Pacific Ocean

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Registration:

43-15423

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Consolidated PB4Y-2 Privateer

Schedule:

Tachikawa – Kadena

MSN:

19889

YOM:

1944

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The aircraft left Tachikawa AFB in Tokyo at 1212LT on a ferry flight to Kadena AFB, Okinawa. As the aircraft failed to arrive, SAR operations were conducted but eventually suspended one week later as no trace of the aircraft nor the crew was found.
Crew:
Cpl Wesley L. Connett Jr.,
1st Lt Floyd G. Levy,
Cpl Harry L. Proctor,
F/Lt Samuel J. Valerio.

Crash of a Consolidated PB4Y-2 Privateer in the Pacific Ocean: 25 killed

Date & Time: Nov 30, 1945 at 1000 LT

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Registration:

59777

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Schedule:

Kodiak – Whidbey Island

MSN:

59777

YOM:

1943

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On 30 November, PB4Y-2A, Bureau Number 59777, attached to VPB 122, piloted by Lt. JG John Edgar McMillan, took off from NAS Kodiak, Alaska, for Whidbey Island carrying a crew of eight and seventeen passengers. The plane was last heard from at 1747Z reporting position on the south west leg of Yakataga, estimating the southwest leg of Sitka at 1825Z. Through the entire coastal route from Kodiak to Whidbey Island has been searched thoroughly, no trace of the plane or occupants has ever been found.

Crash of a Boeing 314 Clipper into the Pacific Ocean

Date & Time: Nov 4, 1945

Type of aircraft:

Boeing 314 Clipper

Operator:

Registration:

NC18601

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Schedule:

Honolulu – San Francisco

MSN:

1988

YOM:

1939

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Enroute, two engines lost power and the captain decided to make an emergency landing about 625 miles northeast of Honolulu. All 23 occupants were quickly rescued by the crew of a US Navy ship while the aircraft christened 'Honolulu Clipper' was deliberately sunk by gunfire.

Probable cause:

Double engine failure.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-20-DK into the Pacific Ocean: 12 killed

Date & Time: Oct 16, 1945

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

42-92929

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Schedule:

Iwo Jima - Saipan

MSN:

12784

YOM:

1944

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Enroute, the left engine caught fire. The crew was unable to extinguish the fire and shortly later, the engine detached. All 17 occupants decided to abandon the aircraft and to bail out when the aircraft went out of control and crashed into the ocean some 96 km northwest of Saipan Island. Five passengers were rescued while 12 other occupants were killed.

Probable cause:

Engine fire.

Crash of a Douglas C-47B-20-DK into the Pacific Ocean: 6 killed

Date & Time: Oct 13, 1945

Type of aircraft:

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Registration:

43-49754

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Boeing B-29 Superfortress

Schedule:

Yontan – Laoag

MSN:

15570/27015

YOM:

1944

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The airplane was lost without trace into the Pacific Ocean while operating a routine flight from Yontan AFB, Okinawa, to Laoag, Philippines.

Crash of a Boeing B-29-50-BA Superfortress into the Pacific Ocean: 8 killed

Date & Time: Oct 7, 1945

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Registration:

44-83964

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Crashed into the Pacific Ocean some 400 miles off Guam Island. No trace of the aircraft nor the crew was found.
Crew:
Sgt John W. Benson,
S/Sgt William S. Doolittle,
2nd Lt Wallace A. Hofmann,
Br Gen Joe L. Loutzenheiser,
2nd Lt Leonard J. Marrs,
2nd Lt Francis W. Rich,
S/Sgt Frank B. Santus
T/Sgt Clemens B. Wojcicki.

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:

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Site:

MSN:

22175

YOM:

1945

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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:

Operator:

Registration:

NZ3526

Flight Phase:

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Site:

Schedule:

Luganville – Whenuapai

MSN:

14562/26007

YOM:

1944

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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-70-DL into the Pacific Ocean: 19 killed

Date & Time: Aug 28, 1945

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

42-100717

Flight Phase:

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