Newfoundland & Labrador

The crew was completing a cargo flight from Goose Bay to Fort Pepperrell AFB located in St John's, with a load of jeep spare parts on board. While on approach in marginal weather conditions, the aircraft was too low, hit tree tops and crashed in a dense wooded area. Two crew members were rescued while the pilot Lee D. Graham was killed.

A few days prior to 27 October 1943, USAAF Major Allen and RCAF Flight Commander F/O Taylor discussed making an "air fighting practice flight" where they would spend an afternoon "chasing each other around for a while". The plan was that they would start their flights at a sufficient distance from each other that neither would have an advantage, then they would turn into each other as if to attack. It was agreed that in the case of head on attacks, they would break away to port. On 27 October 1943, F/O Taylor in an RCAF Hurricane and a crew of four including Major Allen in an A-20C (registration unknown) took off just before 1700 GMT and flew south west of the aerodrome. According to the testimony of F/O Taylor, when we turned in at approximately 3,000 yds. apart it placed us at a position head on to one another – I, slightly below the Boston; the Boston as diving and I as climbing through about 200 ft. As the distance between us decreased to about 300 yds. the Boston pulled up gradually and turned slightly to port while I turned slightly to port also; it was here I thought we had ample clearance. Then at about 100 yds. the Boston made a rapid and very decisive movement downwards, as if, in my opinion, he was either fixing his sights on me or had lost me for an instant. The upward movement, although begun, was never completed because it was at this instant that our wings collided. We were both turning slightly to port when this movement or manœuvre occurred. As the aircraft brushed right wings, the wing immediately broke off of the Hurricane and the aircraft went into a tight spin. The pilot abandoned the aircraft and parachuted to safety. The other aircraft dove into the ground and crashed, killing all four crew members.
Crew:
Maj Sobey F. Allen, pilot,
2nd Lt Jack K. Schaffner, bombardier,
Sgt Pless E. Moore Jr., radio operator,
Pvt George M. Haynes, gunner.
Source & photo: Lisa Daly

The airplane was on a flight from the US to Europe. En route, one of the engine failed, forcing the pilot to ditch the airplane 32 km east of Cape Freels. All 10 crew members were rescued. The airplane sank and was lost.

On touchdown, the single engine aircraft went out of control and came to rest on the runway edge. The pilot was slightly injured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair. He was completing a mail flight from New York.

The twin engine airplane departed Moncton at 2345LT on May 7 on a cargo flight to Gander. At 0313LT the following night, the crew contacted the Aerodrome Control Officer at Gander Airport to request a landing clearance. The aircraft was given landing clearance by the aerodrome control officer, and was told to check their wheels down. The messages were acknowledged by 557. At this time the ceiling was practically unlimited. The aircraft was heard to pass over the airfield shortly thereafter, but the ceiling had unexpectedly fallen to 700 feet. This fly over was apparently done on instruments. The crew radioed to indicate they had missed the field and were trying again. The aircraft then acknowledged being given the ceiling height and barometric pressure by the station. The aircraft broke through the 600 feet ceiling, and was advised to circle and approach runway 27. The aircraft approached, but seemed to be lined up with the wrong runway and was advised to circle again and attempt runway 27. On the second attempt, the aircraft still did not turn enough and was again told to attempt again. The aircraft was instructed to make a right turn over the field, but, at this point, 557 was in a steep bank and went into a stall, losing altitude until it crashed 3 km east of the airport, bursting into flames. All three crew members were killed.
Crew:
W/O Humphrey Svendsen, pilot,
W/O Charles Needham Allen, copilot,
Lac Allan Gerald Sewellm radio operator.
Source: https://caspir.warplane.com/

