Crash of an Avro 683 Lancaster I off Bastia: 26 killed

Date & Time: Oct 4, 1945 at 0440 LT
Type of aircraft:
Avro 683 Lancaster
Operator:
Registration:
PA278
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Conington – Naples
Location:
Bastia
Haute-Corse
Country:
France
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
19
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
25
Circumstances:
The aircraft left RAF Conington, Cambridgeshire, at 0030LT bound for Naples, Italy, with a crew of 6 and 19 female passengers, members of the Women's Auxiliary Territorial Service back to Italy following a leave period in the UK. While cruising by night along the east shore of Corsica, the crew informed ground about engine problems and elected to divert to Marseille Airport. Shortly later, it is believed the aircraft went out of control and crashed into the sea some 50 km northeast of Bastia. SAR operations were conducted but eventually suspended few days later as no trace of the aircraft nor the 26 occupants was found.
Crew (103rd Squadron):
F/Lt Geoffrey Taylor, pilot,
Sgt William John Kennedy, air gunner,
F/Sgt Jack Anthony Reardon, navigator,
F/Sgt Norman Reginald Robbins, wireless operator,
Sgt Richard George Steele, flight engineer,
F/Lt John Percy Whymark, air gunner.
Passengers:
Matron Sadler,
Cpl Willimena Allan,
Pvt Phyllis Kathleen Doris Bacon,
Cpl Heather C. Cosens,
Pvt Stefania Courtman,
Pvt Barbara Diana Cullen,
Jane Simpson Annand Curran,
Pvt Agnes Edwards,
Pvt Rhoda Alice Fraser,
Pvt Bessie Goodman,
Cpl Jill Goring,
Pvt Joan Larkin,
Pvt Alice Lillyman,
Cpl Sheila MacLeod,
Cpl May Eleanor Mann,
Pvt Betty Evelyn Precious,
Cpl Enid Dacia Rice,
S/Sgt Jessie Semark,
Pvt Marion Tayklor.
Probable cause:
Engine problems.

Crash of a Short S.25 Sunderland V in Kuantan

Date & Time: Oct 3, 1945
Type of aircraft:
Short S.25 Sunderland
Operator:
Registration:
PP158
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Location:
Kuantan
Pahang
Country:
Malaysia
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
8
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
4
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
On landing on Kuantan River, near the city of Kuantan, the seaplane hit an unspecified object that was submerged in water. The hull ruptured, causing flooding. All 12 occupants were unhurt while the aircraft was lost.
Probable cause:
Collision with a submerged object in water.

Crash of a Consolidated PBV-1A Canso off Belle Isle

Date & Time: Oct 2, 1945
Type of aircraft:
Consolidated Canso
Operator:
Registration:
FT999
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Location:
Belle Isle
Newfoundland & Labrador
Country:
Canada
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The takeoff was started off Belle Isle in rough sea. The seaplane hit waves, gain height, stalled and bounced several times before coming to rest. There were no casualties but the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of a Curtiss C-46D-5-CU Commando off Finschhafen

Date & Time: Sep 30, 1945
Type of aircraft:
Curtiss C-46 Commando
Operator:
Registration:
44-77317
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
MSN:
32713
YOM:
1944
Location:
Finschhafen
Morobe
Country:
Papua New Guinea
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crashed into the sea shortly after takeoff from Finschhafen Airport. The aircraft sank and was lost while all occupants were able to return safely to the shore.

Crash of a Curtiss C-46D-20-CU into the Pacific Ocean

Date & Time: Sep 26, 1945
Type of aircraft:
Curtiss C-46 Commando
Operator:
Registration:
44-78352
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
MSN:
22175
YOM:
1945
Location:
Pacific Ocean
World
Country:
World
Region:
World
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crashed in unknown circumstances in the south Pacific Ocean. The crew fate remains unknown.

