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

The aircraft made a normal takeoff from runway 23 (235 degrees) en route to the Azores, rose in a steep climb to 200 to 400 feet in a light rain, when the aircraft’s left wing began to drop as if the aircraft were going to make a diving turn. Witnesses described the dip in the wing as resembling a stall. The aircraft descended at a 30 to 40 degree angle, and disappeared from view behind the trees. It crashed left wing first and exploded immediately in a 200 to 300 foot high flare. All ten crew members were killed.
Crew:
2nd Lt Saul J. Oppenheimer, pilot,
2nd Lt Chester C. Wampler, copilot,
F/O Malcolm H. Hild, navigator,
2nd Lt David L. Harrog, bombardier,
Sgt Warren G. Faulconer,
Cpl Gordon T. Lawson Jr.,
Cpl William Ruggeri,
Cpl Keith M. Shelley,
Cpl Maurice E. Leathers,
Cpl Forrest G. Taylor.
Source & photo:
http://www.planecrashgirl.ca/2017/01/25/usaaf-b-17-44-6344/

Probable cause:

The subsequent investigation could not find the cause of the accident, but believed that it was due to an engine stall. The aircraft had had some maintenance done on its flight indicator, but the investigation found that this was not a factor in the crash.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-30-DL in Naper: 28 killed

Date & Time: Aug 3, 1944 at 2030 LT

Type of aircraft:

Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)

Operator:

Registration:

42-23652

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Bombing

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

Schedule:

Bruning – Pierre

MSN:

9514

YOM:

1943

Location:

Naper

Nebraska

Country:

United States of America

Region:

North America

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The aircraft was on its way to Pierre AFB in South Dakota with 24 passengers (all pilot officers) and a crew of four. En route, the pilots encountered poor weather conditions with thunderstorm activity and turbulence. The aircraft went out of control and entered into a spin. When it crossed the last cloud layer, it turn on its back and disintegrated before crashing into a ravine. All 28 occupants were killed. According to the USAF, turbulence and lightning strikes may cause the engine to fail and the aircraft to become out of control.

Crash of a Consolidated B-24H-15-CF Liberator in Stams

Date & Time: Aug 3, 1944 at 0945 LT

Type of aircraft:

Consolidated B-24 Liberator

Operator:

Registration:

41-29377

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Pantanella - Pantanella

MSN:

476

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The crew was engaged in a bombing mission and left Pantanella AFB in the day. En route, the aircraft was shot down by the pilot of a German fighter. All ten crewmen were able to bail out and were later rescued. The aircraft dove into the ground and crashed.

Probable cause:

Shot down by a German fighter.

Crash of a Consolidated B-24H-5-CF Liberator near Riotord: 1 killed

Date & Time: Aug 2, 1944 at 1330 LT

Type of aircraft:

Consolidated B-24 Liberator

Operator:

Registration:

42-64445

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Castellucio - Castellucio

MSN:

254

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The crew left Castelluccio Airbase, Italy, to bomb a refinery located in Le Pontet, near Avignon. En route, while overflying Vanosc, the aircraft christened 'Patsy Jack' was shot down by the German Flak. Nine crew members bailed out while the captain decided to stay alone on board in an attempt to make an emergency landing. The aircraft eventually crashed near the village of Setoux, near Riotord. The captain survived while eight other crew members were unhurt. Unfortunately, another crew was killed when his parachute failed to open in time.
Crew (727th Squadron):
2nd Lt George S. Cappleman, pilot,
2nd Lt Warren B. Paulsell, copilot,
1st Lt Robert W. Gillies, navigator,
Sgt James H. Lewis, engineer and air gunner,
Sgt Winston K. Meunier, air gunner,
Sgt Theodore Zukosky, radio operator,
Sgt Thomas K. Dow, air gunner,
Sgt George H. Lizotte, air gunner,
Sgt Harold R. Mehl, air gunner
Sgt Winston Fleming Dandrew. †

Probable cause:

Shot down by the German Flak.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-80-DL in Avellino: 9 killed

Date & Time: Jul 31, 1944 at 0830 LT

Type of aircraft:

Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)

Operator:

Registration:

43-15153

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Naples – Foggia – Ramitelli

MSN:

19619

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The aircraft left Naples-Capodichino Airport at 0800LT bound for Ramitelli AFB, with an intermediate stop in Foggia. Some thirty minutes later, the crew encountered foggy conditions and the visibility was low. Suddenly, the captain saw a mountain ahead of him and attempted to gain height. Unfortunately, the aircraft hit tree tops and crashed in a dense wooded area. Nine passengers were killed while all 13 other occupants, among them all four crew members, were injured.
Crew (436th TCG):
Lt Howard B. Wank, pilot,
Lt Marvin Butz, copilot,
S/Sgt Charles T. Taylor, radio operator,
Sgt Raymond H. Kelley, crew chief.
Passengers who were killed:
PFC Walker Dozier,
PFC Morgan Fairfield Jr,
T/Sgt James A. Gaston,
PFC Theodore Harrison,
Sgt James C. Wyatt,
PFC Earnest Hill,
PFC William L. Hill,
PFC Loney Portee,
Sgt James A. Wright.
Source: http://www.1943salerno.it/ritrovamenti/36-il-dakota.html

Crash of a Curtiss C-46A-40-CU Commando in Kunming

Date & Time: Jul 30, 1944 at 1200 LT

Type of aircraft:

Curtiss C-46 Commando

Operator:

Registration:

42-60997

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

MSN:

26872

YOM:

1944

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

For undetermined reason, the aircraft belly landed and was damaged beyond repair. No casualties.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-20-DK near Port Logan: 22 killed

Date & Time: Jul 27, 1944 at 1600 LT

Type of aircraft:

Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)

Operator:

Registration:

42-93038

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Site:

Mountains

Schedule:

Bristol – Prestwick – Keflavik – Godthab – Gander – Boston – New York

MSN:

12905

YOM:

1944

Location:

Port Logan

Dumfries and Galloway

Country:

United Kingdom

Region:

Europe

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

While cruising at low height in marginal weather conditions over the Irish Sea, the aircraft hit the Mull of Galloway (400 feet high) located south of Port Logan, Wigtownshire. The aircraft hit the mountain six feet from its summit and was totally destroyed. All 22 occupants were killed, among them two medical staff and US soldiers wounded in Normandy and flying back to the US.
Crew:
1st Lt Galen R. Hendricks, pilot,
2nd Lt Raymond Hutchings, copilot,
F/O Dan Willard Meshew, pilot,
2nd Lt Leon Julius Tully, navigator,
Sgt Jay V. Alcorn, radio operator,
S/Sgt Merl William Skinner, crew chief.
Passengers:
2nd Lt Mary Edith Jackley,
John Henry Salmi,
Maj Irving I. Shure,
2nd Lt John Wilbur Ingram,
2nd Lt Theron S. Ward,
Sgt Ernest Howard Corvin,
Sgt Billy G. Morris,
Cpl Elmer F. Lauf,
James D. Green,
Keith Glenn Lowdermilk,
Marcus Saspochnikoff,
James E. W. Ayers,
Edmund Leroy Davis,
Donald R. Hammerstrom,
Jack F. Sheidler,
LAC Samuel Gilmour.
Source:
http://www.peakdistrictaircrashes.co.uk/pages/scotland/Douglas-C-47A-42-93038-Cairngarroch-Bay.htm

Subscribe to United States Army Air Forces - USAAF (1941-1947)