Airport, while in initial climb, the aircraft nosed down and crashed, killing all four occupants. The flight was completed on behalf of the 1266th Army Air Force Base Unit, North African Division, Air Transport Command.
Crew:
Cpl Joseph Brine,
2nd Lt George H. Hafford,
1st Lt Samuel B. Isbell,
1st Lt Richard E. Wheelus.
Probable cause:
The right rudder tab became jammed in a nose-down position after rotation for unknown reasons.