Crash of a Consolidated B-24D-CO Liberator in RAF Beaulieu: 7 killed

Date & Time: Nov 7, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Consolidated B-24 Liberator
Operator:
Registration:
FK245
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Bombing
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Beaulieu - Beaulieu
MSN:
222
YOM:
1941
Location:
Beaulieu AFB
Hampshire
Country:
United Kingdom
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
7
Circumstances:
On final approach to RAF Beaulieu, the bomber crashed in a huge explosion one mile short of runway. All seven crew members were killed.
Crew (224th Squadron):
F/Sgt K. Crabtree,
Sgt K. E. Hunt,
F/Sgt A. W. Colston,
Sgt R. W. J. Harrison,
Sgt H. R. Jennings,
Sgt R. S. Horsley 1.

Crash of a Martin B-26B Marauder off Bathurst Island: 1 killed

Date & Time: Nov 4, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Martin B-26 Marauder
Operator:
Registration:
41-17593
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Bombing
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
YOM:
1940
Location:
Bathurst Island
Northern Territory
Country:
Australia
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
The crew was involved in a bombing mission over Dili, Timor. On target, the aircraft was hit by enemy fire, causing an engine to fail. The aircraft was able to return to Australia but while approaching Bathurst Island, the captain decided to ditch the aircraft off Cape Helvetius. The aircraft was lost and all seven crew members took refuge in a dinghy. A crew member died from his injuries while six others were rescued 17 hours later.
Crew (22nd BG):
Cpt Charles I. Hitchcock, pilot,
Sgt John A. Simms, copilot,
Sgt Joseph G. Schank, flight engineer,
1st Lt Albert J. Pilkington,
S/Sgt Pershing A. Arbogast,
S/Sgt Samuel F. Miller, bombardier,
Sgt Glenn A. Campbelll, air gunner. †
Probable cause:
Hit by enemy fire.

Crash of a Boeing B-17E Flying Fortress near Buin: 8 killed

Date & Time: Nov 1, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress
Operator:
Registration:
41-2635
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Bombing
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Port Moresby - Port Moresby
MSN:
2446
YOM:
1941
Location:
Buin
Autonomous Region of Bougainville
Country:
Papua New Guinea
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
8
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
8
Circumstances:
The aircraft left Port Moresby-Seven Mile Airport in the early morning with a crew of eight and a load of 1,000 pounds of bombs to attack Japanese ships based in the Tonolei Harbor. Upon arrival in the target area, the crew encountered poor weather conditions and the aircraft disappeared in unknown circumstances. No trace was ever found.
Crew (19th BG):
1st Lt John S. Hancock, pilot,
Sgt Robert H. Burns, copilot,
1st Lt James W. Carver, navigator,
Cpl Hiram D. Wilkinson, flight engineer,
Sgt Edward R. Cipriani, radio operator,
Sgt Mac S. Groesbeck, air gunner,
Sgt Raymond A. Maxwell, air gunner,
Cpl Curtis F. Longenberger, air gunner.

Crash of a Boeing B-17E Flying Fortress off Cooktown

Date & Time: Oct 30, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress
Operator:
Registration:
41-9235
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Bombing
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Mareeba - Mareeba
MSN:
2707
YOM:
1941
Location:
Cooktown
Queensland
Country:
Australia
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The crew left Mareeba Airfield on the night of September 29 to attack the Tonolei harbor in Papua New Guinea. On the way back a day later, while approaching the Australian coast, the captain was forced to ditch the aircraft for unknown reason some 20 miles off Cooktown. The aircraft sunk and was lost while all five crew members took refuge in two life rafts and were rescued two days later.
Crew (19th BG):
Maj Allen Lindbergh, pilot,
1st Lt Joshua A. Barnes, copilot,
2nd Lt Joseph D. Howard, bombardier,
1st Lt Jack A. Ryan, navigator,
Sgt Hilario L. Hernandez, air gunner.

Crash of a Lockheed L-414 Hudson IIIA off Kupang: 4 killed

Date & Time: Oct 25, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Lockheed L-414 Hudson
Operator:
Registration:
A16-170
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Bombing
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Batchelor - Batchelor
MSN:
414-6424
YOM:
1942
Location:
Kupang
East Nusa Tenggara
Country:
Indonesia
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
The crew left Batchelor Airport to attack the Penfoei Airport with two other similar aircraft. Upon arrival in Kupang, the twin engine aircraft disappeared without trace. SAR operations were suspended few days later.
Crew (2nd Squadron):
F/Sgt R. K. Dunning,
Sgt M. L. Kenihan,
Sgt L. H. Fraser,
Sgt D. W. Francis.

Crash of a Boeing B-17E Flying Fortress in Lorient

Date & Time: Oct 21, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress
Operator:
Registration:
41-9034
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Bombing
Site:
Plain, Valley
MSN:
2506
YOM:
1941
Location:
Lorient-Lann-Bihoué NAS
Morbihan
Country:
France
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crashed near Lorient after being shot down. Crew fate unknown.
Probable cause:
Shot down.

Crash of a Consolidated B-24D-CO Liberator III in RAF Predannack

Date & Time: Oct 20, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Consolidated B-24 Liberator
Operator:
Registration:
FL910
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Bombing
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
214
YOM:
1941
Location:
Predannack AFB
Cornwall
Country:
United Kingdom
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
10
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The captain was forced to attempt an emergency landing at RAF Predannack after a bomb stored on board exploded in flight. Upon landing, the aircraft went out of control and came to rest in flames. While all ten occupants were unhurt, the aircraft was destroyed by fire.
Probable cause:
Explosion of a bomb stored in the cargo bay.

Crash of a Martin B-26 Marauder off Kiska Island: 8 killed

Date & Time: Oct 16, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Martin B-26 Marauder
Operator:
Registration:
40-1478
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Bombing
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Adak - Adak
MSN:
1478
YOM:
1940
Location:
Kiska Island
Alaska
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
8
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
8
Circumstances:
The aircraft left Adak AFB to attack two Japanese destroyers cruising some 30 miles off Kiska Island. While approaching the target, the aircraft was shot down by enemy fire and crashed into the sea, killing all eight crew members.
Crew (28th BG):
2nd Lt Jack Pebworth, pilot,
Dean Mendenhall, copilot,
Sgt Morris W. Hancock,
Sgt Dick Tryon 4.
Probable cause:
Shot down by enemy fire.

Crash of a Martin B-26 Marauder off Kiska Island: 8 killed

Date & Time: Oct 16, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Martin B-26 Marauder
Operator:
Registration:
40-1387
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Bombing
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Adak - Adak
MSN:
1387
YOM:
1940
Location:
Kiska Island
Alaska
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
8
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
8
Circumstances:
The aircraft left Adak AFB to attack two Japanese destroyers cruising some 30 miles off Kiska Island. While approaching the target, the aircraft was shot down by enemy fire and crashed into the sea, killing all eight crew members. Crew from the 28th Bombing Group.
Probable cause:
Shot down by enemy fire.

Crash of a Handley Page H.P.57 Halifax II off Schiermonnikoog Island: 7 killed

Date & Time: Oct 13, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Handley Page H.P.57 Halifax II
Operator:
Registration:
W7870
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Bombing
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Melbourne - Melbourne
Location:
Schiermonnikoog Island
Friesland
Country:
Netherlands
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
7
Circumstances:
The aircraft left RAF Melbourne (Yorkshire) at 1834LT on a bombing mission to Kiel. While approaching the Dutch coast, the bomber went out of control and crashed into the North Sea some 15 km off the Schiermonnikoog Island. All seven crew members were killed.
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