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Crash of a Lockheed A-29-LO Hudson at McChord AFB: 2 killed

Date & Time: Feb 20, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Lockheed L-414 Hudson
Operator:
Registration:
41-23441
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Delivery
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
414-6258
YOM:
1941
Location:
McChord AFB
Washington
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
The airplane was supposed to be delivered to the Royal Air Force in Canada with registration BW579. Shortly after takeoff from McChord AFB, it crashed for unknown reasons. Two crew members were killed and a third was injured.
Crew:
2nd Lt Charles R. Solberg, pilot,
Cpl Forest W. Barlow, †
Sgt Kenneth W. Holmstrom. †

Crash of a Martin B-10BM near Fall City: 4 killed

Date & Time: Feb 11, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Martin B-10 (Model 139 & 166)
Operator:
Registration:
34-111
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
MSN:
642
YOM:
1934
Location:
Fall City
Washington
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
The airplane crashed in unknown circumstances five miles north of Fall City. All four crew members were killed.
Crew:
2nd Lt Harry A. Klein, pilot,
Cpl Walter W. Bentley,
Pfc Walter M. Dings,
1st Lt Harry C. Hosfelt.

Crash of a Martin B-26 Marauder at McChord AFB: 3 killed

Date & Time: Jan 19, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Martin B-26 Marauder
Operator:
Registration:
40-1513
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
1513
YOM:
1940
Location:
McChord AFB
Washington
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
Circumstances:
The airplane suffered an engine failure at takeoff and crashed. All three crew members were killed.
Crew:
2nd Lt Jesse Peter Ottosen, pilot,
2nd Lt Conner G. Hopkins,
Sgt Lee C. Osborn.
Probable cause:
Engine failure upon takeoff.

Crash of a Boeing B-17B Flying Fortress at Geiger Field: 5 killed

Date & Time: Dec 17, 1941
Type of aircraft:
Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress
Operator:
Registration:
38-267
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
2026
YOM:
1938
Location:
Spokane-Intl (Geiger Field)
Washington
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
8
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
After takeoff from Spokane-Geiger Field, while climbing, one of the engine failed. The pilot circled the airfield and elected to return for an emergency landing when the airplane crashed on short final. Five crew members were killed and three others were injured. One of 500 pounds bombs detonated on impact.
Crew:
Cpt Eugene Dimitry Zadontseff, pilot,
S/Sgt Ester Brannon,
Cpl Clarence A. Cunningham,
1st Lt Elbert D. Hoffman,
Avc Edwin Bruce Perkins.
Probable cause:
Engine failure after takeoff.

Crash of a Douglas A-20A Havoc II in Camas: 1 killed

Date & Time: Dec 5, 1941
Type of aircraft:
Douglas A-20 Havoc/DB-7 Boston
Operator:
Registration:
AL382
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Site:
Plain, Valley
Location:
Camas
Washington
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
The airplane crashed in unknown circumstances in Camas. At least one crew member was killed.
Crew:
Harry O'Neal.

Crash of a Douglas B-18A Bolo on Mt Constance: 6 killed

Date & Time: Sep 10, 1941
Type of aircraft:
Douglas B-18 Bolo
Operator:
Registration:
37-518
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
MSN:
2518
YOM:
1937
Location:
Mt Constance
Washington
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
4
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Circumstances:
While cruising in marginal weather conditions, the twin engine airplane impacted the slope of Mt Constance (2,364 metres high) located in the Olympic National Park, about 62 km northwest of Seattle. All six occupants were killed.
Crew:
2nd Lt Edward H. Valorz, pilot,
S/Sgt Robert D. Dexter,
Pvt Jack J. Huppert,
Pvt Milford Knight,
Sgt James W. Page,
2nd Lt John W. Winship.
Probable cause:
Controlled flight into terrain.

Crash of a North American B-25A Mitchell in Spokane

Date & Time: Jul 25, 1941
Type of aircraft:
North American B-25 Mitchell
Operator:
Registration:
40-2223
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
62A-2892
YOM:
1941
Location:
Spokane-Intl (Geiger Field)
Washington
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crashed on landing for unknown reasons. There were no casualties.

Crash of a Douglas B-18 Bolo near Lyman

Date & Time: Jun 8, 1941
Type of aircraft:
Douglas B-18 Bolo
Operator:
Registration:
36-301
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Site:
Mountains
MSN:
1689
YOM:
1936
Location:
Lyman
Washington
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The twin engine airplane crashed for unknown reasons some 24 km east of Lyman. The crew fate remains unknown.

Crash of a Douglas B-18 Bolo near Morton: 7 killed

Date & Time: Jan 16, 1941
Type of aircraft:
Douglas B-18 Bolo
Operator:
Registration:
37-523
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
McChord - Edwards
MSN:
2523
YOM:
1937
Location:
Morton
Washington
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
7
Circumstances:
The twin engine airplane was on its way from McChord AFB, Washington, to Edwards AFB, California, to take part to a training exercise at the Muroc Dry Lake. While cruising some 30 miles south of his departure point, the crew encountered poor weather conditions with low visibility due to clouds. Too low, the aircraft impacted the slope of Mt Deschutes (4,322 feet high) located in the Snoqualmie National Forrest. The wreckage was found by two woodsmen on February 3, less than 30 feet below the summit. All seven occupants were killed.
Crew:
1st Lt Robert M. Krummes, pilot,
2nd Lt Charles Thomas Nielsen, copilot,
T/S Hearn A. Davis, flight engineer,
2nd Lt John F. Geis, navigator,
Sgt Paul L. Maas, bombardier,
Sgt Leo H. Nietling, radio operator.
Passenger:
1st Lt Lewis E. MacKay.
Source: http://www.historylink.org/index.cfm?DisplayPage=output.cfm&file_id=9923
Probable cause:
The official cause of the accident was attributed to a pilot error.

Crash of a Martin B-10B in Centralia

Date & Time: Oct 12, 1940
Type of aircraft:
Martin B-10 (Model 139 & 166)
Operator:
Registration:
34-56
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
MSN:
587
YOM:
1934
Location:
Centralia
Washington
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
For unknown reasons, the crew was forced to abandon the aircraft that dove into the ground and crashed in Centralia. There were no casualties.
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