Flight | Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives

Crashed in unknown circumstances into the Atlantic Ocean while on a flight from RAF Castle Archdale to Gibraltar. No trace of the aircraft nor the crew was ever found.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-35-DL in Rock Falls: 5 killed

Date & Time: Aug 2, 1943 at 1240 LT

Type of aircraft:

Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)

Operator:

Registration:

42-23957

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Cargo

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

Schedule:

Fort Wayne - Hamilton

MSN:

9819

YOM:

1943

Location:

Rock Falls

Iowa

Country:

United States of America

Region:

North America

Crew on board:

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Circumstances:

The crew was performing a cargo flight from Fort Wayne, Indiana, to the air base of Hamilton located near San Rafael, California. En route, the aircraft went into a low pressure area with thunderstorm activity and turbulence. Shortly later, the right wing broke off at its root, fell away and hit the rudder that was sheared off as well. Out of control, the aircraft dove into the ground and crashed half a mile west of Rock Falls, killing all five crew members.
Crew:
2nd Lt Suren Melkonian,
2nd Lt Leon Andrew Place,
Sgt Alfred W. Quinlan,
S/Sgt John E. Quinn,
2nd Lt Robert G. Randtke.

Probable cause:

The failure of the right wing in flight was caused by turbulence that exceeded the design limit of the wing structure. At the time of the accident, the total weight of the aircraft was in excess of more than one ton, which could be considered as a contributory factor.

Crash of a Curtiss C-46A-15-CU Commando near Lahe: 1 killed

Date & Time: Aug 2, 1943

Type of aircraft:

Curtiss C-46 Commando

Operator:

Registration:

41-12420

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Chabua – Kunming

MSN:

26547

YOM:

1943

Location:

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Region:

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Circumstances:

En route, an engine failed and the crew was unable to maintain the prescribed altitude. All occupants decided to abandon the aircraft and bailed out. For unknown reason, one of the crew member died while all 23 other occupants were uninjured. The aircraft was destroyed.

Probable cause:

Engine failure.

Crash of a Douglas C-47-DL near Yunnanyi: 3 killed

Date & Time: Aug 2, 1943

Type of aircraft:

Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)

Operator:

Registration:

41-38656

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Cargo

Survivors:

Site:

Mountains

Schedule:

Kunming – Dibrugarh

MSN:

6039

YOM:

1942

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

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Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

En route to Dibrugarh-Mohanbary Airbase in Assam, the aircraft crashed in the region of Yunnanyi, killing all three crew members.
Crew:
2nd Lt Julius W. Dunn,
F/O William E. James,
Cpl William B. Malick.
Source:
http://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=19430802-3

Probable cause:

The accident was likely caused by the lack of proper direction finding radio equipment facilities at Yunnanyi.

Crash of a Consolidated B-24D-CO Liberator in Ploieşti: 5 killed

Date & Time: Aug 1, 1943

Type of aircraft:

Consolidated B-24 Liberator

Operator:

Registration:

41-11886

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

MSN:

382

YOM:

1941

Location:

Country:

Region:

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Circumstances:

The aircraft christened 'Lil Joe' was engaged in the 'Tidal Wave' operation consisting on an air raid over the oil refineries of Ploiești. While approaching the target, the heavy bomber was shot down by Flak and crashed in flames. Five crew members were killed while four others were taken PoW.
Crew (345th BS):
S/Sgt Roy Carney,
T/Sgt Lloyd Theodore Fowler,
2nd Lt Donald Jenkins,
2nd Lt Philip Erick Nelson,
1st Lt Alan Edward Petersen.

Probable cause:

Shot down by Flak.

Crash of a Consolidated B-24D-CO Liberator near Novo Bardo

Date & Time: Aug 1, 1943

Type of aircraft:

Consolidated B-24 Liberator

Operator:

Registration:

41-11840

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

MSN:

336

YOM:

1941

Location:

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Region:

Crew on board:

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Circumstances:

The aircraft christened 'The Witch' was engaged in the 'Tidal Wave' operation consisting on an air raid over the oil refineries of Ploiești. En route, the crew encountered an unexpected situation and was forced to attempt an emergency landing. The aircraft crash landed near Novo Bardo, at the border between Bulgaria and Yugoslavia. All 10 crew members evacuated safely. Six were taken PoW and four evaded. The aircraft was damaged beyond repair. Crew from the 343th BS.

