Crash of a Curtiss C-46D-5-CU Commando in Chittagong

Date & Time: Mar 19, 1945
Type of aircraft:
Curtiss C-46 Commando
Operator:
Registration:
42-101190
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
30645
YOM:
1944
Location:
Chittagong
Chittagong
Country:
Bangladesh
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crashed on takeoff. No casualties.

Crash of a Curtiss C-46A-30-CU Commando near Shin Bway Yang

Date & Time: Mar 19, 1945
Type of aircraft:
Curtiss C-46 Commando
Operator:
Registration:
41-24746
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Chabua - Kunming
MSN:
26667
YOM:
1943
Location:
Shin Bway Yang
Kachin State
Country:
Myanmar
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crashed for unknown reason 30 miles southwest of Shin Bway Yang. There were no casualties.

Crash of a Curtiss C-46A-55-CK near Yunlong

Date & Time: Mar 19, 1945
Type of aircraft:
Curtiss C-46 Commando
Operator:
Registration:
43-47114
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
MSN:
185
YOM:
1944
Location:
Yunlong
Yunnan
Country:
China
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Following an engine failure in flight, the crew decided to abandon the aircraft and bailed out. The aircraft dove into the ground and crashed. All four crew members were uninjured.
Probable cause:
Engine failure.

Crash of a Douglas C-54B-1-DC Skymaster in Yunnan: 4 killed

Date & Time: Mar 16, 1945
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-54 Skymaster
Operator:
Registration:
42-72418
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
MSN:
10523
YOM:
1945
Location:
Yunnan
Yunnan
Country:
China
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
Crashed somewhere in the mountains while performing a flight between India, China and Burma. The wreckage was never found and it is believed that the aircraft may have crashed in the west mountains of of the Yunnan Province.
Crew:
Cpt Richard A. Harris Jr.,
1st Lt Jerome L. Olson,
T/Sgt Henry E. Peavy,
Pvt James M. Rosno.

Crash of a Curtiss C-46D-5-CU Commando in Tanauan: 25 killed

Date & Time: Mar 16, 1945
Type of aircraft:
Curtiss C-46 Commando
Operator:
Registration:
44-77360
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Mindoro – Tanauan
MSN:
32756
YOM:
1944
Location:
Tanauan
Leyte
Country:
Philippines
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
22
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
25
Circumstances:
The aircraft departed Elmore Airfield (Mindoro) at 1630LT on a flight to Tanauan, Leyte. On approach in poor weather conditions, the aircraft struck the slope of a mountain located 6 km northwest of San Roque, south of Tanauan. All 25 occupants were killed.
Crew:
Pfc Chester C. Adkins,
1st Lt John H. Baird Jr.,
Raymond E. Baker,
Sgt Samuel A. Bruno,
Cpt Lewis Griffin Compton Jr.,
Pfc Guy John Davis,
Cpt Charles E. Dougherty,
Cpt Charles Shelton Enochs,
Sgt Andrew Fatula,
Pvt Lewis L. Frankforther,
S/Sgt Alejandro Gonzalez,
Pfc Jack F. Hageman,
1st Lt Wilson Burbank Haslam,
Adam E. Horning,
2nd Lt James Andrew Jacobs,
S/Sgt Arthur T. Poillucci,
2nd Lt Myles Victor Reed,
F/O Joseph F. Sass,
Cpl Joseph J. Sermershein Jr.,
Charles Hugh Turner,
Cpl Robert M. Walton,
Tec Bruce S. Weston,
Cpl Ken J. Wigen,
1st Lt John Robert Willis.