Crash of a Douglas C-47B-5-DK into the Pacific Ocean: 20 killed

Date & Time: Sep 24, 1945 at 0900 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
NZ3526
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Luganville – Whenuapai
MSN:
14562/26007
YOM:
1944
Location:
Pacific Ocean
World
Country:
World
Region:
World
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
16
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
20
Circumstances:
Enroute from Vanuatu to Whenuapai, the crew made a last radio call around 0900. While flying in marginal weather conditions (thunderstorm activity and turbulence), the aircraft failed to arrive and probably crashed into the south Pacific ocean. No trace of the aircraft nor the crew was ever found.
Crew:
F/O Jack Hoffeins, pilot,
F/O Kenneth McArthur, navigator,
P/O Clifton Kennedy, wireless operator and air gunner,
Cpl John Jacobs, flight engineer.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-20-DL into the Celebes Sea

Date & Time: Sep 19, 1945 at 1018 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
A65-6
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Tarakan – Pitu
MSN:
9287
YOM:
1943
Location:
Celebes Sea
World
Country:
World
Region:
World
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
20
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Enroute, the aircraft started to lose height for no apparent reason as controls showed no response. It trimmed and climbed, then stalled, went into spin and flattened out at 3,000 feet above mean sea level. The pilot was able to regain control and then decided to ditch the aircraft off Labuan. While the aircraft sank, all 23 occupants were unhurt and took refuge in life rafts. They were rescued about 15 hours later some 150 miles east of Tarakan.
Crew (345th Squadron):
F/O A. Burns 2.
Source: http://www.adf-gallery.com.au/

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-1-DK Dakota C.3 into the Andaman Sea

Date & Time: Sep 16, 1945
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
FL610
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
MSN:
12021
YOM:
1943
Location:
Andaman Sea
World
Country:
World
Region:
World
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Enroute, the weather conditions worsened and the pilot lost his orientation and was unable to know his exact position. As the fuel exhausted, the crew was forced to ditch the aircraft into the Andaman Sea, some 96 km off Ye, Burma. All occupants were evacuated safely while the aircraft sank and was lost.
Probable cause:
Fuel exhaustion caused by a loss of orientation on part of the crew.

Crash of a Martin PBM-5 Mariner off Chimu Wan NAS: 12 killed

Date & Time: Sep 12, 1945
Type of aircraft:
Martin PBM Mariner
Operator:
Registration:
84617
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Survey / Patrol / Reconnaissance
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Chimu Wan - Chimu Wan
MSN:
84617
Location:
Chimu Wan NAS
Okinawa
Country:
Japan
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
12
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
12
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from Chimu Wan NAS, while climbing, the Mariner collided with a USAAF Grumman J2F Duck and crashed into the Bay. All 12 crew members were killed.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-30-DK off Alotau: 19 killed

Date & Time: Sep 11, 1945 at 1015 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
A65-56
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Alotau – Dobodura
MSN:
13920/25365
YOM:
1944
Location:
Alotau
Milne Bay
Country:
Papua New Guinea
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
16
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
19
Aircraft flight hours:
1911
Circumstances:
One minute after takeoff from Alotau Airport, while climbing, the captain informed ground he was encountering bad weather conditions and elected to return. Shortly later, the aircraft went out of control and apparently crashed into the sea off Alotau. Some debris were found a day later but no trace of the 19 occupants. At the time of the accident, weather conditions were unfavorable with turbulence and rain due to the presence of a tropical storm.
Crew (33rd Squadron):
F/Lt Eric Clarence Beer, pilot,
F/Lt John Francis Mulcahy,
F/Sgt Francis Xavier Sullivan.
Passengers:
Sgt Keith Hugh Devenish,
AC1 Albert John Haslam,
Cpl Neil Stuart Mackay,
LAC William Douglas Goldie Stevens,
Cpl Michael Francis Moran,
Sgt Wesley Greg Doran,
F/O William Patrick Reedman,
F/Sgt James Neville Davis,
F/Sgt Kevin Francis Rutherford,
F/Lt William John Gordon,
Cpl Eastall Lochlan Eastall,
LAC Albert Grant Walton,
LAC Percy Badon Healy,
Cook Gordon Liddell,
Lt Noel Thomas Williams,
Spr Keith Smith.
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