Crash of a Lockheed L-414 Hudson III near Helensville: 3 killed

Date & Time: Dec 21, 1941
Type of aircraft:
Lockheed L-414 Hudson
Operator:
Registration:
NZ2020
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Survey / Patrol / Reconnaissance
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Whenuapai - Whenuapai
MSN:
414-3833
YOM:
1941
Location:
Helensville
Auckland Council
Country:
New Zealand
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
The airplane departed Whenuapai Airport on a maritime patrol flight. While cruising at a height of 1,500 feet, the pilot-in-command initiated a left turn when the airplane stalled and crashed on a hill side near Helensville. The airplane was destroyed and all three crew members were killed.
Crew:
F/O Eric Holdaway,
Sgt George Eatorne,
Sgt Eric Eldershaw.
Probable cause:
According to the RNZAF, weather conditions at the time of the accident were poor with atmospheric turbulences. The assumption that an engine failed was not ruled out. Following this accident, all RNZAF Lockheed Hudson were grounded to check all ailerons control systems.

Crash of an Armstrong Whitworth AW.38 Whitley V on Mt Simon's Seat

Date & Time: Dec 18, 1941 at 2130 LT
Type of aircraft:
Armstrong Whitworth AW.38 Whitley
Operator:
Registration:
Z9277
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Bombing
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Croft - Croft
MSN:
2341
YOM:
1941
Location:
Mt Simon's Seat
Yorkshire
Country:
United Kingdom
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Croft at 1553LT on an operation to Brest. While returning to base in the evening, the crew were unable to obtain any response to their w/t calls asking for a bearing. Subsequently, the pilot broke through the cloud in order to establish his position and in doing so he crashed at 2130LT into high ground at Simon's Seat. All six crew members were rescued.
Crew:
Sgt D. R. Cox,
P/O J. F. Beadle,
P/O R. Franklin,
Sgt R. H. Gale,
Sgt R. Kendall,
Sgt White.
Probable cause:
Controlled flight into terrain.

Crash of an Airspeed AS.10 Oxford I in Gebbies Valley: 4 killed

Date & Time: Dec 16, 1941 at 1405 LT
Type of aircraft:
Airspeed AS.10 Oxford
Operator:
Registration:
NZ280
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Birdlings Flat - Wigram
MSN:
0502
YOM:
1940
Location:
Birdlings Flat
Canterbury Regional Council
Country:
New Zealand
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
The twin engine airplane departed Birdlings Flat at 1355LT on a return flight to Wigram AFB. Ten minutes after departure, while cruising at an altitude of 900 feet in poor weather conditions (rain falls and low clouds), the airplane impacted the slope of a mountain located in the Gebbies Valley, south of Christchurch. All four occupants were killed.
Crew (1st SFTS):
P/O Alan Leslie Marshall, pilot and instructor,
LAC Ronald Stephen Brooker, pilot,
LAC Brian Patrick Fitzgerald, pilot,
LAC William Ian Lindsay, pilot.
Probable cause:
Controlled flight into terrain.

Crash of a Lockheed L-414 Hudson III near Westhaven Inlet: 4 killed

Date & Time: Dec 15, 1941 at 1915 LT
Type of aircraft:
Lockheed L-414 Hudson
Operator:
Registration:
NZ2007
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Survey / Patrol / Reconnaissance
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Nelson - Nelson
MSN:
414-0502
YOM:
1940
Location:
Westhaven Inlet
Tasman District Council
Country:
New Zealand
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
The crew departed Nelson Airport on a three-hour survey flight within New Zealand. While cruising west of Nelson at night, the crew encountered poor weather conditions. In reduced visibility, the airplane impacted the slope of a mountain located near Westhaven Inlet. The wreckage was found seven days later and all four crew members were killed.
Crew:
P/O Alexander John MacFarlane, pilot,
P/O Louis George William Volzke, navigator,
Sgt Keith Robertson Jack, wireless operator and air gunner,
Sgt Phillip David Harris, wireless operator and air gunner.
Probable cause:
Controlled flight into terrain.

Crash of a Douglas B-18B Bolo near Big Pine: 8 killed

Date & Time: Dec 12, 1941
Type of aircraft:
Douglas B-18 Bolo
Operator:
Registration:
36-306
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Phoenix – San Rafael
MSN:
1694
YOM:
1936
Location:
Big Pine
California
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
5
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
8
Circumstances:
The airplane departed Phoenix on a flight to Hawaii with an intermediate stop in San Rafael, California. While cruising over the Sierra Nevada Mountain Range, weather conditions deteriorated and the crew encountered poor visibility due to heavy snow falls. The airplane impacted the slope of a mountain located about 10 miles west of Big Pine. As the airplane failed to arrive at destination, SAR operations were initiated but eventually abandoned as no trace was found. The wreckage was eventually found by walkers on July 5, 1942.
Crew:
Cpt James Gordon Leavitt,
S/Sgt Stephen W. Hoffman,
Pfc Samuel J. Van Hamm Jr.
Passengers:
Maj Gen Herbert Arthur Dargue,
Lt Col Charles W. Bundy,
Lt Col George W. Rickey,
Maj Hugh Francis McCaffery,
1st Lt Homer C. Burns.
Probable cause:
Controlled flight into terrain.

