United States Army Air Forces - USAAF (1941-1947) | Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives

The crew departed Reno AAF at 0650LT for a local training mission. While cruising east of Carson City, a fire erupted in the left engine. Shortly later, the left wing on fire detached and hit the tail. The aircraft went out of control, disintegrated and eventually crashed in a mountainous area located some 31 miles east of Carson City. All five crew members were killed.
Crew:
Cpt William A. Beven,
Pvt William R. Carl,
Pvt Fred R. Davis,
F/O Donovan J. Hogan,
1st Lt Walter E. Schmidt.

Probable cause:

Engine fire in flight.

Crash of a Consolidated C-109 Liberator Express near Imphal: 5 killed

Date & Time: Jan 6, 1945

Type of aircraft:

Consolidated C-109 Liberator Express

Operator:

Registration:

44-49235

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

Schedule:

Dhaka - Chengkung

MSN:

4090

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Crashed in unknown circumstances in the region of Imphal, killing all five crew members. The crew was performing a flight from Dhaka-Kurmitola AFB to Chengkung AFB, Yunnan.
Crew:
Cpt John D. Boger,
Cpl Harry T. Finley,
S/Sgt Gordon B. Gardner,
Pvt Samuel Snitzer,
Cpt Floyd F. Strohl.

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

Date & Time: Jan 6, 1945

Type of aircraft:

Curtiss C-46 Commando

Operator:

Registration:

42-61046

Flight Phase:

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MSN:

26921

YOM:

1944

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An engine failure in flight forced the crew to attempt an emergency landing. The airplane crash landed in a field located 32 km northwest of Yunnanyi and was damaged beyond repair. All three crew members escaped unhurt.

Probable cause:

Engine failure in flight.

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

Date & Time: Jan 6, 1945

Type of aircraft:

Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)

Operator:

Registration:

41-7797

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Cargo

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

Schedule:

Calcutta – Chabua

MSN:

4289

YOM:

1942

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The aircraft crashed for unknown reason some 50 km south of Jorhat, killing all three crew members that were performing a cargo flight from Calcutta-Dum Dum Airport to Chabua AFB.
Crew:
F/O Donald W. Mangino,
2nd Lt Harrison McDonald Jr.,
1st Lt Paul L. Updyke.

Crash of a Douglas C-54A-15-DC Skymaster in Lajes: 1 killed

Date & Time: Jan 4, 1945

Type of aircraft:

Douglas C-54 Skymaster

Operator:

Registration:

42-72250

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

MSN:

10355

YOM:

1944

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Crashed for unknown reasons upon landing at Lajes Airfield. At least one crew member, F/O Russell E. Jones, was killed.

Crash of a Boeing B-17G Flying Fortress near Buxton: 5 killed

Date & Time: Jan 2, 1945

Type of aircraft:

Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress

Operator:

Registration:

43-38944

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Training

Survivors:

Site:

Mountains

Schedule:

Burtonwood - Burtonwood

YOM:

1943

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The crew was involved in a night training exercise. While flying at low height, the aircraft hit obstacles and crashed on the slope of Birchenough Hill, between Congleton and Buxton. All five crew members were killed.
Crew:
1st Lt Donald James De Cleene, pilot,
2nd Lt Maynard Stravinski, copilot,
F/O Thomas Manos, navigator,
T/Sgt Howard F. Ayers, radio operator,
T/Sgt Frank E. Garry, flight engineer.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-10-DK in La Spezia: 7 killed

Date & Time: Dec 30, 1944

Type of aircraft:

Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)

Operator:

Registration:

42-92680

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Supply

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

Schedule:

Siena - Siena

MSN:

12507

YOM:

1943

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The crew left Siena-Malignano Airport on a supply mission. En route, the aircraft encountered marginal weather conditions and severe turbulence. The airplane went out of control, dove into the ground and crashed in a field. All seven occupants were killed.

Probable cause:

Loss of control caused by heavy turbulence.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-75-DL near Bastogne: 3 killed

Date & Time: Dec 27, 1944 at 1235 LT

Type of aircraft:

Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)

Operator:

Registration:

42-100910

Flight Phase:

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Schedule:

Châteaudun - Châteaudun

MSN:

19373

YOM:

1944

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The crew was returning to Châteaudun after it dropped a glider during a full-scale supply mission to the city of Bastogne. En route, the aircraft was hit by enemy fire and crashed in a field located 5 km from Bastogne. Three crew members were killed.

Probable cause:

Shot down by enemy fire.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-80-DL near Bastogne

Date & Time: Dec 27, 1944 at 1230 LT

Type of aircraft:

Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)

Operator:

Registration:

43-15084

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

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Schedule:

Châteaudun - Châteaudun

MSN:

19550

YOM:

1944

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The crew was returning to Châteaudun after it dropped a glider during a full-scale supply mission to the city of Bastogne. En route, the aircraft was hit by enemy fire and the crew attempted an emergency landing in an open field located six km northwest of Bastogne. While the aircraft was damaged beyond repair, all four crew members were unhurt.

Probable cause:

Shot down by enemy fire.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-75-DL near Bastogne: 4 killed

Date & Time: Dec 27, 1944 at 1230 LT

Type of aircraft:

Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)

Operator:

Registration:

42-100904

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Châteaudun - Châteaudun

MSN:

19367

YOM:

1943

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The crew was returning to Châteaudun after it dropped a glider during a full-scale supply mission to the city of Bastogne. En route, the aircraft was shot down by enemy fire and crashed in a field located 5,6 km southwest of Bastogne. A crew member was able to bail out while all four other occupants were killed in the crash.

Probable cause:

Shot down by enemy fire.