Lajes

During a night approach to Lajes Airport, Azores Islands, the four engine aircraft went out of control and crashed on an ammunition depot located near the runway threshold. Five crew members were rescued while 11 other occupants were killed.

On a night approach to Lajes AFB, the four engine aircraft crashed into the sea few km offshore. All 14 occupants were killed.

On approach to Lajes, the aircraft suffered an engine failure, stalled and crashed. All 16 crew members were killed.

After touchdown, the four engine aircraft overran and collided with a rocky wall. There were no casualties but the aircraft was written off.

The four engine aircraft left RAF Northolt at 2300LT on March 26 bound for Ottawa, Canada, with an intermediate stop in Lajes, Azores Islands. At 0716LT, the crew informed his base with an ETA in Lajes at 0810LT. This was the last radio contact. As the aircraft failed to arrive in Lajes, SAR operations were conducted but eventually suspended few days later as no trace of the aircraft was found.
Crew (45th Squadron):
W/Cdr William Hugh Biddell, pilot,
F/Lt Aubrey Norman Brodie, copilot,
F/Lt David Buchanan, navigator,
F/Lt Kenneth George Shea, navigator,
Frederick Walter Williams, radio operator,
W/O Douglas James Spence, flight engineer,
Victor Ian Claud James Bannister, steward.
Passengers:
Cdr Rupert Arnold Brabner,
Sir Peter Roy Maxwell Drummond,
Sir John Bradley Abraham,
Henry Albert Jones,
Edward Twentyman,
Eric Robinson,
S/Ldr Elisha Gaddis Plum.

Shortly after takeoff from Lajes Airbase, while in initial climb, the aircraft banked right, dove into the ground and crashed in a huge explosion. All 19 occupants were killed.

Crashed for unknown reasons upon landing at Lajes Airfield. At least one crew member, F/O Russell E. Jones, was killed.

While approaching St Mawgan (Newquay) Airport, weather conditions deteriorated and due to the failure of the radio compass, the crew was unable to land and decided to continue to Exeter. Few minutes later, following a wrong altimeter setting, the four engine aircraft hit the slope of a hill and came to rest in flames near Bodmin Moor. All nine occupants were injured while the aircraft was written off.

The aircraft made a normal takeoff from runway 23 (235 degrees) en route to the Azores, rose in a steep climb to 200 to 400 feet in a light rain, when the aircraft’s left wing began to drop as if the aircraft were going to make a diving turn. Witnesses described the dip in the wing as resembling a stall. The aircraft descended at a 30 to 40 degree angle, and disappeared from view behind the trees. It crashed left wing first and exploded immediately in a 200 to 300 foot high flare. All ten crew members were killed.
Crew:
2nd Lt Saul J. Oppenheimer, pilot,
2nd Lt Chester C. Wampler, copilot,
F/O Malcolm H. Hild, navigator,
2nd Lt David L. Harrog, bombardier,
Sgt Warren G. Faulconer,
Cpl Gordon T. Lawson Jr.,
Cpl William Ruggeri,
Cpl Keith M. Shelley,
Cpl Maurice E. Leathers,
Cpl Forrest G. Taylor.
Source & photo:
http://www.planecrashgirl.ca/2017/01/25/usaaf-b-17-44-6344/

Shortly after take off, an engine exploded. The aircraft crashed near the runway end and was destroyed. No casualties.