Crash of a Junkers JU.52/3m in Chardzhou

Date & Time: Mar 15, 1945 at 1715 LT
Type of aircraft:
Junkers JU.52
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-L41
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Ferry
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Ashgabat – Chardzhou – Alma Ata
MSN:
5457
YOM:
0
Location:
Chardzhou
Lebap Province (Lebap welaýaty)
Country:
Turkmenistan
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
3
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
On the leg from Ashgabat to Chardzhou (now Türkmenabat) of a positioning flight from Ashgabat to Alma Ata for overhaul by ARM-405 when the right engine failed near Repetek. The pilot decided to go around on landing at Chardzhou as he was unable to make out the landing T, being blinded by flying against the sun, the aircraft lost height and speed while flying a left turn. The pilot did not cope with the situation so the aircraft collided with an irrigation canal and trees 4 km from the airfield, lost its landing gear, flaps and ailerons and crash landed. Both outer engines broke of. All seven occupants were unhurt.
Probable cause:
Wrong approach configuration on part of the pilot in command and inadequate decisions caused the aircraft to lose height and crash on final.

Crash of a Curtiss C-46D-5-CU Commando near Tanauan: 34 killed

Date & Time: Mar 12, 1945 at 1315 LT
Type of aircraft:
Curtiss C-46 Commando
Operator:
Registration:
44-77373
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Ambulance
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Mindoro - Tanauan
MSN:
32769
YOM:
1944
Location:
Tanauan
Leyte
Country:
Philippines
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
30
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
34
Circumstances:
The aircraft departed Elmore Airfield in Mindoro and an air evacuation mission to Tanauan, Leyte, carrying 28 passengers, two medical staff and four crew members. Around 1300LT - 1330LT, en route to Leyte, the crew informed ground he was returning to Mindoro. This was the last contact heard from the crew. No trace of the aircraft nor the occupants was ever found.
Crew:
2nd Lt Leo J. Kelly, pilot,
2nd Lt Paul A. Healy, copilot,
Sgt Theodore S. Oja, flight engineer,
S/Sgt Charles W. Kiester, radio operator.

Medical attendants:
2nd Lt Beatrice H. Memler,
Tec John A. Hudson.

Passengers:
Pfc Thomas Adamsky,
T5 William F. Anger,
Pvt Gerald P. Arel,
Cpl William H. Avers,
Sgt Audie H. Bishop,
Sgt Matthew J. Clarke,
T5 Clyde C. Collins,
T4 Fabian T. Cots,
Pvt Virgil H. Fredrickson,
Pfc Paul E. Gilley,
Sgt John E. Handerson,
Cpl Ralph H. Howard,
Pvt Phillip Ingalls,
Pfc Ray S. Jahnke,
Pfc Hurtle Johnes,
Pfc Alfred J. Kvist,
Pvt Harry B. Maegher,
Pvt Maximo Magboo,
T4 Charles L. Mills,
Pfc Edward J. Najecki,
Pvt Joseph E. Sintic,
Pfc Lytle I. Turner,
Pfc James E. Twitchell,
Sgt George E. Wells,
Pfc Harold W. Weltick,
Pvt Clarence H. White,
T5 James L. Wynn,
Slc Rudolph L. Zakrzawski.
Final Report:

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-65-DL near Tanauan: 6 killed

Date & Time: Mar 12, 1945 at 1245 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
42-100455
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Supply
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Tanauan - Tanauan
MSN:
18918
YOM:
1943
Location:
Tanauan
Leyte
Country:
Philippines
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Circumstances:
The crew left Tanauan Airport at 1233LT on a supply mission with a load of fuel barrels, radio equipment and food. Weather conditions at Tanauan were poor with cumulus from 2,000 feet up to 7,000 feet. Twelve minutes after departure, the aircraft hit the slope of a mountain and crashed, killing all six crew members. As the aircraft did not return to its base, SAR operations were conducted but eventually suspended few days later as no trace of the aircraft was found. Walkers found the wreckage in an isolated area on May 1989.
Crew:
2nd Lt Edwin H. Franks,
Sgt Marvin A. Gill,
Cpt George W. Grismore,
T/Sgt James G. Maynard,
2nd Lt Arthur F. Parkhurst,
Sgt Philip Taliaferro Jr.
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