Calcutta-Dum Dum

Site:

Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)

Schedule:

Blackbushe – Karachi – New Delhi – Calcutta – Singapore

MSN:

81/1

YOM:

1948

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The Hermes aircraft was on a non-scheduled passenger flight from Blackbushe Airport, England to Singapore with stops at Karachi, Delhi and Calcutta. While making a radar assisted approach to run way 01R at Dum Dum Airport, Calcutta, it collided (at 0000 hour GMT) with a Dakota aircraft which was lined up on runway 01L. The Dakota was destroyed and four members of the crew, the only occupants on board, were fatally injured. The Hermes sustained substantial damage but was not repaired. Two passengers were injured.

Probable cause:

Final Report:

Crash of a Douglas C-47-DL near Jorhat: 3 killed

Date & Time: Jan 6, 1945

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

41-7797

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Cargo

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

Schedule:

Calcutta – Chabua

MSN:

4289

YOM:

1942

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The aircraft crashed for unknown reason some 50 km south of Jorhat, killing all three crew members that were performing a cargo flight from Calcutta-Dum Dum Airport to Chabua AFB.
Crew:
F/O Donald W. Mangino,
2nd Lt Harrison McDonald Jr.,
1st Lt Paul L. Updyke.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim IV in Calcutta: 2 killed

Date & Time: Jul 24, 1942 at 0625 LT

Type of aircraft:

Bristol 142 Blenheim

Operator:

Registration:

Z7647

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Site:

Handley Page H.P.52 Hampden

Schedule:

Calcutta - Calcutta

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Shortly after liftoff from Calcutta-Dum Dum, the airplane lost height and crashed. The pilot and the observer were killed and three other occupants were injured. The airplane was destroyed.
Crew:
W/Cdr Charles Brian Berry Wallis, pilot, †
P/O Donald Page, observer. †
Passengers:
Lt A. Dorner, pilot,
Sgt H. Whitehead, observer,
Sgt Barnard Thomas McDade.

Probable cause:

The exact cause of the accident remains unclear. A probable engine failure may cause the accident as well as a premature raise of the undercarriage.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim IV in Calcutta: 1 killed

Date & Time: May 31, 1942

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

V6029

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Bombing

Survivors:

Site:

Handley Page H.P.52 Hampden

Schedule:

Asansol - Calcutta

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The airplane departed Asansol Airbase on an operational sortie then continued to Calcutta-Dum Dum Airport. After landing, the airplane went out of control and crashed with a parked Wellington registered BB510. The airplane caught fire and exploded. All three crew members were injured, the pilot died five days later from injuries sustained.
Crew:
Lt John Ferguson McGlashan, pilot, †
Sgt Harry Charnley,
Sgt P. Richardson.

Crash of a Handley Page H.P.52 Hampden IV in Calcutta

Date & Time: May 22, 1942

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

Z9808

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Bombing

Survivors:

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Schedule:

Asansol - Asansol

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The airplane departed Asansol Airfield on an operation to Akyab. It was badly shot about in flight and the crew decided to divert to Calcutta-Dum Dum Airport for an emergency landing. Due to hydraulic failure, the crew was unable to lower the undercarriage so the airplane belly landed and was damaged beyond repair. All three crew members escaped unhurt.
Crew:
W/O William Martin Huggard, pilot,
Sgt J. Howitt, observer,
F/Sgt J. McLuckie, wireless operator and air gunner.

Probable cause:

Hydraulic failure after being badly shot about by enemy fire.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim I into the Gulf of Bengal: 3 killed

Date & Time: Aug 31, 1940

Type of aircraft:

Bristol 142 Blenheim

Operator:

Registration:

L1545

Flight Phase:

Survey / Patrol / Reconnaissance

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Schedule:

Calcutta - Calcutta

MSN:

8828

YOM:

1939

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The airplane departed Calcutta-Dum Dum Airport on a maritime patrol flight. While cruising at night, it crashed in unknown circumstances into the Gulf of Bengal. No trace of the aircraft nor the crew was found.
Crew:
Sgt Reginald John Tompkins, pilot,
Sgt Richard Heseltine, observer,
AC1 William Arthur Ayres, wireless operator and air gunner.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.84 Dragon I near Lahore: 2 killed

Date & Time: Aug 26, 1939

Type of aircraft:

De Havilland DH.84 Dragon

Operator:

Registration:

VT-AEL

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Postal (mail)

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

Schedule:

Calcutta – Lahore

MSN:

6048

YOM:

1933

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While performing a mail flight from Calcutta-Dum Dum Airport, the aircraft crashed in unknown circumstances some 60 km from Lahore. The passenger and the pilot were killed.

Crash of a Potez 62.1 in Datia: 7 killed

Date & Time: Mar 7, 1938

Type of aircraft:

Potez 62 (62.0 & 62.1)

Operator:

Registration:

F-ANQR

Flight Phase: