Region
Asia

Crash of a Curtiss C-46A-60-CK Commando in Zhijiang: 45 killed

Date & Time: Oct 30, 1945 at 1915 LT
Type of aircraft:
Curtiss C-46 Commando
Operator:
Registration:
43-47228
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Zhijiang – Shanghai
MSN:
299
YOM:
1945
Location:
Zhijiang
Hunan
Country:
China
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
46
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
45
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff, while in initial climb, the aircraft banked right, stalled and crashed in huge explosion. 45 occupants, among them three crew members, were killed, while five others were seriously injured. Weather was good at the time of the accident. The copilot reported prior to departure that the right engine magneto check was unsatisfactory. The captain considered the check as good and started the takeoff procedure. It appears the aircraft did not gain sufficient height after rotation as its total weight was well above the admissible MTOW. There were 46 soldiers on board, with their full package and ammunition as well.
Crew:
Cpl Wayne N. Alquist,
1st Lt Stanley Tosh 2.

Crash of a Douglas DC-3C near Suichang: 20 killed

Date & Time: Oct 20, 1945 at 0840 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas DC-3
Operator:
Registration:
104
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
City
Schedule:
Shanghai – Hong Kong
MSN:
20868
YOM:
1944
Location:
Suichang
Zhejiang
Country:
China
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
7
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
20
Circumstances:
The aircraft left Shanghai at 0720LT bound for Hong Kong. At 0840LT, the radio operator contacted Nanking ground control when communication was cut. The aircraft crashed on several houses in a village located about 20 km northeast of Suichang, in the province of Zhejiang. All 13 occupants, among them staff of the Aviation Inspection Institute, were killed. In the village, few houses were destroyed and seven people were killed while four others were injured.
Crew:
Cpt Frank L. Higgs, pilot,
Tang Ji, copilot,
Weng XiJun, radio operator,
Zhou Yuan, flight engineer,
Zhao KeFei,
Yang Qida.

Crash of a Curtiss C-46F-1-CU Commando near Nanyuan AFB: 59 killed

Date & Time: Oct 16, 1945 at 1130 LT
Type of aircraft:
Curtiss C-46 Commando
Operator:
Registration:
44-78591
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Hankou – Nanyuan
MSN:
22414
YOM:
1945
Location:
Nanyuan AFB
Beijing
Country:
China
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
55
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
59
Circumstances:
On approach to Nanyuan AFB located south of Beijing, the crew encountered poor visibility with low clouds down to 300 feet. About 25 km northwest of the airport, the aircraft hit a radio antenna (about 300 meters high) and crashed in a field. All 59 occupants were killed. It appears that the pilot were unable to locate the antenna due the low visibility, and the antenna was not mentioned on any navigation chart.

Crash of a Douglas C-47B-20-DK in China: 6 killed

Date & Time: Oct 5, 1945
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
43-49646
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Kunming – Hankou
MSN:
15462/26907
YOM:
1945
Location:
China
All China
Country:
China
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Circumstances:
Crashed somewhere in China while performing a flight from Kunming to Hankou. No trace of the aircraft nor the crew was ever found.
Crew:
S/Sgt Donald G. Bonnell,
T/Sgt Charles B. Daniel Jr.,
Cpt Ray S. Kaufmann,
Cpl Mitchell A. Papciak,
S/Sgt Robert F. Van Gordon,
Cpt Wendell W. Wyman.

Crash of a Douglas C-47B-1-DL in Shaanxi: 6 killed

Date & Time: Sep 28, 1945
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
43-16350
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Xi’an – Liangping
MSN:
20816
YOM:
1944
Location:
China
All China
Country:
China
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Circumstances:
The aircraft was on its way from Xi'an (Hsian) to Liangping, carrying a crew of four and two USAF officers. While cruising in poor weather conditions with heavy rain falls, the aircraft crashed in unknown circumstances somewhere in the Shaanxi province. All six occupants were killed.
Crew:
1st Lt John F. Pospichal, pilot,
F/O Frederick L. Patterson, copilot,
T/Sgt Jerome H. Birkenfeld, radio operator,
S/Sgt Robert S. Abeel Jr., crew chief.
Passengers:
Maj Leslie G. Shellan,
Col James C. MacMullan.

Crash of a Curtiss C-46D-5-CU Commando in Chinkiang: 20 killed

Date & Time: Sep 28, 1945
Type of aircraft:
Curtiss C-46 Commando
Operator:
Registration:
42-101183
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
MSN:
30638
YOM:
1944
Location:
Chinkiang
Jiangsu
Country:
China
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
17
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
20
Circumstances:
Crashed in unknown circumstances about 32 km southeast of Chinkiang, killing all 20 occupants.

Crash of a Noorduyn UC-64A Norseman near Chanyi: 1 killed

Date & Time: Aug 2, 1945
Type of aircraft:
Noorduyn Norseman
Operator:
Registration:
44-70484
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
MSN:
749
YOM:
1944
Location:
Chanyi
Yunnan
Country:
China
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
The single engine aircraft crashed 50 miles east of Chanyi, killing the pilot David L. Boyce, sole on board.

Crash of a Curtiss C-46A-55-CK Commando in Lüliang: 4 killed

Date & Time: Jul 6, 1945
Type of aircraft:
Curtiss C-46 Commando
Operator:
Registration:
43-47126
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
197
YOM:
1945
Location:
Lüliang
Shanxi
Country:
China
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff, while in initial climb, one or both engine lost power. The aircraft hit the slope of a hill located few km from the airport. All four crew members were killed.
Crew:
2nd Lt Edward B. Wimmer 3.
Probable cause:
Loss of engine power.

Crash of a Douglas C-54B-1-DC Skymaster near Kunming: 5 killed

Date & Time: Jul 4, 1945
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-54 Skymaster
Operator:
Registration:
42-72370
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
MSN:
10475
YOM:
1944
Location:
Kunming
Yunnan
Country:
China
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
Crashed in unknown circumstances in the region of Kunming, killing all five crew members.
Crew:
Cpt Edwin N. Brissey,
F/O Hugh C. Ferris,
Cpt Lewis H. Magin Jr.,
S/Sgt Elmer Sharpe,
S/Sgt James W. Stooksbury .
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