Douglas C-53 Skytrooper (DC-3)

Operator:

Registration:

42-6471

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

MSN:

4923

YOM:

1942

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After rotation from Calcutta-Dum Dum Airport, the aircraft encountered problem to gain height when it hit tree tops and crashed in flames in a wooded area located 1,200 meters past the runway end. All twenty occupants were killed. At the time of the accident, weather conditions were as follow: ceiling at 2,000 feet, horizontal visibility estimated at 11 km and light wind.
Crew:
1st Lt Dale Johnson,
2nd Lt Jasper A. Lagattuta,
1st Lt Kermit R. Peasley.

Crash of a Douglas C-53D Skytrooper in Maxton AFB: 25 killed

Date & Time: Sep 20, 1943 at 0849 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

42-68729

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Survivors:

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Schedule:

Maxton - Godman

MSN:

11656

YOM:

1943

Location:

Maxton AFB

North Carolina

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The crew was performing a flight from Laurinburg-Maxton AFB to Godman AFB located near Louisville, Kentucky. Shortly after take off, while climbing at a height of 300 feet, the pilot saw in front of him another Douglas C-53 towing a glider. To avoid any collision, the captain turn sharply to the left but the evasive action was too strong, so the aircraft entered a spin and crashed in a huge explosion. All 25 occupants were killed.
Crew:
Cpt Paul Wideman Arthaud,
Pvt Joseph John Bacon,
Pfc Fred Balkin,
Tec Edith M. Ballenger,
2nd Lt William Howard Brownholtz,
Cpt Roland B. Cooper,
Pfc Howard W. DeTers,
Cpl Betty Walker Driskill,
F/O Charles Gorman Dunckle,
Sgt Leonard James Gougeon,
1st Lt John L. Jones,
1st Lt John Lester Kennedy,
S/Sgt F. R. McIntyre,
Pvt Alvin Leroy Montgomery,
2nd Lt Frank William Nellis,
Cpl Albert Edward Nies,
2nd Lt John F. Reynolds,
Cpt William Holan Roberts,
Cpl Ray O. Roby,
1st Lt Ralph Gerald Roiland,
Pfc Melvin Schoenberg,
2nd Lt J. E. Walsh,
2nd Lt Martha Rosella Webb,
Sgt George L. West,
2nd Lt Robert Gifford White.

Probable cause:

Loss of control caused by an evasive action on take off.

Crash of a Douglas C-53D-DO Skytrooper near Sedalia AFB: 11 killed

Date & Time: Sep 5, 1943 at 2327 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

42-68841

Flight Phase:

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Schedule:

Sedalia - Sedalia

MSN:

11768

YOM:

1943

Location:

Sedalia AFB

Missouri

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Circumstances:

The crew was completing a training program in the region of Sedalia. En route, while cruising by night in poor weather conditions, the aircraft went out of control and crashed in a prairie, killing all 11 occupants.
Crew:
2nd Lt Charles W. Barnett,
T/Sgt Orville H. Clayton,
Pfc Paul W. Crawford,
Cpl Ralph V. Hoar,
Pfc Franklin M. Hogan,
1st Lt Donald F. Parks,
Cpl Emmett W. Reynolds,
Pvt Edward N. Roberts,
1st Lt Alvin Y. Tillman Jr 2.

Probable cause:

Loss of control caused by strong winds blowing while the aircraft was flown at an altitude of 6,000 feet.

Crash of a Douglas C-53D-DO Skytrooper near Garland: 4 killed

Date & Time: Aug 27, 1943 at 2130 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

42-68746

Flight Phase:

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Schedule:

Fayetteville-Pope - Fayetteville-Pope

MSN:

11673

YOM:

1943

Location:

Garland

North Carolina

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Circumstances:

The aircraft left Fayetteville-Pope AFB in the evening to complete a circular training flight. In unknown circumstances, the aircraft went out of control and crashed in a field located 11 miles southwest of Garland. All four occupants were killed.
Crew:
Sgt Robert M. Anderson,
2nd Lt Howard R. Johnson Jr.,
Sgt Roger H. Knowlton,
2nd Lt Richard G. Shipley.

