Crash of a Martin PBM-3D Mariner Flying Boat in Hertford: 9 killed

Date & Time:
Type of aircraft:
Martin PBM Mariner
Operator:
Registration:
45263
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Harvey Point - Harvey Point
MSN:
45263
Location:
Hertford
North Carolina
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
9
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
9
Circumstances:
The crew was engaged in a high altitude bombing exercise. For unknown reason, the seaplane went out of control, dove into the ground and crashed in the Harvey Point military zone. All nine crew members were killed. The aircraft was registered 45263 (VP-21).

Crash of a Consolidated B-24J-60-CO Liberator near Westover AFB: 10 killed

Date & Time:
Type of aircraft:
Consolidated B-24 Liberator
Operator:
Registration:
42-100024
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Westover - Westover
MSN:
3173
Location:
Westover AFB
Massachusetts
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
10
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
10
Circumstances:
On approach to Westover AFB, while completing a training mission, the aircraft was too low and hit the slope of Mt Holyoke located some 11 km north of the airbase. All ten crewmen were killed in the crash and the aircraft christened 'Line of Duty' was destroyed.
Crew:
2nd Lt Talbot M. Malcolm, pilot,
Sgt Arnold H. Anderson,
2nd Lt William M. Ashley Jr.
Sgt Wilburn H. Dechert, engineer,
2nd Lt Donald D. Dowden, navigator,
Sgt Ambrose D. Griffith,
2nd Lt John D. Logan,
Cpl Robert J. Ohr,
Cpl Kearney W. Padgett,
Cpl Ronald Charles Lloyd.

Crash of a Short S.29 Stirling III in Cliffe Park: 4 killed

Date & Time:
Type of aircraft:
Short S.29 Stirling
Operator:
Registration:
LK502
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Wigsley - Wigsley
Location:
Rudyard
Staffordshire
Country:
United Kingdom
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
8
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
The crew was involved in a night photography exercise and left RAF Wigsley bound for the Menai Bridge and back. En route, at least one engine failed and the aircraft lost height. The captain ordered his crew to abandon the aircraft but only four crew members were able to bail out before the aircraft crashed. Four crew members survived while all four others were killed.
Crew (1654th HCU):
F/O Gordon Noble Leach, pilot, †
F/S Frederick Thomas James Nicholls, flight engineer,
F/S Arthur C. Brett, flight engineer,
F/S Geoffray Norman Wise, navigator,
Sgt D. C. Watson, bomb aimer,
F/S Bernard David Fine, wireless operator, †
Sgt Harry Ward, air gunner, †
Sgt Charles David Howes, air gunner. †
Probable cause:
Engine trouble.

Crash of an Avro 683 Lancaster I in Thurgarton: 7 killed

Date & Time:
Type of aircraft:
Avro 683 Lancaster
Operator:
Registration:
L7578
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Location:
Thurgarton
Nottinghamshire
Country:
United Kingdom
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
7
Circumstances:
The crew was involved in a training mission. En route, while cruising at low altitude, the bomber hit tree tops and crashed in a field. All seven crew members were killed.
Crew (44th Squadron):
P/O George Benjamin Sanderson, pilot,
Sgt James Graham Middlemas, flight engineer,
Sgt Albert Dennis Clark, navigator,
P/O Archibald Thomas Noble, bomb aimer,
Sgt Bernard Broe, wireless operator and air gunner,
F/S Dennis Wright, air gunner,
Sgt Derek Nicholls, air gunner.
Probable cause:
Investigations were unable to determine the exact cause of the accident. Nevertheless, it was shown that the crew was inexperienced.

