Crash of a Boeing 314 Clipper into the Pacific Ocean

Date & Time: Nov 4, 1945
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
NC18601
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Honolulu – San Francisco
MSN:
1988
YOM:
1939
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
10
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
13
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
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
Operator:
Registration:
42-92929
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Iwo Jima - Saipan
MSN:
12784
YOM:
1944
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
11
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
12
Circumstances:
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
Operator:
Registration:
43-49754
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Yontan – Laoag
MSN:
15570/27015
YOM:
1944
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Circumstances:
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
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
44-83964
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
8
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
8
Circumstances:
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:
Operator:
Registration:
44-78352
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
MSN:
22175
YOM:
1945
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
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
Operator:
Registration:
NZ3526
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Luganville – Whenuapai
MSN:
14562/26007
YOM:
1944
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
16
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
20
Circumstances:
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-20-DL into the Celebes Sea

Date & Time: Sep 19, 1945 at 1018 LT
Operator:
Registration:
A65-6
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Tarakan – Pitu
MSN:
9287
YOM:
1943
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
20
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Enroute, the aircraft started to lose height for no apparent reason as controls showed no response. It trimmed and climbed, then stalled, went into spin and flattened out at 3,000 feet above mean sea level. The pilot was able to regain control and then decided to ditch the aircraft off Labuan. While the aircraft sank, all 23 occupants were unhurt and took refuge in life rafts. They were rescued about 15 hours later some 150 miles east of Tarakan.
Crew (345th Squadron):
F/O A. Burns 2.
Source: http://www.adf-gallery.com.au/

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-1-DK Dakota C.3 into the Andaman Sea

Date & Time: Sep 16, 1945
Operator:
Registration:
FL610
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
12021
YOM:
1943
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Enroute, the weather conditions worsened and the pilot lost his orientation and was unable to know his exact position. As the fuel exhausted, the crew was forced to ditch the aircraft into the Andaman Sea, some 96 km off Ye, Burma. All occupants were evacuated safely while the aircraft sank and was lost.
Probable cause:
Fuel exhaustion caused by a loss of orientation on part of the crew.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-70-DL into the Pacific Ocean: 19 killed

Date & Time: Aug 28, 1945
Operator:
Registration:
42-100717
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Laoag – Naha
MSN:
19180
YOM:
1943
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
14
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
19
Circumstances:
While cruising about 250 miles southwest off Okinawa, the weather conditions worsened with a squall line, thunderstorm activity and turbulence. The aircraft went through this low pressure area and control was lost. The aircraft crashed into the sea and was lost. No trace of the aircraft nor the 19 occupants was found.
Crew:
1st Lt Kenneth D. Eyden,
Pfc Gary J. Gryce,
1st Lt Joseph F. Miller,
1st Lt Samuel S. Proffitt,
S/Sgt Sumner Walker.
Passengers:
Cpl Peter C. Brown,
Pfc Phillip T. Fowler,
Cpl Royal E. Fritz,
Pfc Oscar C. Gibbs,
Pfc Edmon Gibson,
Pfc James L. Greenwood,
Pfc Charlie L. Mason,
S/Sgt Albert D. Salvato,
Pvt Jerry T. Terry,
Sgt Robert Thomas,
Pvt Earl Thompson,
Pvt Seivern M. Walker,
Sgt John W. Watson,
Pvt Matthews B. Wynn.
Probable cause:
Loss of control in flight caused by severe turbulence.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-DK into the Coral Sea: 2 killed

Date & Time: Aug 26, 1945
Operator:
Registration:
42-92037
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
MSN:
11793
YOM:
1943
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
Crashed in unknown circumstances into the Coral Sea off Cape York, Queensland. Both crew members were killed.
Crew:
1st Lt Andrew G. Couch Jr.,
Maj Lloyd R. Marsh.