Consolidated B-24 Liberator

While conducting a night training mission at low altitude, the captain snap the automatic pilot system when the aircraft nosed down and crashed in a huge explosion 3 miles west of Alamogordo. It is understood that a recovery was impossible due to an insufficient distance with the ground. All ten crew members were killed.

Crashed in unknown circumstances somewhere in Canada. Aircraft was on its way to Great Britain to be delivered to the Royal Air Force. Crew fate unknown.

On final approach to RAF Thorney Island, one (maybe two) engine lost power. The aircraft stalled and crashed short of runway. While all three crew members were slightly injured, the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Crew (86th Squadron):
Sgt John Murray,
P/O Ronald Harwood,
P/O Alfred W. Dungate.

Shortly after take off from Reykjavik Airport, while on a transit flight from Europe to the US, the engine number three caught fire and exploded. The crew attempted to return for an emergency landing. On final approach, the engine number three fell off and the aircraft landed in flames. On touchdown, the right main gear failed and the aircraft skidded for several hundred yards before coming to rest with both wings on fire. Nine crew members were killed while six others were injured.
Crew (120th Squadron):
W/O P. L. B. Ellis, pilot, †
F/S J. G. Benson, copilot, †
F/S G. Lowrison, radio navigator, †
Sgt D. McClelland, flight engineer,
F/S A. Barthorpe, wireless operator and air gunner,
Sgt G. Young, wireless operator and air gunner,
Sgt W. Stanfield, wireless operator and air gunner. †
Passengers:
Cdr C. Harris,
Lt A. Finn,
S/L H. Catchlove,
F/O W. Wright, †
F/L F. H. Salt, †
LAC M. I. Kidd, †
Cpl H. Y. Mills, †
Cpl J. D. Cole. †

En route, the four-engine aircraft exploded in mid-air, disintegrated and crashed in a field located 2 miles west of Donnellsville. All four crew members were killed.

Crashed for unknown reasons on take off from Smyrna AFB, near Nashville. Crew fate unknown.

Crashed in unknown circumstances 10 km east of the Wright-Patterson AFB. Crew fate unknown.

Two Consolidated B-24 Liberator heavy bombers collided when one bomber overtook and pulled up in front of the flight leader. The impact with the leader’s nose severed the tail section and the aircraft went out of control preventing the seven man crew from bailing out. The flight leader had sounded the bailout bell and five men parachuted to safety. Parts of the severed tail remained embedded in the nose, pinning the bombardier and navigator in the nose of the aircraft and blocking the pilot’s forward vision. The engineer went to the front of the aircraft, noted the situation and notified the pilot of the two men trapped there. The pilot, Lt. Slough, despite the damage to the aircraft, with the aid of the engineer in the copilot’s seat, managed to fly the plane back and land at the base at Pueblo. These two men, Lt Slough and S/Sgt Cailleir, were awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC) for their heroic actions.
Crew (41-11826):
1st Lt Gerald E. Smetts, pilot, †
2nd Lt Charles T. Bowen Jr., copilot, †
2nd Lt Adam C. Thompson Jr., navigator, †
2nd Lt Bliss M. Shannon, bombardier, †
Sgt Victor H. McGregor, engineer, †
S/Sgt Charles S. Meisenheimer, radio operator, †
Sgt James H. Cooney Jr., air gunner. †
Crew (41-24041):
1st Lt Frank D. Slough, pilot,
2nd Lt Steward P. Elliott, copilot,
2nd Lt Henry W. Scott, bombardier,
2nd Lt Lester M. Warner, navigator,
S/Sgt James E. Cailleir, engineer,
Sgt Elwood W. Harrison, engineer,
S/Sgt Dan Kinnon, radio operator,
Sgt Herman Siegeldt, assistant radio operator,
Sgt Robert A. Griffin, tail gunner.
Source:
http://www.coloradoaircrashes.com/Crashsites/crash_site13.htm

The aircraft left Townsville at 0815LT bound for Port Moresby. En route, the crew encountered poor weather conditions with heavy rain falls. While cruising at the altitude of 3,000 feet above the Hinchinbrook Island, the aircraft hit the south slope of Mt Straloch located in the south part of the island. All 12 occupants were killed. The wreckage was eventually found by locals in 1943.
Crew (90th BG):
Cpt James E. Gumaer, Jr., pilot,
2nd Lt Dewey G. Hooper, copilot,
2nd Lt David B. Lowe, navigator,
T/Sgt Waldo W. Kellner, flight engineer,
S/Sgt Walter E. Haydt, radio operator,
Passengers:
Col Carroll G. Riggs,
Lt Raymond F. Dakin,
Cpt Carl H. Silber,
Cpt Peter E. Kiple,
Lt John E. Cooper, Jr.,
Robert C. Trevithick,
Tec Michael M. Goldstop.

During a training exercise, the crew experienced unknown technical problems and was forced to attempt an emergency landing. The aircraft crash landed in a field in Garnett and was damaged beyond repair. No casualties.