Crash of a Curtiss C-46D-5-CU Commando in Bergstrom AFB: 4 killed

Date & Time: Apr 18, 1945 at 2325 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
44-77432
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Bergstrom - Bergstrom
MSN:
32828
YOM:
1944
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
The C-46 took off from Bergstrom Field on a glider-tow mission. It was towing a Waco CG-4A glider on takeoff from runway 17L when the nr.1 engine began cutting out. The instructor reduced power a little, which seemed to help. The crew were nearing the point were they would release the glider when the nr.2 engine began to loose power. They radioed Bergstrom Field that they would be returning with one engine out after glider release. The controller at Bergstrom Field saw the engine was on fire and instructed the crew to release the glider immediately. The glider pilot had also noted the fire and released the glider himself. The C-46 continued for an emergency landing. The crew were not able to put out the fire. The instructor told the other crew members to bail out from low altitude (750 feet). One crew member made it out but his parachute failed to deploy in time. The airplane struck terrain and crashed in flames following separation of the nr.2 engine.
Crew:
2nd Lt Charles Bailey,
Pfc Gerald E. Borchard,
Pvt Robert Borge,
Cpl Arthur H. Carroll Jr.
Source: ASN
Probable cause:
Engine fire.

Crash of a Curtiss C-46D-10-CU Commando near Burnet: 4 killed

Date & Time: Apr 18, 1945 at 2205 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
44-77721
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Bergstrom - Bergstrom
MSN:
33117
YOM:
1945
Location:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
The crew left Bergstrom AFB at 2031LT for a local night training mission. Enroute, the twin engine aircraft crashed on hilly terrain at an altitude of 1,500 feet, some 8 miles northwest of Burnet. The wreckage was found four days later and all four crew members were killed.
Crew:
2nd Lt Ross A. Capparelli,
2nd Lt Herbert D. Fleming,
2nd Lt Willard E. Jacobson,
T/Sgt Francis J. Pombert.

Crash of a Douglas C-47-DL near Austin: 2 killed

Date & Time: Apr 16, 1944 at 1440 LT
Operator:
Registration:
41-18621
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Bergstrom - Bergstrom
MSN:
4782
YOM:
1942
Location:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
The crew was engaged in a training flight and left Austin-Bergstrom AFB in the early afternoon. While cruising some 56 km east of the airbase, the crew reduced his altitude to 300 feet and was flying over small hills when the aircraft banked to the left and reached an angle of some 50 to 60 degrees. The left wing hit trees and the aircraft crashed inverted in a wooded area. Both pilots were killed.
Crew:
Verle A. Richards 1.

Crash of a Douglas C-49F-DO near Del Valle AFB: 5 killed

Date & Time: Feb 28, 1943
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
42-56628
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Del Valle - Del Valle
MSN:
2255
YOM:
1940
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
Crashed in unknown circumstances ten km northeast of Del Valle AFB, near Austin. All five crew members were killed. Del Valle AFB was renamed Bergström AFB one month later.

Crash of a Douglas C-49G-DO near Austin-del Valle AFB

Date & Time: Jan 21, 1943
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
42-56614
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Austin-del Valle - Austin-del Valle
MSN:
1948
YOM:
1937
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
En route, the crew encountered technical problems with one or more engine and attempted to make an emergency landing 31 miles northwest of Austin-del Valle AFB. The aircraft was damaged beyond repair but there were no casualties. Austin-del Valle AFB was renamed Bergström AFB two months later.
Probable cause:
Engine problems.