Crash of Martin AT-23A Marauder near Craffe: 7 killed

Date & Time:
Type of aircraft:
Martin B-26 Marauder
Operator:
Registration:
42-95697
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Las Vegas - Las Vegas
Location:
Van Buren
Arkansas
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
7
Circumstances:
The crew was engaged in a training mission from the Las Vegas Army Air Field. While cruising in stormy weather, the Martin AT-23A Marauder crashed in a mountainous area located near Craffe, some 15 miles northeast of Van Buren, Arkansas. All seven crew members were killed.
Crew:
Cpl Harry M. Covert,
Lt T. Getson,
2nd Lt William T. Pearson,
2nd Lt Curtis H. Myers,
2nd Lt George M. Stewart,
S/S Robert F. Thompson,
Sgt Raymond Mascio.

Crash of a Consolidated B-24J-60-CO Liberator near Biggs AAF: 2 killed

Date & Time:
Type of aircraft:
Consolidated B-24 Liberator
Operator:
Registration:
42-100002
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Biggs - Biggs
MSN:
3150
Location:
Biggs AAF (El Paso)
Texas
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
Shortly after take off from Biggs AAF, while climbing, the four engine aircraft crashed in unknown circumstances in a desert area located some 6 miles northeast of the airbase. Two crew members were killed while four others were injured.

Crash of an Airspeed AS.10 Oxford I in Melton Mowbray: 4 killed

Date & Time:
Type of aircraft:
Airspeed AS.10 Oxford
Operator:
Registration:
DF517
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Location:
Melton Mowbray
Leicestershire
Country:
United Kingdom
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
The crew was involved in a training exercise on behalf of the 1655 MTU. En route, the pilot lost control of the aircraft that disintegrated in flight, dove into the ground and crashed in an open field located 2,5 miles west of Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire. All four crew members were killed.
Crew (1655th MTU):
F/Lt A. E. H. Cattle,
F/O G. H. Bowen,
F/Lt M. McIver,
F/O G. G. Halestrap.
Probable cause:
Loss of control in flight due to severe turbulence.

Crash of a Martin B-26C-40-MO Marauder in Del Rio: 3 killed

Date & Time:
Type of aircraft:
Martin B-26 Marauder
Operator:
Registration:
41-35821
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Del Rio - Del Rio
Location:
Del Rio
Texas
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Captain / Total flying hours:
6500
Circumstances:
The crew (two pilots and one instructor) was involved in a training flight. While flying some 4 miles east of Del Rio-Laughlin Field, the twin engine aircraft collided with another Martin B-26 Marauder registered 41-35870. Both aircraft crashed and were destroyed by impact forces and post crash fire.
Source: http://aviation-safety.net/wikibase/wiki.php?id=109108
Probable cause:
It is the opinion of this Board that both airplanes were flying a heading of approximately 80 degrees with airplane B behind and slightly above airplane A. Airplane B was flying faster than airplane A and overtook and collided with airplane A approximately four (4) miles east of Laughlin Field.
The collision was clearly seen by several individuals on this field. All witnesses agree both airplanes were flying contact but since the airplanes collided four to six miles from the various witnesses, there is no clear account of how the collision occurred. The instructor in airplane A had a total of 1,335 hours. The pilot of airplane B had a total of approximately 6,500 hours.
From the evidence found in the wreckage, airplane A exploded and burned while still in the air. Sections of both wings and empennage came off before the aircraft struck the ground. Aircraft B hit the ground relatively intact and was destroyed by fire. The crash was fatal to all personnel.
Any attempt to state what actually caused the accident would be conjecture.
Statement of Responsibility: none
Rocomendations: none

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-15-DK in Benwick: 5 killed

Date & Time:
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
42-108877
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
MSN:
12618
YOM:
1944
Location:
Benwick
Cambridgeshire
Country:
United Kingdom
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
The aircraft was involved in a simulation exercise called 'Operation Eagle' and including 800 aircraft. In unknown circumstances, the twin engine aircraft collided with another USAAF C-47 registered 42-92679 and carrying a crew of five as well. Both aircraft crashed in a field located near Benwick and were destroyed. All ten crew members on both aircraft were killed. The exact circumstances of the collision remains unknown.
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