Tacloban

The aircraft left Pitu Airport on Morotai Island in the early morning bound for Tacloban, Philippines. It failed to arrive and SAR operations were conducted. Unfortunately, no trace of the aircraft nor the crew was ever found. At the time of the accident, the weather conditions were considered as marginal.
Crew:
Lt Donald Leslie McInteer, pilot,
Cpt Richard A. Kirkland, copilot,
James Thompson Jr.,
Barton J. Rassmussen,
Edmund Z. Szczygiel.
Passengers:
Lt Donald V. Johnson,
Lt Louis C. Skinner,
Lt G. M. L. Costner,
Alsie A. Porterfield,
Alpha Scott,
Charles W. Kallal,
Alfred A. France,
Tony D. Drakos,
Ben Williams,
Bennice Hathaway,
Sgt A. B. Bosely,
Pvt H. L. Straub.

While descending to Biak Island while on a flight from Tacloban, the aircraft crashed in unknown circumstances into the sea, killing all 20 occupants.
Crew:
Pfc Conrad W. Andrews,
Sgt Oscar Arnold,
S/Sgt Howard E. Burlew Sr.,
2nd Lt Robert C. Greenmeyer,
Pfc Albert P. Herbst,
Cpt Edward D. Hirst,
S/Sgt Kendric L. Johnson,
2nd Lt Clarence M. Lindquist,
T/Sgt John F. Lisowski,
1st Lt Robert Marpet,
1st Lt Harold R. McMillan,
S/Sgt John A. Moore,
S/Sgt Henry C. Ousley Jr.,
1st Lt Horace V. Petty,
Cpl George R. Powell,
Pfc Sylvester J. Raba,
S/Sgt Bert J. Shelata Jr.,
Sgt John F. Stucky,
T/Sgt George G. Sullivan,
T/Sgt Judd N. Wommack.

The aircraft departed Leyte Island at 0700LT on a flight to Clark Field. Near Manila Bay, the flight ran into rough weather as it flew through clouds for about 30 minutes. Still over water the crew became lost. The radio operated radioed several messages but did receive any response. Meanwhile, the cabin was prepared for a ditching. At 1210LT the crew spotted two small islands and prepared to land on an airstrip there. A USAAF P-51 Mustang pilot was circling in the area because another P-51 had gone down in the water near the islands and the pilot knew the island was occupied by Japanese forces. He decided to prevent the C-47 to land on the occupied island and opened fire, hitting the right hand engine of the C-47. The P-51 returned and fired at the left hand engine. The airplane was flying low, stalled and hit the water about 300 yards from the shore. All aboard got out into three rafts. They paddled out to sea to avoid machine gun and rifle fire from the shore. They were joined by the P-51 pilot that had been shot down earlier. The next morning all were rescued by a Catalina.
Source:
http://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=19450210-3

The airplane departed Tacloban on a flight to the Admiralty Islands, PNG, performing an air evacuation on behalf of the Navy Air Transportation Service. There were several officers and wounded soldiers on board. Shortly after takeoff, while climbing, the aircraft collided with a USAAF Stinson L-5 Sentinel registered 42-99165. The twin engine aircraft crashed at the end of the runway and was destroyed. All 21 occupants perished. The fate of the second aircraft and its occupant(s) remains unknown.
Crew (13th Squadron):
Lt Bridwell James McKnight, pilot,
Lt Donald W. Huegel, copilot,
Lt George Arnold Danner, navigator,
James R. Reynolds, orderly
Hugh G. Ballantyne, radio operator.
Passengers:
Lt Col C. H. Mattson,
Lt Col G. W. Pease,
Lt E. J. Detmer,
Lt Winfield V. Scott Jr.,
Ens Maurice Lawrence Naylon Jr.,
Ens N. J. Roccaforte,
G. M. Pangalos,
F. Hold,
A. D. Nonsley,
O. F. Blizzard,
J. B. Hayden,
H. E. Dickinson,
J. C. Raines,
W. E. Seeling,
S. D. Stroul,
M. M. King.

Disappeared en route from Tacloban to Angaur Airfield, in Palau. No trace of the aircraft nor the 21 occupants was ever found.