Natal

While overflying the Atlantic Ocean at night, on the leg from Georgetown (Ascension Island) to Natal, while on a flight from Accra to Natal, the airplane crashed in unknown circumstances into the sea around 2300LT. SAR operations were conducted for several days but eventually suspended as no trace of the aircraft nor the crew was found. Two life vests were discovered on a Brazilian beach few days later.
Crew:
Cpt Orval Eknes, pilot,
Cpt Felton B. Lancaster, copilot,
2nd Lt Joseph F. Peoples, navigator,
M/Sgt Alvin A. Young, radio operator,
M/Sgt Charles W. McKain,
Sgt James N. Clauss.
Passengers:
1st Lt John A. Byler,
1st Lt Hugh P. Minor,
Maj Arthur Mills,
Cpl Joseph P. Braniff,
Cpl Grover K. Trees,
Lt Col Russell Reed Brunner,
Col Douglas C. MacKeachie,
F/Lt H. J. Martin,
Sgt H. V. Lamb,
Sgt H. Warman,
R/O C. B. Berry,
Cdr D. H. Deburgh,
Cpt Paul Bleecker Makepeace,
P/O P. C. Zoephel,
P/O G. A. Clegg,
F/O N. P. Drury,
P/O W. T. B. Smithson,
Sgt J. L. Bell,
Cpt W. R. Nixon,
R/O O. C. McCombie.

The airplane departed Accra, GHana, on a transatlantic flight to Belém with intermediate stops in Georgetown (Ascension Island) and Natal. On the leg from Georgetown to Natal, the four engine aircraft crashed into the Atlantic ocean, some 410 km west of the Ascension Island. SAR operations were initiated but eventually suspended after few days as no trace of the aircraft nor the crew was found. The last radio contact with the crew was recorded at 0337LT. The crew was from TWA.

The airplane was on a delivery flight to the Royal Air Force contingent in Africa and was supposed to be registered FK140. On approach to Natal Airport, it suffered an engine failure and crashed. Crew fate unknown.

The crew departed NAS Norfolk, Virginia, to ferry the airplane to NAS Natal, Brasil. En route from Belém and approaching the destination, the crew encountered very bad weather conditions with heavy rain falls. In zero visibility, while flying low, the airplane impacted the water surface and crashed into the sea some 8 km off Maxaranguape, north of Natal. Seven crew members were killed and three others were rescued 18 hours later.
Crew killed were:
Ltjg C. H. Skidmore,
Ens Sherman F. Dixon,
Ens John A. Madden,
John Albert Overburg,
Julian Almer Storkson,
Rudolph F. Jordan,
Charles Andrew Hladilek.

The three engine airplane was on its way from Rio de Janeiro to Rome with intermediate stops in Natal, Sal and Seville. It departed Natal Airport at 0800LT on the leg to Sal, Cape Verde, carrying a crew of four, six passengers and the diplomatic mail. At 1125LT, while overflying the Atlantic Ocean, the crew reported technical problems with the central engine that had to be shut down. At 1146LT, the crew sent a mayday message and 10 minutes later, he informed ATC that the situation on board was difficult. Less than 10 minutes later, the aircraft went out of control and crashed into the sea. Important SAR operations were conducted on an area located some 185 km off the island of Fernando de Noronha. All operations were eventually suspended on January 22 as no trace of the aircraft nor the 10 occupants was found. The technical Director of LATI was among the occupants.
Crew:
Primo Ferioli, pilot,
Giuseppe Baratelli, pilot,
Oscar Pinelli, flight engineer,
Guido Fertonani, radio navigator.

The float plane named 'Pampero' crashed in unknown circumstances into the Atlantic Ocean few minutes prior to its arrival in Bathurst, Gambia. No trace was ever found.
Crew:
FF1 Hans Erich Lochner,
FF2 Albin Hartmann,
Bw Werner Schwanke,
Bf Gerhard Rabe,
Dr. Ernst Dierbach.

The float plane was completing a tour between South America and Italy on behalf of the Ministero dell'Aeronautica, carrying six crew members. Few minutes after takeoff from Natal, the airplane caught fire, exploded and crashed into the ocean. A crew member was rescued while five others were killed.
Crew:
Cpt Mario Stoppani,
Cpt Mario Viola, †
Cpt Molinari, †
Cpt Enrico Comani, radio operator, †
Demetrio Jaira, mechanic, †
Renato Pogliani. †

Named 'Croix du Sud', the aircraft was performing its 25th cross Atlantic flight from France to South America. The trip was officially from Marseille to Rio de Janeiro with two intermediate stops in Dakar and Natal. Less than one hour after it left Dakar, the crew confirmed by radio he was encountering a technical problem with the rear right engine and that he was returning to Dakar. Several controls were made on this engine but an oil leak was detected and the engine must be changed. As no spare engine was available, the crew made a complete thorough cleaning and took off again from Dakar at 0643LT. Four hours later, the radio navigator sent a brief message 'we shut down the rear right engine'. This was the last message received by ground. Important SAR operations were initiated but no trace of the aircraft nor the five crew members was ever found. Among the crew was the famous French aviator and pioneer Jean Mermoz.
Crew:
Jean Mermoz, pilot,
Alexandre Pichodou, copilot,
Edgar Cruveilher, radio navigator,
Jean Lavidalie, engineer,
Henri Ezan, navigator.

After takeoff from the harbor of Port of Spain, while climbing at night, the captain saw a boat and initiated a sharp turn to avoid the collision. Nevertheless, the right pontoon impacted the boat and the aircraft crashed into the bay. A crew member and two passengers drowned while all 22 other occupants were rescued. The aircraft named 'Puerto Rican Clipper' was damaged beyond repair. At the time of the accident, the visibility was limited because of the night.

The float plane named 'Ville de Buenos Aires' disappeared over the Atlantic Ocean while en route from Dakar to Natal. The crew sent a message around 1100 (Natal time) reporting he was flying in a stormy weather but that all was OK on board. This was the last message. No trace of the aircraft nor the occupant was ever found.
Crew:
Jean Ponce, pilot,
André Parayre, copilot,
Frédéric Marret, radio navigator,
Alexandre Collenot, engineer,
Jean Lhôtellier, navigator.
Passenger:
Émile Barrière, Director of Air France for South America.