Crash of a Douglas C-54B-10-DO Skymaster near Sinbo: 4 killed

Date & Time: Apr 21, 1945
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-54 Skymaster
Operator:
Registration:
43-17162
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
MSN:
18362
YOM:
1944
Location:
Sinbo
Kachin State
Country:
Myanmar
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
Crashed in flames in a wooded area located 5 km west of Sinbo, killing all four crew members.
Crew:
2nd Lt Merrill Hoyle,
1st Lt Dwight L. Irvine,
S/Sgt Glenn E. Marshall,
Pvt Clyde W. Whispell.

Crash of a Douglas C-54A-5-DO Skymaster in Hamilton

Date & Time: Apr 21, 1945
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-54 Skymaster
Operator:
Registration:
42-107452
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
7471
YOM:
1944
Location:
Hamilton
All Bermuda
Country:
Bermuda
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crashed on takeoff at Hamilton-Kindley Field Airport following an engine failure. There were no casualties but the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
Engine failure.

Crash of a Douglas R5D-3 in Okinawa

Date & Time: Apr 9, 1945
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-54 Skymaster
Operator:
Registration:
50872
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
10558
YOM:
1945
Location:
Okinawa
Okinawa
Country:
Japan
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
After touchdown at Okinawa-Yontan Airport, the four engine aircraft was unable to stop within the remaining distance. It overran, lost its undercarriage and came to rest in flames. There were no casualties.

Crash of a Douglas C-54A-15-DC Skymaster off Rock Harbor: 5 killed

Date & Time: Mar 19, 1945 at 1417 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-54 Skymaster
Operator:
Registration:
42-72264
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Homestead - Homestead
MSN:
10369
YOM:
1944
Location:
Key Largo
Florida
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
While cruising off Key Largo, the four engine aircraft went out of control and crashed into the sea off Rock Harbor. The wreckage was found a day later into 19 feet of water, 4 miles offshore. All five crew members were killed.
Crew:
Cpt Richard C. Dayton,
Cpt Paul F. McMurdy,
T/Sgt Bernard A. O'Donnell,
Maj Sumner H. Reeder,
Cpl Leonard B. Schafer.

Crash of a Douglas C-54B-1-DC Skymaster in Yunnan: 4 killed

Date & Time: Mar 16, 1945
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-54 Skymaster
Operator:
Registration:
42-72418
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
MSN:
10523
YOM:
1945
Location:
Yunnan
Yunnan
Country:
China
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
Crashed somewhere in the mountains while performing a flight between India, China and Burma. The wreckage was never found and it is believed that the aircraft may have crashed in the west mountains of of the Yunnan Province.
Crew:
Cpt Richard A. Harris Jr.,
1st Lt Jerome L. Olson,
T/Sgt Henry E. Peavy,
Pvt James M. Rosno.

Crash of a Douglas C-54B-1-DC Skymaster in Kunming

Date & Time: Feb 26, 1945
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-54 Skymaster
Operator:
Registration:
42-72403
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
10508
YOM:
1945
Location:
Kunming
Yunnan
Country:
China
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crashed on landing. There were no casualties but the aircraft was written off.

Crash of a Douglas C-54A-15-DC Skymaster in Lajes: 1 killed

Date & Time: Jan 4, 1945
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-54 Skymaster
Operator:
Registration:
42-72250
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
10355
YOM:
1944
Location:
Lajes
Azores Islands
Country:
Portugal
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
Crashed for unknown reasons upon landing at Lajes Airfield. At least one crew member, F/O Russell E. Jones, was killed.

Crash of a Douglas C54B-1-DC Skymaster in Kwajalein

Date & Time: Nov 26, 1944 at 1200 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-54 Skymaster
Operator:
Registration:
42-72320
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Military
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
10425
YOM:
1944
Location:
Kwajalein
All Marshall Islands
Country:
Marshall Islands
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crashed on take off.

Crash of a Douglas C-54A-1-DO Skymaster near Cape Saint George: 12 killed

Date & Time: Nov 12, 1944 at 0130 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-54 Skymaster
Operator:
Registration:
42-107427
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
New York-La Guardia - Stephenville
MSN:
7446
YOM:
1943
Location:
Cape Saint George
Newfoundland & Labrador
Country:
Canada
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
14
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
12
Circumstances:
All along the route do Stephenville, the weather conditions were considered as good. While approaching the destination, the winds went stronger. Some ten minutes prior to the scheduled arrival time, by night, the four engine aircraft hit the slope of a mountain located near Cape Saint George, west of Stephenville. Nine occupants were killed while nine others were seriously injured. Few days later, three of them died from their injuries.
Source & photos: http://planecrashgirl.ca/
Probable cause:
It appears the pilot checked the weather often before and throughout the flight, but the aircraft was still blown off-course by high velocity winds. The pilot also failed to make proper use of normally functioning radio navigational aids to check the position of the aircraft prior to and during descent. The aircraft collided with the side of a hill at what is locally known as Garden Hill on the Port-au-Port peninsula.

Crash of a Douglas C-54A-15-DC Skymaster off Oahu Island: 17 killed

Date & Time: Nov 11, 1944 at 1200 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-54 Skymaster
Operator:
Registration:
42-72252
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
MSN:
10357
YOM:
1944
Location:
Pacific Ocean
All World
Country:
World
Region:
World
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
11
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
17
Circumstances:
The four engine aircraft was performing a flight from an airport located on Oahu Island and California. While cruising some 50 miles east of Oahu Island, the aircraft went out of control and crashed into the Pacific Ocean. All 17 occupants were killed.
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