Region
Europe

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-80-DL in Nieheim: 5 killed

Date & Time: Apr 13, 1945
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
43-15086
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Supply
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Dreux – Hildesheim
MSN:
19552
YOM:
1944
Location:
Nieheim
North Rhine-Westphalia
Country:
Germany
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
The crew was taking part to a supply mission from Dreux-Vernouillet to the Hildesheim Advanced Landing Ground located in Lower Saxony. A formation of 14 C-47 was engaged in this mission and all crew decided to return to the base, except 43-15086, due to the deterioration of the weather conditions. The aircraft crashed in unknown circumstances in a field, killing all 5 crew members.
Crew:
1st Lt Randolph D. Burchfiel,
T/Sgt Ernest A. Burke,
1st Lt Christine A. Gasvoda,
F/O John E. Henwood,
1st Lt Homer T. Hornberger.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-10-DK in Holzminden: 5 killed

Date & Time: Apr 13, 1945
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
42-92719
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Supply
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
MSN:
12551
YOM:
1944
Location:
Holzminden
Lower Saxony
Country:
Germany
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
While flying in bad weather conditions, the aircraft went out of control and crashed in a prairie, killing all five crew members.
Crew:
2nd Lt Burton P. R. Culp,
T/Sgt George T. Kelley,
Tec Lloyd F. Rutan,
2nd Lt Donald L. Walch,
S/Sgt Norman R. Wexelman.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-75-DL in Wenigenlupnitz ALG: 5 killed

Date & Time: Apr 10, 1945 at 1225 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
42-101020
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Dreux - Wenigenlupnitz
MSN:
19483
YOM:
1944
Location:
Wenigenlupnitz ALG
Thuringia
Country:
Germany
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
On approach to Wenigenlupnitz Advanced Landing Ground, control personal on ground shot a red flare. The pilot abandoned the approach and started a go around. Few seconds later, the aircraft was shot down by the pilot of a German fighter and crashed in flames in a field. All five crew members were killed.
Crew:
Cpl Michael P. Barbero,
1st Lt Robert I. Franzen,
2nd Lt Robert H. Maneman,
Cpt Merril A. Meaker,
S/Sgt C. A. Smith.
Probable cause:
Shot down by the pilot of a German fighter.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-30-DL in Germany: 4 killed

Date & Time: Apr 9, 1945
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
42-23604
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Supply
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
MSN:
9466
YOM:
1943
Location:
Germany
All Germany
Country:
Germany
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
Lost without trace in Germany during WWII. All four crew members were considered as deceased.
Crew (86th Air Transport Squadron):
T/Sgt Joseph A. Filkins Jr.,
T/Sgt John T. Huddy,
1st Lt John D. Lampman Jr.,
1st Lt Paul E. Mellers.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-1-DK in Hesse: 5 killed

Date & Time: Apr 6, 1945
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
42-92422
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Supply
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
MSN:
12221
YOM:
1944
Location:
Hesse
Hesse
Country:
Germany
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
Crashed in unknown circumstances somewhere in the Hesse lander. All five crew members were killed.
Crew:
2nd Lt Alfred W. Barter,
Cpl Alvin D. Davis,
S/Sgt John R. Goodling,
1st Lt Henry E. Laszkiewicz,
Cpt Roy A. Williams.

Crash of a Consolidated B-24M-10-FO Liberator near Ludwigslust: 9 killed

Date & Time: Apr 4, 1945
Type of aircraft:
Consolidated B-24 Liberator
Operator:
Registration:
44-50838
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Bombing
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
MSN:
5693
YOM:
1944
Location:
Ludwigslust
Mecklenburg-Vorpommern
Country:
Germany
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
10
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
9
Circumstances:
While on a bombing mission over Germany, the airplane was shot down by a Me.242, broke in two and crashed near Ludwigslust. Nine crew members were killed and a tenth survived and became PoW.
Probable cause:
Shot down by a German fighter.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-80-DL in Ettinghausen: 6 killed

Date & Time: Apr 3, 1945
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
43-15179
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Supply
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Cottesmore - Cottesmore
MSN:
19645
YOM:
1944
Location:
Ettinghausen
Rhineland-Palatinate
Country:
Germany
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
4
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Circumstances:
While on a supply mission to Germany, the aircraft was shot down by the pilot of a German fighter and crashed in a field, killing all six occupants.
Crew:
Col Harvey Arthur Berger,
S/Sgt Joseph G. Maltais.
Probable cause:
Shot down by a German fighter.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-25-DK in Wesel: 5 killed

Date & Time: Mar 24, 1945 at 0957 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
42-93798
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Chipping Ongar - Chipping Ongar
MSN:
13750
YOM:
1944
Location:
Wesel
North Rhine-Westphalia
Country:
Germany
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
The crew left RAF Chipping Ongar, Essex, taking part to the 'Operation Varsity'. While approaching Wesel, the aircraft was shot down by the German Flak and crashed in a field. All five crew members were killed.
Crew:
Maj Thomas C. Cargill,
2nd Lt John B. Rothrock,
T/Sgt Olen E. St John,
S/Sgt Earl E. Straley,
Cpt George A. Tovey.
Probable cause:
Shot down by the German Flak.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-40-DL in Wesel: 5 killed

Date & Time: Mar 24, 1945
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
42-24038
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
MSN:
9900
YOM:
1943
Location:
Wesel
North Rhine-Westphalia
Country:
Germany
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
The crew was taking part to the 'Operation Varsity'. While approaching Wesel, the aircraft was shot down by the German Flak and crashed in a field, killing all five crew members.
Crew:
S/Sgt Raymond W. Coburn Jr.,
Sgt George W. Myers,
1st Lt John W. Nelson,
1st Lt Emanuel Schapiro,
1st Lt Mark M. Thall.
Probable cause:
Shot down by the German Flak.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-90-DL in Wesel: 4 killed

Date & Time: Mar 24, 1945
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
43-15659
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
MSN:
20125
YOM:
1944
Location:
Wesel
North Rhine-Westphalia
Country:
Germany
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
The crew was taking part to the 'Operation Varsity'. While approaching Wesel, the aircraft was shot down by the German Flak and crashed in a field, killing all four crew members.
Crew:
Cpt James Bramlette Jr.,
2nd Lt Alton A. Manning Jr.,
S/Sgt Bertil E. F. Waller,
1st Lt Rudolph J. Zelek.
Probable cause:
Shot down by the German Flak.
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