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

Date & Time: Jul 10, 1943 at 1630 LT
Operator:
Registration:
42-68785
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
MSN:
11712
YOM:
1943
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
The crew was engaged in a training flight with a group of six Dakota that left a local air base in the afternoon to complete a combined exercise. En route, while in a V formation, a C-47 registered 42-23786 and carrying a crew of four went off course and hit with its right wing the left wing of the C-53. Following the collision, both aircraft went out of control, dove into the ground and crashed in a field located 19 miles west of Hemingford. All eight crew members in both aircraft were killed.

Crash of a Douglas C-53D-DO in Gela: 4 killed

Date & Time: Jul 9, 1943
Operator:
Registration:
42-68761
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
MSN:
11688
YOM:
1943
Location:
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
While taking part to the invasion of Sicily during the 'Husky 1' operation, just after that all paratroopers jumped, the aircraft was shot down by anti-aircraft fire and crashed in a field. All four crew members were killed.
Probable cause:
Shot down by anti-aircraft fire.

Crash of a Douglas C-53-DO off Half Assini

Date & Time: May 27, 1943
Operator:
Registration:
42-47374
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
MSN:
7316
YOM:
1942
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crashed in unknown circumstances into the sea some 2,5 km off Half Assini. Crew fate remains unknown.

Crash of a Douglas C-53 in Brookley AFB: 3 killed

Date & Time: May 3, 1943
Operator:
Registration:
42-15534
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Mobile - Fort Benning
MSN:
7329
YOM:
1942
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
Shortly after take off from Brookley AFB, the aircraft stalled and crashed in the Mobile Bay. Three crew were killed while two others were rescued. The crew was performing a training mission to Fort Benning.

Crash of a Douglas C-53-DO near Pang: 1 killed

Date & Time: Apr 7, 1943
Operator:
Registration:
58
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Schedule:
Dinjan – Kunming
MSN:
7407
YOM:
1942
Location:
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
One hour into the flight, the crew encountered bad weather and severe icing conditions. While the aircraft continued to lose altitude, pilots realized they were facing a mountain. The captain made a sharp turn to the right when the left wing hit a rocky peak. The aircraft stalled and crashed at an altitude of more than 4,000 metres above MSL. Despite their injuries, both pilots managed to escape and to find help. However, the aircraft was destroyed and the radio navigator was killed.

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

Date & Time: Mar 13, 1943
Operator:
Registration:
49
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Kunming – Dinjan
MSN:
4853
YOM:
1942
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
En route from Kunming to Dinjan, while carrying a load of tin bars, the crew encountered poor weather conditions with low visibility due to heavy snow falls and turbulence. The aircraft disappeared and maybe crashed in the region of Fort Hertz. No trace of the wreckage nor the crew was found.

Crash of a Douglas C-53 in Pianma: 3 killed

Date & Time: Mar 11, 1943
Operator:
Registration:
53
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Kunming – Dinjan
MSN:
4904
YOM:
1942
Location:
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 cargo flight from Kunming to Dinjan with a load of tungsten on board. Due to the presence of Japanese forces along the normal route, the crew decided to divert and to follow another route passing over the Pianma Pass. In low visibility due to snow falls, the captain reduced his altitude to maintain a visual contact with the ground when the aircraft hit tree tops and crashed in a wooded area located near the Pianma Pass, at the border between China and Burma. All three crew were killed. Some debris of the aircraft were found by hikers in October 1996.

Crash of a Douglas C-53-DO near Beni Suef: 5 killed

Date & Time: Feb 23, 1943
Operator:
Registration:
42-47373
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
MSN:
7315
YOM:
1942
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
Crashed in unknown circumstances in the region of Beni Suef. All five crew members were killed.

Crash of a Douglas C-53 near Putao: 6 killed

Date & Time: Jan 31, 1943
Operator:
Registration:
MA929
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Dinjan – Fort Hertz
MSN:
4933
YOM:
1942
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Circumstances:
The aircraft left Dinjan Airport at 1330LT on a routine flight to Fort Hertz, Burma. Thirty minutes later, the aircraft was spotted by the pilot of a Hudson flying at an altitude of 7,000 feet near the city of Kamku, Arunachal Pradesh. As the aircraft failed to arrive, SAR operations were conducted but eventually suspended as no trace of the aircraft nor the crew was found. It is believed the aircraft may have crash in the northwestern region of Burma, northwest of Putao.
Source: ASN