Maxton AFB

The crew left Maxton AAF to Lubbock, Texas, with an intermediate stop in Birmingham, towing to Waco CG-4A gliders. On approach to Birmingham, the crew was vectored to the NE-SW runway but for unknown reason, the captain decided to land on the north-south runway. After both gliders landed without problems, the crew of the C-47 started to take off when shortly after rotation, the aircraft stalled and crashed in flames. All four occupants were killed.
Crew:
T/Sgt E. M. Bechtold,
1st Lt Fred T. Heise,
2nd Lt John N. Ricker,
Avc Lawrence W. Schloss.

Aircraft was engaged in a local training mission and was towing two gliders. Shortly after takeoff from runway 05, while climbing, the right engine failed. Right away, the crew dropped both gliders to return to the airport. But the Skytrooper stalled and crashed in a wooded area near the airport. Two crew were injured while the third occupant was killed.

Following an uneventful flight from Maxton AFB, crew started the approach to Richmond-Byrd Field when he was informed that this airport was closed to traffic due to poor weather conditions. In accordance with ATC, crew diverted to Richmond-Central Airport and completed the approach and the landing procedure safely. After landing, aircraft vacated the runway via a taxiway and for unknown reasons, it entered the adjacent grass and got stuck. Pilot increased engine power too much, allowing the tail to rise and then the nose to plunge into the earth. Both engines propeller blades struck the ground and some of them were sheared off, hitting the cockpit and killing the captain. All three other occupants were uninjured while the aircraft was considered as damaged beyond repair.

The crew was performing a flight from Laurinburg-Maxton AFB to Godman AFB located near Louisville, Kentucky. Shortly after take off, while climbing at a height of 300 feet, the pilot saw in front of him another Douglas C-53 towing a glider. To avoid any collision, the captain turn sharply to the left but the evasive action was too strong, so the aircraft entered a spin and crashed in a huge explosion. All 25 occupants were killed.
Crew:
Cpt Paul Wideman Arthaud,
Pvt Joseph John Bacon,
Pfc Fred Balkin,
Tec Edith M. Ballenger,
2nd Lt William Howard Brownholtz,
Cpt Roland B. Cooper,
Pfc Howard W. DeTers,
Cpl Betty Walker Driskill,
F/O Charles Gorman Dunckle,
Sgt Leonard James Gougeon,
1st Lt John L. Jones,
1st Lt John Lester Kennedy,
S/Sgt F. R. McIntyre,
Pvt Alvin Leroy Montgomery,
2nd Lt Frank William Nellis,
Cpl Albert Edward Nies,
2nd Lt John F. Reynolds,
Cpt William Holan Roberts,
Cpl Ray O. Roby,
1st Lt Ralph Gerald Roiland,
Pfc Melvin Schoenberg,
2nd Lt J. E. Walsh,
2nd Lt Martha Rosella Webb,
Sgt George L. West,
2nd Lt Robert Gifford White.

On final approach by night and in poor weather conditions, while at a height of 200 feet, the aircraft nosed down and crashed in a field located 4 miles short of runway. All 20 occupants were killed, among them 16 glider pilots.

During the take off run, the aircraft swerved on runway, veered off and collided with a parked C-47 registered 41-18440. There were no casualties but both aircraft were written off.