Crash of a Martin B-26A-1 Marauder in Bouficha

Date & Time: Jul 10, 1943
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
FK152
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
7434
YOM:
1941
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
En route, the crew was forced to attempt an emergency landing following an engine failure. While all crew members were unhurt, the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
Engine failure.

Crash of a Consolidated B-24D-65-CO Liberator in Babo: 10 killed

Date & Time: Jul 10, 1943
Operator:
Registration:
42-40492
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
MSN:
1569
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
10
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
10
Circumstances:
The crew was involved in a bombing mission in the Babo region when the aircraft was shot down by the pilot of a Japanese fighter and crashed in a jungle. No trace of the aircraft nor the crew was found. The wreckage was eventually located in May 1972.
Crew:
S/Sgt Eugene H. Allen,
S/Sgt Charles R. Cross,
T/S Ronald A. Dardis,
2nd Lt Marcus I. Friedlander,
2nd Lt William F. Kahn,
S/Sgt Clyde E. Kallstrom,
1st Lt Francis G. McDowell,
S/Sgt Daniel S. Murphy,
2nd Lt Gilman F. Shelley,
S/Sgt Leonard J. Wozniak.
Probable cause:
Shot down by a Japanese fighter.

Crash of a Lockheed C-40A Electra Junior in Wright-Patterson AFB: 5 killed

Date & Time: Jul 9, 1943 at 1327 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
38-546
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Wright Patterson - Wright Patterson
MSN:
1263
YOM:
1941
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
The C-40A was flying in formation with a C-54 registered 41-37271, so his crew could photograph the dropping of a dummy combat tank from the C-54. After the tank was released, the pilot of the C-40A made a quick turn to the left, striking the C-54 right wingtip. The C-40A entered a spin and crashed near the runway, killing all five crew members. The C-54 continued on for 700 feet, allowing two passengers to bail out. The plane then crashed in a vertical dive, killing three other crewmen.
Source: http://www.joebaugher.com/
Probable cause:
Wrong judgement on part of the C-40 crew.

Crash of a Douglas C-54 Skymaster in Wright-Patterson AFB: 3 killed

Date & Time: Jul 9, 1943 at 1327 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
41-37271
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Wright Patterson - Wright Patterson
MSN:
3057
YOM:
1943
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
The C-54 was flying in formation with a Lockheed C-40A Electra Junior registered 38-546, so his crew could photograph the dropping of a dummy combat tank from the C-54. After the tank was released, the pilot of the C-40A made a quick turn to the left, striking the C-54 right wingtip. The C-40A entered a spin and crashed near the runway, killing all five crew members. The C-54 continued on for 700 feet, allowing two passengers to bail out. The plane then crashed in a vertical dive, killing three other crewmen.
Source: http://www.joebaugher.com/
Probable cause:
Wrong judgement on part of the C-40 crew.

Crash of a Douglas C-53D-DO in Gela: 4 killed

Date & Time: Jul 9, 1943
Operator:
Registration:
42-68761
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
MSN:
11688
YOM:
1943
Location:
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
While taking part to the invasion of Sicily during the 'Husky 1' operation, just after that all paratroopers jumped, the aircraft was shot down by anti-aircraft fire and crashed in a field. All four crew members were killed.
Probable cause:
Shot down by anti-aircraft fire.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-10-DL near Gela: 4 killed

Date & Time: Jul 9, 1943
Operator:
Registration:
42-23366
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
MSN:
9228
YOM:
1943
Location:
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
While taking part to the Sicily invasion, the aircraft was shot down by anti-aircraft fire and crashed 6,5 km northeast of Gela. All four crew members from the 32nd TCS were killed.
Probable cause:
Shot down by anti-aircraft fire.

Crash of a Douglas Dakota III off Sfax: 2 killed

Date & Time: Jul 9, 1943
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
FD774
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Tunis – Castel Benito
MSN:
6238
YOM:
1943
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
The aircraft left Tunis-El Aouina Airport bound for Castel Benito with a crew of three on board. While cruising along the Tunisian coast at an altitude of 2,000 feet, both engine failed. The captain attempted to ditch the aircraft in rough sea. Few hours later, he was rescued while both other crew members were lost at sea.
Crew:
F/Sgt R. W. Cargill, pilot,
W/O John James Smith, navigator, †
F/Sgt Daniel James Arthur Hannan, wireless operator and air gunner. †
Probable cause:
Fuel starvation suspected. Last refuel at RAF Castel Benito where contaminated fuel problems were noted.

Crash of a Focke-Wulf Fw.200 Condor in Aljezur: 7 killed

Date & Time: Jul 9, 1943
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Location:
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
7
Circumstances:
The four engine airplane was shot down by the pilot of a British fighter and crashed near Aljezur. All seven crew members were killed.
Probable cause:
Shot down by a British fighter.

Crash of a Lockheed L-414 Hudson IIIA on Mt Kekneno: 5 killed

Date & Time: Jul 9, 1943
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
A16-195
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
MSN:
414-6459
YOM:
1942
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
The crew was involved in a bombing mission to Penfoei with a crew of five. En route, while cruising jointly with three other similar aircrafts, crew was informed that weather was deteriorating at destination. As all three other aircraft's crew decided to return to their departure point, captain of A16-195 decided to continue. Few minutes later, while cruising in low visibility due to poor weather conditions, aircraft hit mount Kekneno located some 100 km northeast of Kupang and was destroyed on impact. Debris were found some days later and all five crew were killed.
Crew (2nd Squadron):
S/L C. C. Williams, pilot,
F/O R. C. Lindsay, air gunner,
F/O W. A. Hepworth, wireless operator and air gunner,
F/Lt A. M. Fowler, navigator,
F/Sgt D. C. Farmer.
Probable cause:
The pilot decided to continue the flight despite poor weather conditions and low visibility (below minima).

Crash of an Airspeed AS.10 Oxford II in Moose Jaw: 2 killed

Date & Time: Jul 8, 1943
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
AS229
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Moose Jaw - Moose Jaw
Country:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
The crew was performing a training flight jointly with another AS.10 Oxford registered AS625 and carrying a crew of two as well. While cruising at an altitude of 1,200 feet, both aircraft collided in unknown circumstances. Out of control, they dove into the ground and crashed in a prairie. All four pilots were killed.
Crew (32nd SFTS):
LAC Svatopluk Malý, pilot,
LAC Alfred Charles Channon, pilot.