Crash of a North American B-25 Mitchell in Tenau: 5 killed

Date & Time: Jan 4, 1944
Operator:
Registration:
N5-137
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
MSN:
87-7900
YOM:
1941
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
Engaged in a bombing mission in the region of Kupang, the aircraft was shot down by enemy fire and crashed in Tenau, killing all five occupants.
Probable cause:
Shot down.

Crash of a North American B-25 Mitchell in Cherbourg: 2 killed

Date & Time: Nov 26, 1943
Operator:
Registration:
FR146
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
While on a bombing mission in the region of Cherbourg, the twin engine aircraft was hit by the German Flak. The pilot reduced his altitude and attempted to make an emergency landing when the aircraft crashed in an open field. Two crew members were killed while two others were injured.
Probable cause:
Shot down by the German Flak.

Crash of a North American B-25 Mitchell in Cherbourg: 4 killed

Date & Time: Oct 28, 1943
Operator:
Registration:
FR174
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
While taking part to a bombing mission over Cherbourg, the aircraft was hit by the German Flak and crashed in an open field. All four crew were killed.
Crew (320th Squadron):
Cap A. J. van Dieren Bijvoet, pilot,
C. van der Knaap, pilot and navigator,
Pierre Fortunus van Woesik, wireless operator
A. G. van Apeldoorn, air gunner.
Probable cause:
Shot down by the German Flak.

Crash of a North American B-25 Mitchell off Lanvéoc-Poulmic NAS: 1 killed

Date & Time: Oct 25, 1943
Operator:
Registration:
FR166
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Lasham - Lasham
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
The crew left RAF Lasham in Hampshire to attack the Lanvéoc-Poulmic NAS located south of Brest, on behalf of the 320th Squadron. While approaching the target, the twin engine aircraft was shot down by the German Flak. The pilot was able to ditch the aircraft few hundred yards off shore and three crew members were rescued by local fishermen. Unfortunately, the fourth occupant, Sergeant Cornelis Jacobus Bank was killed.
Probable cause:
Shot down by the German Flak.

Crash of a North American B-25 Mitchell in Lanvéoc-Poulmic NAS: 4 killed

Date & Time: Oct 25, 1943
Operator:
Registration:
FR178
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Lasham - Lasham
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
The crew left RAF Lasham to attack the Lanvéoc-Poulmic NAS located south of Brest, France. Approaching the target, the twin engine aircraft was shot down by the German Flak and crashed in flames in a field. All four crew members were killed.
Crew (320th Squadron):
F/O Eduard Bakker,
Sgt Marinus Bolk,
F/O Herman Gerard van Haaften,
2nd Lt Richard Willem Hubertus van Pelt.
Probable cause:
Shot down by the German Flak.

Crash of a North American B-25 Mitchell in Batchelor

Date & Time: Oct 18, 1943
Operator:
Registration:
N5-145
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
82-5433
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The aircraft christened 'The Flying Dutchman' from 18 Squadron of the Netherlands East Indies Air Force (NEI-AF/ KNIL) was damaged after running off the runway in a downwind landing at Batchelor airfield in the Northern Territory. There were no casualties.
Source: http://www.ozatwar.com/ozcrashes/nt138.htm

Crash of a North American B-25 Mitchell off Bannerman Town

Date & Time: Oct 4, 1943
Operator:
Registration:
FR384
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
82-5778
YOM:
1941
Country:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The airplane crashed in unknown circumstances into the sea off Bannerman Town, South Eleuthera. All five crew members were rescued.

Crash of a North American B-25C Mitchell in Batchelor

Date & Time: Sep 9, 1943
Operator:
Registration:
N5-153
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Batchelor - Batchelor
MSN:
94-12747
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
8
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Overran on landing at Batchelor Airfield when the nose wheel and flaps refused to work after an evening bombing raid to Laha and Ambon. All crewmen were unhurt while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Source: http://www.ozatwar.com/ozcrashes/nt139.htm

Crash of a North American B-25 Mitchell off Vlieland Island: 5 killed

Date & Time: Jul 30, 1943
Operator:
Registration:
FR144
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
In unknown circumstances, the aircraft crashed into the sea off Vlieland Island while on a maritime patrol flight. All five crew members were killed.

Crash of a North American B-25 Mitchell off Clifton Bluff: 6 killed

Date & Time: Jul 13, 1943 at 1545 LT
Operator:
Registration:
FR383
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Nassau - Nassau
MSN:
82-5777
YOM:
1941
Country:
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Circumstances:
The airplane departed Nassau Airport on an anti-submarine exercise with six crew members on board. The crew reported his position over Great Sale Cay and requested permission for descent through exercise. It is believed that the pilot-in-command lost control of the airplane that crashed into the sea some 8 km southwest off Clifton Bluff. No trace of the wreckage was found and all six crew members, one RAAF and five RCAF were considered as deceased.

The following test was found from RAF record books:

B-25 FR-383 DX airborne for Anti-Submarine Patrol Number 3, sent signal reporting position over Great Sale Cay, requested permission for descent through cloud exercise. Then aircraft failed to reply to signal to commence, exercise, was not heard again, failed to return to base, so overdue, action was taken. Four aircraft dispatched to search waters adjacent to island. B-25 FV-946 FF is airborne to search for missing aircraft 3 nm southwest of Main Field, when smoke is sighted through the trees, crew caught sight of wrecked plane in the area, circled aircraft found to be a Baltimore aircraft, signal sent to base conveying this information. Aircraft continued search, oil patch was sighted, patch was 50 yards wide and seemed to extend in an up wind direction, aircraft returned to base and the Captain gave fuller details to the Controller on the information passed. The Marine 216 Craft at Lyford Cay was ordered to put to sea to investigate the oil patches, aircraft set course for the position of the oil patch, aircraft passed the coast, the ASR launch from Lyford Cay was seen heading towards the oil patch, aircraft was directly over the oil patch, and a smoke float was dropped, aircraft flew to the launch and headed it towards the patch, and then dived to 100 feet over the patch, continued to search the oil patch, and the launch was observed to have reduced speed and to be proceeding to the southeast up the patch. Instructions were received to continue the search of the area, and a sailing vessel was observed 4 nm to the north of the patch, heading towards Nassau. Aircraft landed back with nothing further to report. B-25 FR-393 DF is airborne to search south of the island to a distance of 15 nm off shore for oil patch, aircraft circled to investigate, message was received from base, message was sent to base that the ASR launch was standing by and that the aircraft was over the oil patch, oil patch extended 3 miles in length in a west-to-east direction, patch appeared to extend up wind from narrow end, no sign of a dinghy, survivors or wreckage. Aircraft remained over patch for 45 minutes, a constant series of orange flashes were seen emerging from two points near the narrow point of the oil patch, flashes appeared to be on the surface and appeared frequently, but at irregular intervals, message was sent to base that the aircraft was returning. The ASR boat was still standing by. Aircraft landed back with nothing further to report whilst the aircraft was over oil patch, it was joined by two other aircraft. B-25 FV-949 FD is airborne to search for the missing aircraft on receipt of a signal from base to search in the area of the oil patch, the aircraft proceeded to the reported position and observed two other aircraft in the vicinity. The ASR launch was seen to be searching the oil patch series of yellow flashes on the surface of water appearing at the easterly end of the oil patch; these are presumed to be smoke floats, and the aircraft returned to base.