Crash of a Consolidated C-87-CF on Florida Island: 27 killed

Date & Time: Jul 26, 1944 at 2030 LT
Operator:
Registration:
41-11706
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Canton Island - Honiara
MSN:
202
YOM:
1941
Region:
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
21
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
27
Circumstances:
The aircraft left Canton Island (Kiribati) at 1100LT bound for Honiara Airport, on Guadalcanal Island, Solomon Islands, with an ETA at 2100LT. While on approach by night, the four engine aircraft hit a mountain slope (2,000 feet high) located on the Florida Island, north of Honiara. The wreckage was spotted two days later, on July 28. Debris were found some 200 feet from the summit and all 27 occupants were killed.
Crew:
Hugh W. Prince, pilot,
Frederick F. Gundrum Jr., copilot,
Willard L. Churchill, flight engineer,
Eddie B. Hult, navigator,
J. Arthur Strumph, radio operator,
William A. Staley, traffic clerk.
Passengers:
Air Commodore Isaac John Fitch,
Lt Col John C. Pearson,
Maj R. R. Barton-Tates,
Lt Col Paul H. Berkowitz,
Lt Col Euliss L. Duggan,
Col Charles P. Burnett Jr.,
1st Lt Stephen J. Maliszewski,
2nd Lt William P. Foil,
Cpt Herbert R. Gore,
Cpt John S. Ingraham,
Maj Morton L. Talley Jr. 10
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Crash of a Douglas C-54A-5-DO Skymaster into the Atlantic Ocean: 26 killed

Date & Time: Jul 26, 1944 at 0300 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
41-107470
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
London – Keflavik – Stephenville – New York
MSN:
7489
YOM:
1944
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
20
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
26
Circumstances:
The last radio contact with the crew was about three hours into the flight after departure from Keflavik. SAR operations were conducted southeast of Greenland but they were eventually suspended after few days as no trace of the aircraft nor the crew was found. All six crew members were employees of the Transcontinental & Western Air but were conducting this flight under the Air Transport Command. All passengers were US Army personnel flying back home.

Crash of a Consolidated C-87-CF Liberator Express in Merriam: 3 killed

Date & Time: Jul 26, 1944
Operator:
Registration:
43-30565
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Schedule:
Lincoln - Lincoln
MSN:
45
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
The crew was engaged in a training flight from Lincoln and the mission consisted in a test of the embarked compass system. While flying in the region of Kansas City, the crew encountered technical problems with the compass and attempted an emergency landing when the aircraft hit tree tops, electric and telephone cables before crashing onto a house located in Merriam, in the suburb of Kansas City. Three crew members were killed while three others were injured. Four people on the ground were injured as well.
Probable cause:
Compass failure in flight.

Crash of a Noorduyn UC-64A Norseman in Tezpur

Date & Time: Jul 25, 1944 at 1200 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
43-5273
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
264
YOM:
1943
Location:
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crashed on landing for unknown reason. No casualties.

Crash of a Noorduyn UC-64A Norseman on Attu Island: 1 killed

Date & Time: Jul 24, 1944 at 1200 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
43-5232
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
MSN:
223
YOM:
1943
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
Crashed in unknown circumstances, killing the pilot, sole aboard.

Crash of a Martin B-26C Marauder into the Gulf of Mexico: 6 killed

Date & Time: Jul 24, 1944
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
41-35118
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Lake Charles - Lake Charles
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Circumstances:
The crew left Lake Charles AFB on a routine training exercise over the Gulf of Mexico. En route, the twin engine aircraft crashed in the sea for unknown reason. No trace of the aircraft nor the crew was ever found.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-25-DK in Burma: 6 killed

Date & Time: Jul 24, 1944
Operator:
Registration:
42-93349
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Dinjan - Myitkyina
MSN:
13251
YOM:
1944
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Circumstances:
The aircraft was involved in a supply mission to the troops in Burma. En route, while cruising in poor weather conditions, the aircraft crashed in unknown circumstances somewhere between Dinjan and Myitkyina, most probably in the north Burmese jungle. No trace was ever found.

Crash of a Noorduyn UC-64A Norseman in RAF Podington

Date & Time: Jul 22, 1944 at 1200 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
43-5398
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
389
YOM:
1944
Region:
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The aircraft suffered a ground accident at RAF Podington while taxiing. No casualties.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-60-DL off North Carolina: 5 killed

Date & Time: Jul 21, 1944 at 2200 LT
Operator:
Registration:
43-30664
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
MSN:
13815
YOM:
1943
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
A mass flight of 54 Douglas C-47 aircraft was proceeding at an altitude of 500 feet over the Atlantic Ocean. The third squadron consisted of nine aircraft flying in V-formation. Aircraft number 3 of the left element and aircraft 1 and 2 of the right element lost contact with the squadron leader. After running into a rainstorm the squadron leader ordered the aircraft to make a 180-degree turn and reassemble over the coastline. Despite a three day search no trace of the three aircraft (42-100712, 42-92115, 43-30664) was found.
Source: ASN
Probable cause:

Possible causes for the accidents are a mid-air collision, stalling in formation or controlled flight into water while on instruments and under influence of vertigo.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-1-DK off North Carolina: 5 killed

Date & Time: Jul 21, 1944 at 2200 LT
Operator:
Registration:
42-92115
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
MSN:
11880
YOM:
1943
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
A mass flight of 54 Douglas C-47 aircraft was proceeding at an altitude of 500 feet over the Atlantic Ocean. The third squadron consisted of nine aircraft flying in V-formation. Aircraft number 3 of the left element and aircraft 1 and 2 of the right element lost contact with the squadron leader. After running into a rainstorm the squadron leader ordered the aircraft to make a 180-degree turn and reassemble over the coastline. Despite a three day search no trace of the three aircraft (42-100712, 42-92115, 43-30664) was found.
Source: ASN
Probable cause:
Possible causes for the accidents are a mid-air collision, stalling in formation or controlled flight into water while on instruments and under influence of vertigo.