Country
China
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Yunnan

Crash of a Douglas C-53 in Kunming: 2 killed

Date & Time: Nov 19, 1943
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-53 Skytrooper (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
59
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
7406
YOM:
1942
Location:
Kunming
Yunnan
Country:
China
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
The crew was performing a cargo flight with a load of bank notes. On final approach to Kunming, the visibility was low due to heavy rain falls and a cloud layer at 100 feet. The aircraft hit the ground hundreds yards short of runway, broke into several pieces and burned. The copilot was injured while both other occupants were killed. Thousands of bank notes were found on a large area.

Crash of a Curtiss C-46A-20-CU Commando in Kunming: 2 killed

Date & Time: Nov 18, 1943
Type of aircraft:
Curtiss C-46 Commando
Operator:
Registration:
41-24663
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
26584
YOM:
1943
Location:
Kunming
Yunnan
Country:
China
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
Crashed in unknown circumstances shortly after take off from Kunming Airfield, in the Chenggong District. Both crew members were killed.
Crew:
S/Sgt John S. Sybo, pilot,
1st Lt John Alexander Vick, pilot.

Crash of a Curtiss C-46A-20-CU Commando in Yunnan: 5 killed

Date & Time: Oct 23, 1943
Type of aircraft:
Curtiss C-46 Commando
Operator:
Registration:
41-24648
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
MSN:
26569
YOM:
1943
Location:
Yunnan
Yunnan
Country:
China
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
3
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
Disappeared while performing a cargo flight between China and India. Probably crashed in a mountainous area of the Yunnan Province and no trace was ever found.
Crew:
1st Lt Allen J. Peterson,
F/O Raymond M. Sexton.

Crash of a Curtiss C-46A-20-CU Commando in Yunnan: 1 killed

Date & Time: Oct 20, 1943
Type of aircraft:
Curtiss C-46 Commando
Operator:
Registration:
41-24667
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
MSN:
26588
YOM:
1943
Location:
Yunnan
Yunnan
Country:
China
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
The crew was performing a cargo flight between Kunming and an airfield somewhere in Assam State, India. En route, an engine failed, forcing the crew to abandon the aircraft and to bail out. Out of control, the aircraft dove into the ground, crashed and was destroyed. Three crew members were unhurt while the fourth occupant, Pfc Frank J. Shebeskie, was killed.
Probable cause:
Engine failure.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-15-DL in Kunming

Date & Time: Oct 16, 1943
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
84
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
10158
YOM:
1943
Location:
Kunming
Yunnan
Country:
China
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Shortly after take off, while in initial climb, the right engine caught fire. The crew attempted to make an emergency landing but the aircraft stalled and crashed. While the aircraft was destroyed, both pilots were slightly injured.
Probable cause:
Engine fire.

Crash of a Douglas C-47 in Kunming

Date & Time: Oct 6, 1943
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
69
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
6222
YOM:
1942
Location:
Kunming
Yunnan
Country:
China
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Shortly after take off from Kunming, while on a cargo flight, the oil pressure was lost on one engine. The crew decided to return to Kunming but was unable to lower the gear due to a total loss of hydraulic pressure. The aircraft belly landed in a field and skidded for several yards before coming to rest in flames. While both crew members were uninjured, the aircraft was destroyed by fire.
Probable cause:
Hydraulic failure.

Crash of a Curtiss C-46A-15-CU Commando in Kunming: 6 killed

Date & Time: Oct 3, 1943
Type of aircraft:
Curtiss C-46 Commando
Operator:
Registration:
41-12422
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
26549
YOM:
1943
Location:
Kunming
Yunnan
Country:
China
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Circumstances:
Shortly after take off from Kunming Airport, while in initial climb, the aircraft exploded and crashed in a field located 6,5 km northeast of the airport. All six crew members were killed.
Crew:
F/O Gilbert G. Fincher,
2nd Lt Winfield A. Hird,
Cpl Patrick E. Knipshield,
Pfc Joseph P. Kochie,
Cpl Maurice G. Kosier,
2nd Lt Edward J. Wilson.

Crash of a Curtiss C-46A-15-CU Commando in Kunming: 3 killed

Date & Time: Sep 16, 1943
Type of aircraft:
Curtiss C-46 Commando
Operator:
Registration:
41-12418
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Dibrugarh – Kunming
MSN:
26545
YOM:
1943
Location:
Kunming
Yunnan
Country:
China
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
Crashed on approach to Kunming-Wujiaba for unknown reason. All three crew members were killed.
Crew:
1st Lt Henry I. Idema,
Cpl John M. Kraus,
2nd Lt George R. Wendler.

Crash of a Douglas C-47-DL in Yunnan: 3 killed

Date & Time: Sep 15, 1943
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
41-38597
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Cheng Kung – Sookerating – Tezpur
MSN:
4546
YOM:
1942
Location:
Yunnan
Yunnan
Country:
China
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
Disappeared en route while performing a cargo flight from Cheng Kung to Tezpur with an intermediate stop in Sookerating. Maybe crashed in the Yunnan mountains. No trace of the aircraft nor the crew was found.
Crew (28th TCG):
1st Lt Thomas G. Caldwell,
2nd Lt Robert B. Samuel,
1st Lt Tipton O. Tate Jr.
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