Lockheed L-414 Hudson

Operator:

Registration:

41-23417

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Site:

MSN:

414-6234

YOM:

1941

Location:

Sacramento

California

Country:

United States of America

Region:

North America

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

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Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Shortly after takeoff from Sacramento Airport, while climbing, the airplane stalled, entered a spin and crashed. At least one crew member was killed.
Crew:
Ernest C. Eddy, pilot.

Crash of a Lockheed L-414 Hudson V at RAF North Coates: 4 killed

Date & Time: Feb 17, 1942 at 1430 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

AM567

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

North Coates - North Coates

MSN:

414-2649

YOM:

1941

Location:

Country:

Region:

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Circumstances:

Shortly after takeoff from RAF North Coates, while climbing, the airplane went out of control and crashed. All four crew members were killed.
Crew:
F/Sgt Arthur William Goulding, pilot,
F/Sgt John Clarke Harris, observer,
Sgt William John Thomas Flagg, wireless operator,
Sgt Raymond George Edward Whale, wireless operator.

Probable cause:

Loss of control after liftoff following an aerial breaking and its insulation material jamming the rudder.

Crash of a Lockheed L-414 Hudson II in Penfui: 4 killed

Date & Time: Feb 14, 1942

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

A16-61

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Site:

MSN:

414-1914

YOM:

1940

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

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Circumstances:

Shortly after takeoff from Kupang-Penfui Airport, while climbing, the twin engine airplane entered an area with severe thunderstorms with lightning, heavy rain falls and turbulences. It appears that the airplane was hit by lightning then entered an uncontrolled descent and crashed in a huge explosion in a field located 8 km south of the airport. All four occupants were killed.
Crew (13th Squadron):
F/O Geoffrey Gordon Mitchell,
P/O J. Goodfellow,
Sgt Charles Lawrence Motteram,
Sgt Keith Raynor.

Probable cause:

Hit by lightning.

Crash of a Lockheed L-414 Hudson V into the North Sea: 4 killed

Date & Time: Feb 12, 1942 at 1215 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

AM712

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Bombing

Survivors:

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Schedule:

North Coates - North Coates

MSN:

414-2794

YOM:

1941

Location:

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The airplane departed RAF North Coates to attack the German battleship named 'Scharnhorst' (Operation Fuller'). Approaching the target, it was shot down by enemy fire and crashed into the sea. All four crew members were killed.
Crew:
S/L William Andrew Anderson,
F/Sgt Neville Frederick Jordan,
P/O Harold Victor Spicer, wireless operator,
F/Sgt Stanley Walker.

Probable cause:

Shot down by enemy fire.

Crash of a Lockheed L-414 Hudson V into the North Sea: 5 killed

Date & Time: Feb 12, 1942

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

AM598

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Bombing

Survivors:

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Schedule:

North Coates - North Coates

MSN:

414-2680

YOM:

1941

Location:

Country:

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Circumstances:

The airplane departed RAF North Coates to attack the German battlecruiser named 'Scharnhorst' cruising in the North Sea. Approaching the target, it was shot down by enemy fire and crashed into the sea. All five crew members were killed.
Crew:
F/Lt Lonsdale Cowperthwaite, pilot,
P/O John Ernest Lister, observer,
Sgt William Beverley Lenover, wireless operator,
F/Sgt Norman John Jones, air gunner,
Sgt Alan Forster Muris.

Probable cause:

Shot down by enemy fire.

Crash of a Lockheed RA-29-LO Hudson near Windsor Locks: 6 killed

Date & Time: Feb 11, 1942 at 1555 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

41-23340

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Aerial photography

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

Schedule:

Windsor Locks - Windsor Locks

MSN:

414-6157

YOM:

1941

Location:

Windsor Locks-Bradley

Connecticut

Country:

United States of America

Region:

North America

Crew on board:

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Circumstances:

The crew departed Windsor Locks-Bradley Airport on an aerial photography on behalf of the 1st Mapping Squadron. While cruising at an altitude of 28,000 feet over the area of Windsor Locks, the airplane suffered a catastrophic failure, apparently lost its tail, entered a dive and crashed near East Granby, west of the airport. All six crew members were killed.
Crew (1st Mapping Squadron):
1st Lt Melvin W. Schoephoester, pilot,
2nd Lt Walter C. Boyle,
S/Sgt Michael M. Kaufman,
Sgt Gordon Johnson,
Sgt Thomas F. Quinn,
Sgt John T. Howey Jr.

Probable cause:

The exact cause of the accident could not be determined because the airplane was totally destroyed by impact forces. Nevertheless, it is possible that the accident was caused by a failure of the automatic pilot system. The following elements were identified:
- Both engine switches were cut, the throttles to the right engine were completely closed, while the throttles to the left engine were completely open, and the fuel selector valve for the right engine was turned off;
- The right propeller appeared to have been feathered, and experts concluded that it was feathered at the time of impact;
- The committee has found no evidence to indicate failure of the wings, it is more likely that the tail break away in flight.

Crash of a Lockheed L-414 Hudson IV near Gasmata: 4 killed

Date & Time: Feb 11, 1942

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

A16-126

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Bombing

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

Schedule:

Port Moresby - Port Moresby

MSN:

414-6055

YOM:

1941

Location:

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Region:

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Circumstances:

The airplane departed Port Moresby on an operation to Gasmata. Approaching the target area, it was shot down by a Japanese fighter and crashed in an isolated area. The wreckage was eventually found 66 years later, in May 2008. Some bullet holes were noted in the tail.
Crew (6th Squadron):
F/O Graham Ian Gibson, pilot,
P/O Frank Leslie Oliver Thorn, copilot,
Sgt Arthur Edward Quail,
Sgt Barton Irving Coutie.

Probable cause:

Shot down by a Japanese fighter.

Crash of a Lockheed L-414 Hudson III in Ponterwyd: 4 killed

Date & Time: Feb 10, 1942 at 1330 LT

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

V9127

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Test

Survivors:

Site:

Mountains

Schedule:

Honeybourne - Honeybourne

MSN:

414-3752

YOM:

1941

Location:

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Region:

Crew on board:

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Circumstances:

The crew departed RAF Honeybourne at 1100LT on a test flight consisting of navigation tests and fuel consumption check. While cruising in limited visibility due to poor weather conditions, the twin engine airplane impacted the slope of a hill located near Ponterwyd, some 10 miles east of Aberystwyth. The airplane was destroyed by impact forces and all four crew members were killed.
Crew (FTU):
F/O David Campbell Anderson, pilot,
F/Sgt Gordon Robert Duncan, observer,
Sgt John Hammond Harker, wireless operator and air gunner,
Sgt Ronald Hodgson, wireless operator and air gunner.

Probable cause:

Controlled flight into terrain after the airplane was flying at a too low altitude in limited visibility over hilly terrain.

Crash of a Lockheed L-414 Hudson IIIA at RAF Skitten

Date & Time: Feb 10, 1942

Type of aircraft:

Landing (descent or approach)

Operator:

Registration:

V9110

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Training

Survivors:

Yes

Site: