Crash of a Consolidated PBY-3 Catalina into the Gulf of Mexico: 3 killed

Date & Time: May 5, 1943
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
0891
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
While cruising at a very low altitude, the seaplane hit the water surface and crashed into the Gulf of Mexico, some 45 miles off the Corpus Christi NAS. Three crew members were killed while the fourth occupant was rescued.

Crash of a Lockheed L-414 Hudson IIIA into the Arafura Sea: 6 killed

Date & Time: Apr 28, 1943 at 0030 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
A16-241
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Milingimbi - Milingimbi
MSN:
414-6494
YOM:
1942
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Circumstances:
The aircraft left Milingimbi at 0000LT on a maritime patrol flight. Thirty minutes later, bound to the north, the aircraft crashed in unknown circumstances into the Arafura Sea. No trace of the aircraft nor the six crew members was ever found.
Crew (2nd Squadron):
F/O R. R. James,
Sgt R. E. Norris,
Sgt R. D. Ryan,
Sgt K. D. Krech,
Sgt P. S. Reen,
W/O N. E. Cutten.

Crash of a Martin B-26A-1 Marauder into the Tyrrhenian Sea: 6 killed

Date & Time: Apr 25, 1943
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
FK371
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
MSN:
7408
YOM:
1941
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Circumstances:
Crashed into the Tyrrhenian Sea while performing a maritime patrol flight. No trace of the aircraft nor the six crew members was ever found.
Crew:
F/Sgt T. C. Bullock,
W/O F. L. Trovillo,
P/O J. L. Mouatt,
Sgt C. Warburton,
F/O D. G. Bentham,
F/Sgt J. S. Patman.

Crash of a Savoia-Marchetti SM.75 into the Mediterranean Sea: 3 killed

Date & Time: Apr 19, 1943
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
I-MONC
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
MSN:
32069
YOM:
1939
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
While overflying the Mediterranean Sea, the three-engine aircraft was shot down by the pilot of a RAF fighter and crashed into the sea, killing all three crew members.
Probable cause:
Shot down by a RAF fighter.

Crash of a Savoia-Marchetti SM.75 into the Mediterranean Sea: 3 killed

Date & Time: Apr 13, 1943
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
I-MAST
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
MSN:
32062
YOM:
1939
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
While overflying the Mediterranean Sea, the three-engine aircraft was shot down by the pilot of a RAF fighter and crashed into the sea. All three crew members were killed. They were performing a flight between Italy and Libya.
Probable cause:
Shot down.

Crash of a Savoia-Marchetti SM.75 into the Mediterranean Sea: 3 killed

Date & Time: Apr 10, 1943
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
I-BONI
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
MSN:
32071
YOM:
1939
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
The crew was performing a flight from Italy to Libya when flying over the Mediterranean Sea, the three-engine aircraft was shot down by a fighter (unknown identity) and crashed into the sea. All three crew members were killed.
Probable cause:
Shot down.

Crash of a Lockheed PV-1 Ventura into the North Sea: 4 killed

Date & Time: Apr 4, 1943
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
AJ169
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Methwold - Methwold
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
The crew left RAF Methwold at 1800LT to attack the docks at Rotterdam. While approaching the Dutch coast, the aircraft was shot down by the German Flak and crashed into the North Sea some 40 miles off shore. All four crew members were killed.
Crew (464th Squadron):
Sgt A. L. Lush, pilot,
W/O W. W. Collens, navigator,
F/Sgt E. W. Cole, wireless operator and air gunner,
F/Sgt D. F. Fulford, air gunner.
Probable cause:
Shot down by the German Flak.

Crash of a Consolidated B-24D-CO Liberator into the Mediterranean Sea: 9 killed

Date & Time: Mar 18, 1943
Operator:
Registration:
41-11798
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Benghazi - Benghazi
MSN:
294
YOM:
1941
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
9
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
9
Circumstances:
The crew left Benghazi Airport in the day to attack enemy ships in the harbor of Naples. En route, the four-engine aircraft crashed into the Mediterranean Sea in unknown circumstances. No trace of the aircraft nor the crew was found.

Crash of a Handley Page H.P.57 Halifax II into the North Sea: 7 killed

Date & Time: Mar 7, 1943
Operator:
Registration:
DT567
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
7
Circumstances:
While approaching the Dutch coast, the bomber went out of control and crashed into the sea. All seven crew were killed.
Crew (51st Squadron):
F/Sgt R. E. Dorman,
Sgt A. R. Harding,
P/O A. L. Holmes,
Sgt P. J. McAleese,
Sgt J. G. Ramshaw,
Sgt G. Tombe,
P/O J. E. Ulrich.

Crash of a Consolidated PBY-5 Catalina into the Pacific Ocean: 8 killed

Date & Time: Mar 5, 1943
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
2334
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Dillingham – North Island
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
8
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
8
Circumstances:
Lost without trace in the Pacific Ocean while performing a flight from Dillingham (Oahu Island, Hawaii) to North Island-Halsey Field NAS, San Diego.