Châteaudun

The crew left Châteaudun AFB bound for Wesel, towing a glider, and was taking part to the 'Operation Varsity'. While approaching Wesel, the aircraft was shot down by the German Flak and crashed in a field. Two crew members, 2nd Lt Ralph M. Becker and 1st Lt William J. Grieb, were killed while two others were injured.

The crew was returning to Châteaudun after it dropped a glider during a full-scale supply mission to the city of Bastogne. En route, the aircraft was hit by enemy fire and crashed in a field located 5 km from Bastogne. Three crew members were killed.

The crew was returning to Châteaudun after it dropped a glider during a full-scale supply mission to the city of Bastogne. En route, the aircraft was hit by enemy fire and the crew attempted an emergency landing in an open field located six km northwest of Bastogne. While the aircraft was damaged beyond repair, all four crew members were unhurt.

The crew was returning to Châteaudun after it dropped a glider during a full-scale supply mission to the city of Bastogne. En route, the aircraft was shot down by enemy fire and crashed in a field located 5,6 km southwest of Bastogne. A crew member was able to bail out while all four other occupants were killed in the crash.

The crew was returning to Châteaudun after it dropped a glider during a full-scale supply mission to the city of Bastogne. En route, the aircraft was hit by enemy fire. All five crew members were able to abandon the aircraft and to bail out. The aircraft crashed in a field located 6,5 km southwest of Bastogne and was destroyed.

The crew was returning to Châteaudun after it dropped a glider during a full-scale supply mission to the city of Bastogne. En route, the aircraft was shot down by enemy fire and crashed landed in a field located 8 km from Bastogne. A crew member was killed while all three other occupants were unhurt.

The crew was returning to Châteaudun after it dropped a glider during a full-scale supply mission to the city of Bastogne. En route, the aircraft was hit by enemy fire and several bullets hit the cockpit, the fire extinguisher and the fuselage as well. A fire erupted and a crew member was able to bail out before the aircraft crashed in a field. All three other occupants were killed.

The crew was taking part to a full-scale supply mission to the city of Bastogne, towing a glider. Its is believed the aircraft nosed down to 40 degrees after the glider was released, and maybe the right engine was on fire as well. It appears the aircraft was not shot down by enemy fire but this was not proven. Four crew members were able to bail out but one of them was killed as his parachute did not open. The fifth occupant remained in the cabin and was killed in the crash.

Shortly after take off from Châteaudun Airfield, while climbing to a height of 500 feet, the aircraft stalled and crashed in flames on a road located two miles southeast of the airbase. All ten occupants were killed. They were on their way back to England.
Crew (91st TCS):
1st Lt Warren R. Schuman, pilot,
F/O Harold L. Boggs, copilot,
Sgt Robert M. Kelley, radio operator,
T/Sgt Roy L. Harker, crew chief.
Passengers:
T/4 Alvin P. Hymel,
Cpl Frederick B. Cannon,
Pvt August C. Teresi,
Pvt Doyal Kincade,
Pvt Thomas H. Williams,
Pvt Alpha A. La Favers.
Source & photos:
http://www.airbornetroopcarrier.com/ardenneschristmasaccidents.html

En route to RAF Greenham Common, the crew encountered poor weather conditions. While cruising in low visibility at a height of 600 feet, the aircraft hit the slope of a hill and crash near Lewes, some 3 miles northeast of Brighton. Five passengers were rescued while all 25 other occupants were killed. At the time of the accident, the ceiling was low with a maximum horizontal visibility estimated at 800 meters. In addition, the wind was blowing from the south at an estimated speed of fifteen knots.