Crash of a Consolidated B-24A-CO Liberator near Glendevon: 5 killed

Date & Time: Dec 10, 1941 at 1830 LT
Type of aircraft:
Consolidated B-24 Liberator
Operator:
Registration:
AM926
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Aberdeen - Belfast
MSN:
17
YOM:
1940
Location:
Glendevon
Perth and Kinross
Country:
United Kingdom
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
The airplane departed Aberdeen-Dyce Airport on a flight to Belfast-Nutts Corner Airport. While cruising over Scotland in poor weather conditions, it impacted the slope of Mt Tarmangie located in the Ochil Mountain Range, some 2 miles northwest of Glendevon. The airplane was destroyed by impact forces and all five occupants were killed. At the time of the accident, the visibility was poor due to low clouds.
Crew (120th Squadron):
Sgt Roland William Magson, pilot,
F/O James Wood Rae, pilot,
Sgt David Clark, observer,
Sgt Robert Henry Dear, flight engineer,
Sgt Douglas James Bartell, wireless operator.
Probable cause:
Controlled flight into terrain.

Crash of a Douglas A-20A Havoc near Taft: 1 killed

Date & Time: Dec 10, 1941
Type of aircraft:
Douglas A-20 Havoc/DB-7 Boston
Operator:
Registration:
AL902
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Site:
Mountains
Location:
Taft
California
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
The airplane crashed in unknown circumstances in a mountainous area located 15 miles west of Taft. At least one crew member was killed.
Crew:
William C. Daniel.

Crash of a Blackburn B-26 Botha I on Mt Bleaklow: 1 killed

Date & Time: Dec 10, 1941
Type of aircraft:
Blackburn B-26 Botha
Operator:
Registration:
W5103
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Sherburn-in-Elmet – Hawarden
MSN:
3241/39
YOM:
1941
Location:
Mt Bleaklow
Derbyshire
Country:
United Kingdom
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
En route from Sherburn-in-Elmet to Hawarden, while flying over the Peak District National Park, the twin engine airplane impacted the slope of Mt Bleaklow located east of Manchester. The airplane was destroyed by impact forces and the pilot, sole on board, was killed.
Crew (6th FPP):
F/O Thomas William Rogers.
Probable cause:
The exact cause of the accident could not be determined. However, it is believed that it was the consequence of a controlled flight into terrain as the pilot was attempting to establish a visual contact with the ground while flying in clouds.

Crash of a Consolidated PBY-5A Catalina on Gemo Island: 8 killed

Date & Time: Dec 8, 1941
Type of aircraft:
Consolidated PBY Catalina
Operator:
Registration:
A24-15
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Survey / Patrol / Reconnaissance
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Port Moresby - Port Moresby
MSN:
322
YOM:
1941
Location:
Gemo Island (Hanudamava Island)
National Capital District
Country:
Papua New Guinea
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
8
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
8
Circumstances:
Two minutes after takeoff from Port Moresby, while climbing, the floatplane impacted the slope of a mountain located on Gemo Island (Hanudamava Island). The airplane was destroyed by impact forces and a post crash fire and all eight crew members were killed.
Crew (11th Squadron):
F/O Lincoln James Sloan, pilot,
F/Lt Nelson Prior Reid, copilot,
Cpl Neville Lawrence Ernst, flight engineer,
Cpl Eric John O’Donnell, rigger,
LAC Charles James Matheson, flight engineer,
AC1 Keith Mighell Sidey, wireless operator,
AC1 Arthur Wallace Magee, wireless operator,
AC1 George Robert Peterson, armourer.
Probable cause:
Controlled flight into terrain.

Crash of a Handley Page H.P.52 Hampden I in Birdlip: 1 killed

Date & Time: Nov 27, 1941
Type of aircraft:
Handley Page H.P.52 Hampden
Operator:
Registration:
AE440
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Bombing
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
North Luffenham - North Luffenham
Location:
Birdlip
Gloucestershire
Country:
United Kingdom
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF North Luffenham on an operation to Düsseldorf. While returning to base, in crashed into high ground near Birdlip. Moments before the crash, the Hampden had broken through low cloud. A crew was killed.
Crew:
Sgt George Herbert Cornish, wireless operator, †
Sgt Robinson,
Sgt Martin,
P/O Farrington.
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