Country
United States of America
Operator Image

Crash of a Douglas C-47B-1-DK near RAF Valley: 4 killed

Date & Time: Nov 12, 1944 at 1200 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
43-48473
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Postal (mail)
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Paris - Warrington
MSN:
14289/25734
YOM:
1944
Location:
Valley AFB
Anglesey
Country:
United Kingdom
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
The crew left Paris-Le Bourget Airport in the morning with mail bags and various goods. While flying over Wales, the crew was contacted by ground and instructed to divert to RAF Valley due to the deterioration of the weather conditions. After he changed his heading, the crew encountered marginal weather and shortly later, the twin engine aircraft hit the slope of a rocky mountain and was destroyed. First rescuers arrived on site ten days later and all four crew members were killed.

Crash of a Douglas C-54A-1-DO Skymaster near Cape Saint George: 12 killed

Date & Time: Nov 12, 1944 at 0130 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-54 Skymaster
Operator:
Registration:
42-107427
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
New York-La Guardia - Stephenville
MSN:
7446
YOM:
1943
Location:
Cape Saint George
Newfoundland & Labrador
Country:
Canada
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
14
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
12
Circumstances:
All along the route do Stephenville, the weather conditions were considered as good. While approaching the destination, the winds went stronger. Some ten minutes prior to the scheduled arrival time, by night, the four engine aircraft hit the slope of a mountain located near Cape Saint George, west of Stephenville. Nine occupants were killed while nine others were seriously injured. Few days later, three of them died from their injuries.
Source & photos: http://planecrashgirl.ca/
Probable cause:
It appears the pilot checked the weather often before and throughout the flight, but the aircraft was still blown off-course by high velocity winds. The pilot also failed to make proper use of normally functioning radio navigational aids to check the position of the aircraft prior to and during descent. The aircraft collided with the side of a hill at what is locally known as Garden Hill on the Port-au-Port peninsula.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-50-DL near Šibenik: 5 killed

Date & Time: Nov 12, 1944
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
42-24203
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
MSN:
10065
YOM:
1943
Location:
Šibenik
Dalmatia
Country:
Croatia
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
Crashed in unknown circumstances near Šibenik, killing all five crew members.

Crash of a Douglas C-47B-1-DL near Mt Strawberry: 11 killed

Date & Time: Nov 11, 1944 at 2017 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
43-16143
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
San Rafael – Bakersfield – Los Angeles
MSN:
20609
YOM:
1944
Location:
Mt Strawberry
California
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
9
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
11
Circumstances:
On a night approach to Los Angeles-Mines Field, the aircraft hit a mountain slope located 2 miles northeast of Mt Strawberry, some 10 miles north of Altadena. All 11 occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
The crew received erroneous data relating to the wind component and direction prior to departure from Bakersfield-Meadows Field. This resulted in a deviation from the prescribed flight path and the crew started the descent while steel above the mountainous terrain north of Altadena. In low visibility, the aircraft hit the slope of a mountain northeast of Mt Strawberry and was destroyed. Thus, the accident was caused by a controlled flight into terrain.

Crash of a Douglas C-54A-15-DC Skymaster off Oahu Island: 17 killed

Date & Time: Nov 11, 1944 at 1200 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-54 Skymaster
Operator:
Registration:
42-72252
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
MSN:
10357
YOM:
1944
Location:
Pacific Ocean
World
Country:
World
Region:
World
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
11
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
17
Circumstances:
The four engine aircraft was performing a flight from an airport located on Oahu Island and California. While cruising some 50 miles east of Oahu Island, the aircraft went out of control and crashed into the Pacific Ocean. All 17 occupants were killed.

Crash of a Consolidated B-24J-105-CO Liberator into the Adriatic Sea: 11 killed

Date & Time: Nov 11, 1944
Type of aircraft:
Consolidated B-24 Liberator
Operator:
Registration:
42-109813
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
MSN:
3609
Location:
Adriatic Sea
World
Country:
World
Region:
World
Crew on board:
11
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
11
Circumstances:
While flying over the Adriatic Sea, the four engine aircraft went out of control and crashed for unknown reason. No trace was ever found.

Crash of a Douglas C-47-DL near Yunnanyi: 1 killed

Date & Time: Nov 10, 1944
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
41-18547
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Yunnanyi – Kunming
MSN:
4672
Location:
Yunnanyi
Yunnan
Country:
China
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
14
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
Few minutes after take off from Yunnanyi, Airport, while climbing, the right engine caught fire. The crew was able to feather the propeller but could not extinguish the fire. The captain decided to reduce his altitude and attempted an emergency landing. The aircraft crash landed 24 km from Yunnanyi Airport and was damaged beyond repair. A passenger was killed in the accident.
Probable cause:
Engine fire.

Crash of a Consolidated B-24 Liberator near Seljord: 10 killed

Date & Time: Nov 9, 1944 at 1200 LT
Type of aircraft:
Consolidated B-24 Liberator
Operator:
Registration:
42-52196
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Refuelling
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Leuchars - Leuchars
MSN:
913
Location:
Seljord
Vestfold og Telemark
Country:
Norway
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
10
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
10
Circumstances:
En route, the crew encountered poor weather and icing conditions. While all engines and both wings were contaminated by ice, the aircraft was unable to maintain the prescribed altitude and hit the slope of Mt Skorve located in the region of Seljord. All ten crew members were killed.
Probable cause:
Icing.

Crash of a Douglas C-54A-1-DO Skymaster off Marathon: 4 killed

Date & Time: Nov 9, 1944 at 0250 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-54 Skymaster
Operator:
Registration:
42-107438
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
MSN:
7457
YOM:
1943
Location:
Marathon
Florida
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
Shortly after a night take off from runway 07, while in initial climb, the four engine aircraft went out of control and crashed into the sea some 3 miles off shore. All four crew members were killed.

Crash of a Boeing B-17G-25-DL off Petten: 10 killed

Date & Time: Nov 8, 1944
Type of aircraft:
Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress
Operator:
Registration:
42-38064
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Bombing
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
MSN:
8850
Location:
Petten
North Holland
Country:
Netherlands
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
10
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
10
Circumstances:
While flying over the North Sea, the four engine aircraft collided in unknown circumstances with another USAAF B-17, went out of control and crashed into the sea some 15 km off Petten. All 10 occupants were killed. The other aircraft was able to land safely.
Crew (457th BG):
Arnett Furr, pilot,
Sterling Book, copilot,
Joe Andrews, navigator,
Leon Plagianos, air bomber,
Don Brunsvold, flight engineer,
Dick Weaver, radio operator,
Warren Rankin, air gunner,
Glen Wisdom, air gunner,
Leroy Wetzel, air gunner. 1.
Subscribe to United States Army Air Forces - USAAF (1941-1947)