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

Date & Time: Nov 26, 1944
Operator:
Registration:
42-93754
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Villeneuve – Chalgrove
MSN:
13701
YOM:
1944
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
The crew left Villeneuve-les-Vertus Airfield at 1640LT bound for RAF Chalgrove, Oxfordshire, with three other similar aircraft in a V formation. After crossing The Channel and flying over England, the weather conditions worsened and the crew encountered poor visibility. The captain decided to reduce his altitude from 1,500 feet to 1,200 feet. Few seconds later, he descended 200 feet more when the aircraft struck the Leith Hill and was destroyed. All five crew members were killed. Two other aircraft in the formation crashed at the same time, in the same area and in similar circumstances.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-15-DK in Leith Hill: 3 killed

Date & Time: Nov 26, 1944
Operator:
Registration:
42-92837
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Schedule:
Villeneuve – Chalgrove
MSN:
12682
YOM:
1944
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
The crew left Villeneuve-les-Vertus Airfield at 1640LT bound for RAF Chalgrove, Oxfordshire, with three other similar aircraft in a V formation. After crossing The Channel and flying over England, the weather conditions worsened and the crew encountered poor visibility. The captain decided to reduce his altitude from 1,500 feet to 1,200 feet. Few seconds later, he descended 200 feet more when the aircraft struck the Leith Hill and was destroyed. Three crew members were killed while two others were injured. Two other aircraft in the formation crashed at the same time, in the same area and in similar circumstances.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-30-DK in Leith Hill: 5 killed

Date & Time: Nov 26, 1944
Operator:
Registration:
43-47975
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Villeneuve – Chalgrove
MSN:
25236/13791
YOM:
1944
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
The crew left Villeneuve-les-Vertus Airfield at 1640LT bound for RAF Chalgrove, Oxfordshire, with three other similar aircraft in a V formation. After crossing The Channel and flying over England, the weather conditions worsened and the crew encountered poor visibility. The captain decided to reduce his altitude from 1,500 feet to 1,200 feet. Few seconds later, he descended 200 feet more when the aircraft struck the Leith Hill and was destroyed. All five crew members were killed. Two other aircraft in the formation crashed at the same time, in the same area and in similar circumstances.

Crash of a Douglas C-47B-1-DL in Blue Mounds: 4 killed

Date & Time: Nov 25, 1944 at 2350 LT
Operator:
Registration:
43-16407
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Chicago – Minneapolis
MSN:
20873
YOM:
1944
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
While cruising by night bound for Minneapolis, the crew encountered poor weather and icing conditions. Unable to maintain a sage height, the captain decided to descend at 2,000 feet and elected to return to Chicago when the aircraft hit a mountain slope (1,716 feet high) located in Blue Mounds. All four crew members were killed.

Crash of a Curtiss C-46D-5-CU Commando in Irian Jaya: 6 killed

Date & Time: Nov 24, 1944 at 1200 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
42-101046
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Biak - Hollandia
MSN:
30501
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Circumstances:
En route, the crew was informed by ground about the deterioration of the weather conditions. Shortly later, the twin engine aircraft crashed in unknown circumstances somewhere in Iran Jaya. All six occupants were killed.

Crash of a Curtiss C-46A-45-CU Commando in Sookerating

Date & Time: Nov 23, 1944 at 1200 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
42-96554
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
30216
YOM:
1944
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Shortly after take off from Sookerating Airport, while in initial climb, the crew encountered technical problems with an engine. The crew was forced to attempt an emergency landing and came to rest in a field located 2 miles north of the airfield. There was no casualties while the aircraft was written off.
Probable cause:
Engine failure.

Crash of a Curtiss C-46D-5-CU Commando in Kano

Date & Time: Nov 23, 1944 at 1200 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
42-101184
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
30639
YOM:
1944
Location:
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crash landed in Kano. No casualties.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-1-DL into The Channel: 4 killed

Date & Time: Nov 23, 1944
Operator:
Registration:
42-23332
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Villacoublay – Barkston Heath
MSN:
9194
YOM:
1943
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
En route from Villacoublay to RAF Barkston Heath, the crew encountered poor weather conditions (low clouds and rain showers). The aircraft crashed into The Channel and no trace was ever found.

Crash of a Curtiss C-46A-50-CU Commando in Paishuiho

Date & Time: Nov 20, 1944 at 1200 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
42-101093
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
MSN:
30548
YOM:
1944
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crashed after being shot down by allied fire.
Probable cause:
Shot down by friendly fire.