The airplane departed Gander Airport on urgent operational duties, mainly convoy coverage. Shortly after takeoff from runway 15, while in initial climb, it stalled and crashed in the bush near the runway end, bursting into flames. Six crew members were killed while the second flight engineer was seriously injured.
Crew:
F/Lt Brian Anthony Casey, pilot, †
F/Lt Joseph John Barsalou, pilot, †
Sgt John Benjamin Stallwood, 1st flight engineer, †
Cpl Urbain Edmond Antoine Dube, 2nd flight engineer,
F/O James Rayson Wallace Cleeland, navigator, †
P/O James Herbert Millar, wireless operator, †
W/O Alexander Frederick Morrice, wireless operator. †
Source & photos:
http://www.planecrashgirl.ca/2016/07/13/rcaf-canso-9807/

The airplane departed Prestwick on a transatlantic flight to Gander. Descending to the destination, the crew was informed about the weather conditions with blizzard and icing. The crew of a second LB-30 registered AL529 successfully diverted to Sydney but the crew of AL591 preferred to continue to Gander with low fuel reserve. On final approach to runway 27, the pilot realized that the lights of runway 05-23 was ON so he initiated a go around procedure then proceeded on a circuit to the east. About 13 km east of the airport, while making a turn, two engines stopped simultaneously. Due to a loss of speed, the airplane stalled and crashed in a frozen field. Two passengers were found alive while 19 other occupants were killed.
Crew:
F A. Dugan, American civilian pilot, †
Sgt J. R. Elding, RAF pilot, †
G. P. M. Eves, British civilian pilot, †
T. R. Harmes, British civilian pilot, †
Sgt H. L. B. Lewis, RAF pilot, †
R. M. Lloyd, American civilian pilot, †
Sgt D. J. Owen, RAF pilot, †
Sgt G. P. Pollard, RAF pilot, †
J. Stagner, American civilian pilot, †
Sgt W. H. Kyle, RCAF navigator, †
P/O R. I. Scott, RCAF navigator, †
F. J. Brown, British civilian radio officer, †
J. D. Jones, British civilian radio officer, †
F. Scrafton, Canadian civilian radio officer, †
R. Wadsworth, British civilian radio officer, †
E. G. Longley, Canadian civilian flight engineer, †
J. B. Merriman, British civilian flight engineer, †
I. W. Wilmot, Canadian civilian flight engineer, †
Lt Col L. T. Grove, British Army, †
Cpt R. E. Parker Jr.,
P/O G. N. Abelson.

The airplane departed Gander on an anti submarine sweep operation with a crew of seven on board. Shortly after takeoff, the crew encountered severe downdrafts. The airplane lost altitude then collided with trees and crashed in a wooded area located 5 km south of Gander Lake. Five crew members were killed and two others were injured.
Crew:
S/L Norville Everett Small, pilot, †
F/O Aubrey Maxwell Tingle, copilot, †
Sgt Harold Ernest White, flight engineer, †
Sgt W. H. Wilson, flight engineer,
P/O Donald Leslie Hudson, navigator, †
P/O John Thomas Mangan, wireless operator, †
F/Sgt J. E. V. Banning, wireless operator.

The airplane crashed in unknown circumstances in hilly terrain some 20 km northwest of Deer Lake. At least one crew member was killed.
Crew:
1st Lt Earl Eugene Jordan.

The airplane departed Bluie West One (Narsarsuaq) Airfield on a flight to Goose Bay, returning to the US. Approaching the Canadian coast, weather conditions worsened and the crew decided to make an emergency landing near Saglek, Labrador. All seven crew members survived the accident. As the airplane failed to arrive at destination and after it was declared as missing, SAR operation were initiated but not trace of the airplane was found. The crew was eventually found on 9 April 1943, none of them survived the very low temperatures. It was later related that on 23 December, three crew members (Josephson, Janssen and Nolan) started south in a boat that was part of the aircraft emergency gear to find help but they were never seen again. The diary of the pilot shows the last entry in February 1943.
Crew:
Lt Grover C Hodge Jr., pilot,
2nd Lt Paul F. Janssen, copilot,
2nd Lt Emanuel J. Josephson, navigator,
T/Sgt Charles F. Nolan, radio operator,
Sgt Russell Weyrauch, air gunner,
Cpl James J. Mangini Jr., air gunner,
Cpl Frank J. Galm, air gunner.