Southern Peninsula (Suðurnes)

After touchdown at Keflavik Airport, the four engine aircraft veered to the right of the runway, hit frozen snow banks and came to rest in flames. All six crew members were evacuated safely while the aircraft was destroyed.

The aircraft left RAF Bovingdon on a transatlantic flight to the US with an intermediate stop in Keflavik. While descending to the airport, the crew encountered poor weather conditions with rain falls, low ceiling and a near zero visibility. At an altitude of 1,100 feet and a speed of 139 knots, the aircraft hit a rocky peak with its right wing. It crashed on a mountain slope located southeast of Keflavik and was totally destroyed, except the tail. Fourteen occupants were killed and only the tail gunner survived with minor injuries. At the time of the accident, the captain was reducing his altitude in an attempt to establish a visual contact with the ground.
Crew (93rd Squadron):
Cpt Robert H. Shannon, pilot,
Lt Gen Frank Maxwell Andrews, copilot,
S/Sgt George A. Eisel, tail gunner,
Cpt James E. Gott, navigator,
T/Sgt Kenneth A. Jeffers, radio operator,
S/Sgt Lloyd C. Weir, crew chief,
S/Sgt Paul H. McQueen, air gunner.
Passengers:
Adna W. Leonard,
Br Gen Charles A. Barth,
Col Marlow Krum,
Col Frank L. Miller,
Maj Theodore C. Totman,
Lt Col Fred A. Chapman,
Maj Robert H. Humphrey,
Cpt Joseph T. Johnson.

The crew was engaged in a maritime patrol flight over the Atlantic Ocean. Following an uneventful mission, the floatplane was returning to base when pilots encountered poor weather conditions over the destination area. After circling the base while awaiting visibility improvement, the captain attempted a visual approach as no instruments were available at that time. While descending to a height of 800 feet, the seaplane impacted the slope of a mountain located near Krísuvík, some 25 km southeast of Keflavik Airport. The aircraft was destroyed by impact forces and all 12 occupants were killed.
Crew:
Ens G. N. Thornquist, pilot,
Ens C. Bialek, pilot,
2nd Lt William P. Robinson,
AMM1C Vern H. Anderson,
AMM1C Walter V. Garrison,
R1C Oran G. Knehr,
S2C M. Ground,
S2C E. L. Cooper,
AMM1C Coy M. Weems,
R2C Joseph S. Wanek,
AMM3C Andrew R. Brazille,
AMM3C W. Gordon Payne.

Following an escort duty mission over the Atlantic Ocean, the floatplane was returning to its base in Reykjavik. The crew encountered poor weather conditions with heavy rain falls and low ceiling. In limited visibility, the airplane impacted the slope of Mt Fagradalsfjall located about 30 km southwest of Reykjavik Airport and was destroyed upon impact. Three crew members were killed and 10 others were injured.
Crew:
Sgt Herbert William Taylor, air gunner, †
Sgt Wilfred Cook, wireless operator, †
AC1 Alfred James Thomas Copping, †
P/O B. J. Prescott,
F/Lt J. D. P. Hughes,
P/O J. Dewar,
Sgt L. G. James,
Sgt A. P. Cosworth,
Sgt D. W. Helm,
Cpl W. J. Doddington,
AC1 T. C. Jennings,
AC1 J. Jellfe,
Cpl G. E. L. Jones.