Crash of a Consolidated B-24D-CO Liberator in Cyprus

Date & Time: Aug 1, 1943

Type of aircraft:

Consolidated B-24 Liberator

Operator:

Registration:

41-11825

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

MSN:

321

YOM:

1941

Location:

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Region:

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Circumstances:

The aircraft christened 'Hail Colombia/Little-Chief Big-Dog' was engaged in the 'Tidal Wave' operation consisting on an air raid over the oil refineries of Ploiești. En route, the crew encountered an unexpected situation and was forced to divert to Cyprus for an emergency landing. All 10 crew members evacuated safely while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair. Crew from the 344th BS.

Crash of a Consolidated B-24D-CO Liberator in Ploieşti: 8 killed

Date & Time: Aug 1, 1943

Type of aircraft:

Consolidated B-24 Liberator

Operator:

Registration:

41-11819

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

MSN:

315

YOM:

1941

Location:

Country:

Region:

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Circumstances:

The aircraft christened 'Raunchy' was engaged in the 'Tidal Wave' operation consisting on an air raid over the oil refineries of Ploiești. While approaching the target, the heavy bomber was shot down by Flak and crashed in flames. 8 crew members were killed while two others were taken PoW.
Crew (343rd BS):
Sgt Alfred D. Cason,
1st Lt Joel I. Corn,
Sgt Earl T. Edelen,
Sgt Charles P. Geers,
2nd Lt Herman H. Henslee,
1st Lt Samuel R. Neeley,
2nd Lt Eugene L. Rodgen,
Sgt Robert P. Schultz.

Probable cause:

Shot down by Flak.

Crash of a Consolidated B-24D-CO Liberator in Ploiești: 7 killed

Date & Time: Aug 1, 1943

Type of aircraft:

Consolidated B-24 Liberator

Operator:

Registration:

41-11776

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

MSN:

272

YOM:

1941

Location:

Country:

Region:

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Circumstances:

The aircraft christened 'Jersey Jackass/Bashful' was engaged in the 'Tidal Wave' operation consisting on an air raid over the oil refineries of Ploiești. While approaching the target, the heavy bomber was shot down by Flak and crashed in flames. Seven crew members were killed while three others were taken PoW.
Crew (344th BS):
2nd Lt George F. Giblin,
S/Sgt Julius A. Kish,
1st Lt John J. McGraw,
2nd Lt Robert J. Senff,
T/Sgt Warren T. Townley,
T/Sgt James A. Utley,
T/Sgt Albert H. Wilmess.

Probable cause:

Shot down by Flak.

Crash of a Boeing B-17F-5-BO Flying Fortress in Opijnen: 8 killed

Date & Time: Jul 30, 1943 at 1200 LT

Type of aircraft:

Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress

Operator:

Registration:

41-24399

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Bassingbourn - Bassingbourn

MSN:

3084

YOM:

1940

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

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Circumstances:

The aircraft left RAF Bassingbourn on a bombing mission to Kassel, Germany. While overflying The Netherlands, it was shot down by the pilot of a German fighter (Focke-Wulf Fw.190A-6) and crashed in a field. Eight crew members were killed while both pilots survived.
Crew:
2nd Lt Keene C. McCammon, pilot,
2nd Lt John P. Bruce, copilot,
T/Sgt Douglas V. Blackwood,
T/Sgt Americo Cianfichi,
1st Lt Robert U. Duggan,
S/Sgt George R. Krueger,
2nd Lt Daniel V. Ohman,
S/Sgt Mike A. Perrotta,
S/Sgt Hermon D. Poling,
S/Sgt Harold R. Sparks .

Probable cause:

Shot down by a German fighter.

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