Crash of a Douglas C-53 near Fort Hertz: 3 killed

Date & Time: Aug 11, 1943

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Cargo

Survivors:

Site:

Mountains

Schedule:

Dinjan – Kunming

MSN:

4852

YOM:

1942

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While cruising in the Fort Hertz Valley, the aircraft was hit by enemy fire. The left engine caught fire, exploded and detached, shearing off a part of the wing. Out of control, the aircraft dove into the ground and crashed in flames. All three crew members were killed.

Probable cause:

Shot down by enemy fire.

Crash of a Douglas C-53D-DO Skytrooper in Fayetteville-Pope AFB: 3 killed

Date & Time: Jul 27, 1943

Type of aircraft:

Landing (descent or approach)

Operator:

Registration:

42-68783

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

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Schedule:

Fayetteville-Pope - Fayetteville-Pope

MSN:

11710

YOM:

1943

Location:

Pope AFB (Fayetteville)

North Carolina

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On final approach to Fayetteville-Pope AFB, the aircraft struck trees and crashed in a wooded area. All three crew members were killed.
Crew (435th TG):
2nd Lt Harrol H. Jacks,
2nd Lt Martin H. Kehoe,
Cpl Melvin C. Perialas.

Crash of a Douglas C-53D-DO Skytrooper in Malcolm: 13 killed

Date & Time: Jul 19, 1943

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

42-68801

Flight Phase:

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Site:

Schedule:

Des Moines - Alliance

MSN:

11728

YOM:

1943

Location:

Malcolm

Nebraska

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Circumstances:

The aircraft was performing a flight from Des Moines, Iowa, to the air base of Alliance, Nebraska. En route, it went out of control, dove into the ground and crashed in a prairie located in Malcolm, northwest of Lincoln. All 13 occupants were killed.
Crew:
Pvt Chester T. Beczynski,
Cpl Edward A. Bloom,
Sgt Robert D. Hager Jr.,
Pfc Joseph T. Jurczyk,
Sgt Frank P. Krejci,
Cpl Arthur R. Markham,
S/Sgt Walker H. McCartney,
Pfc Robert A. McClymonds,
1st Lt James S. Mills,
Pvt George Ralich,
2nd Lt Edgar D. Rogers,
Pfc Sam Ross,
Pfc Howard E. Wiegand.

Probable cause:

The exact cause of the accident could not be determined but the assumption that the aircraft may have been hit by lightning while he was flying through a low pressure area is not ruled out.

Crash of a Douglas C-53D-DO Skytrooper near Grenada AFB: 4 killed

Date & Time: Jul 17, 1943

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

42-6464

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

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Site:

Schedule:

Grenada - Grenada

MSN:

4916

YOM:

1942

Location:

Grenada AFB

Mississippi

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Circumstances:

The aircraft left Grenada AFB for a combined exercise with five other Dakotas. En route, while cruising at at altitude of 1,200 feet, the aircraft collided with a USAF C-47-DL registered 41-38730 and carrying a crew of six. Both aircraft went out of control, dove into the ground and crashed in a field located 10 miles north of the airbase. All ten crew members on both aircraft were killed.
Crew:
2nd Lt David P. Brubaker,
2nd Lt Edward A. Heflin Jr.,
S/Sgt Leslie L. Lamb,
Cpl Henry C. Manson.

Probable cause:

Poor judgement on part of the crew of the C-47 registered 41-38730 who, when all group started a climb to the right, did not negotiate the manoeuvre correctly. On third position, the C-47 hit with its left wing the right side of the C-53's fuselage that was on second position in the formation.

Crash of a Douglas C-53D-DO Skytrooper near Catania: 4 killed

Date & Time: Jul 13, 1943

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

42-68714

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

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