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

Upon landing, the single engine aircraft hit a sand pile located on the left side of the runway. The impact caused the left main gear to be sheared off. The aircraft rotated and came to rest. While both occupants were unhurt, the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of a Douglas C-47B-1-DK Skytrain near Thônes: 4 killed

Date & Time: Nov 7, 1944 at 1100 LT

Type of aircraft:

Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)

Operator:

Registration:

43-48449

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Site:

Mountains

MSN:

14265/25710

YOM:

1944

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

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Circumstances:

The crew was performing a flight from England to the Airbase of Istres-Le Tubé, south of France. While cruising east of Annecy in poor weather conditions, the twin engine aircraft hit the slope of Mt Tournette at the altitude of 1,950 meters and located near Thônes. Upon impact, the aircraft caused an avalanche and all debris and the four crew bodies were recovered by snow. Thus, it was impossible for the rescue teams to locate the aircraft and all operations were suspended after few days. The wreckage and the dead bodies were eventually found during summer 1945.
Crew:
2nd Lt Kenneth V. Halverson, pilot,
1st Lt Reeves K. Gauthier, copilot,
S/Sgt Robert L. Campbell, radio operator,
S/Sgt Charles D. Pavlak, flight engineer.

Crash of a Curtiss C-46A-5-CK Commando near Sookerating

Date & Time: Nov 4, 1944 at 1200 LT

Type of aircraft:

Curtiss C-46 Commando

Operator:

Registration:

43-46996

Flight Type:

Military

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

MSN:

67/44CK

YOM:

1944

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

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Circumstances:

Crashed in unknown circumstances near Sookerating. Crew fate unknown as well.

Crash of a Boeing B-17G-10-BO Flying Fortress in Kingman: 14 killed

Date & Time: Nov 3, 1944

Type of aircraft:

Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress

Operator:

Registration:

42-31296

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Training

Survivors:

Site:

Desert

Schedule:

Kingman - Kingman

MSN:

6410

Location:

Kingman

Arizona

Country:

United States of America

Region:

North America

Crew on board:

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Circumstances:

The bomber left Kingman Airport on a gunnery training mission jointly with a USAF Bell P-39Q Airacobra registered 44-2378. While flying at an altitude of 12,000 feet, the pilot of the Bell misjudged the distance between both aircraft, causing the Bell to hit the left wing of the Flying Fortress. At least 15 feet of the left wing was sheared off. Out of control, both aircraft dove into the ground and crashed in a desert area located near Kingman Airport. All 15 occupants on both aircraft were killed.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-10-DK in Mt Pilat: 20 killed

Date & Time: Nov 1, 1944 at 1430 LT

Type of aircraft:

Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)

Operator:

Registration:

42-92700

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Site:

Mountains

Schedule:

Luxeuil – Istres

MSN:

12530

YOM:

1944

Location:

Country:

Region:

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Total fatalities:

Captain / Total hours on type:

792.00

Copilot / Total hours on type:

198

Circumstances:

En route to Istres with 15 wounded soldiers on board, the crew encountered poor weather conditions with low visibility, fog and severe icing. The aircraft hit the slope of Mt Pilat located some 10 km southeast of Saint-Chamond and was destroyed by impact forces and post crash fire. All 20 occupants were killed. The wreckage was found 90 meters from the top of the mountain (1,350 meters high).
Crew (802nd Evac Squadron):
1st Lt Carson Max Roberts, pilot,
2nd Lt William C. Ward, copilot,
Sgt Shirley N. Breckinridge, flight engineer,
Cpl Howard E. Kahler, radio operator,
Aleda Ester Lutz, nurse.
Passengers:
Cpt William A. Steinhurst,
1st Lt Roger M. Philips,
S/Sgt Leonard Vasquez,
Sgt Ronald Takara,
1st Class Ellis F. Gillespie,
1st Class Ciro J. Romono,
2nd Class Edwin Beal,
2nd Class John Ferrata,
2nd Class John B. Young,
Anton Eppenschwantiner,
Bertholdt Hennegriff,
Heinrich Loesch,
Erich Kimmerle,
Max Schmann,
Ottmar Spang.
Source & photo:
http://calm.sopixi.fr/files/crashesc47valleerhonecalm.pdf

Crash of a Douglas C-53D-DO Skytrooper in Cambrai

Date & Time: Nov 1, 1944

Type of aircraft:

Douglas C-53 Skytrooper (DC-3)

Operator:

Registration:

42-68822

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Creil – Cambrai

MSN:

11749

YOM:

1943

Location:

Country:

Region:

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Circumstances:

Crash landed for unknown reason at Cambrai-Niergnies Airfield. No casualties.

Crash of a Curtiss C-46A-35-CU Commando in Kunming

Date & Time: Oct 31, 1944 at 1200 LT

Type of aircraft:

Curtiss C-46 Commando

Operator:

Registration:

42-3675

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Cargo

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

MSN:

26808

YOM:

1944

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

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Circumstances:

Crashed on take off for unknown reason. All four crew members were rescued. Aircraft written off.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-20-DL in Tournon-sur-Rhône: 4 killed

Date & Time: Oct 31, 1944 at 1000 LT

Type of aircraft:

Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)

Operator:

Registration:

42-23469

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

MSN:

9331

YOM:

1943

Location:

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Region:

Crew on board:

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Circumstances:

The crew encountered dense fog en route and the captain decided to reduce his altitude in an attempt to make an emergency landing. The aircraft hit the ground and came to rest in flames in a field located in Tournon-sur-Rhône, some 20 km north of Valence. The aircraft was destroyed and four crew members were killed.

Crash of a North American B-25C-15 Mitchell in Coligny: 6 killed

Date & Time: Oct 30, 1944 at 1200 LT

Type of aircraft:

North American B-25 Mitchell

Operator:

Registration:

42-32428

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

Schedule:

Dole – Ambérieu-en-Bugey

MSN:

93-12536

Location:

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Circumstances:

The crew was perform a short flight from Dole to Ambérieu-en-Bugey Airfield, on behalf of the 316th Squadron. While cruising in low visibility due to foggy conditions, the aircraft hit a hill near the locality of Valresson. The aircraft was destroyed and all six crew members were killed.