Crash of a Junkers F.24kay in Glindow: 2 killed

Date & Time: Aug 24, 1939
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
D-ULIS
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
MSN:
850
YOM:
1926
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
At the origin, the aircraft was built with three engines but several modifications have been made and the aircraft was converted to a Junkers F.24kay. Operated by Deutsche Lufthansa, it was named 'Düsseldorf'. The crew was engaged in a series of tests when the engine caught fire while cruising at an altitude of some 1,500 metres. The crew reduced his altitude and attempted an emergency landing when the aircraft crashed in a field located near Glindow, bursting into flames. The aircraft was destroyed and both crew members were killed. With the same construction number, this aircraft already crashed on April 18, 1931 near Gex, France. At this time, the aircraft registered D-896 was a Junkers G.24ko version.
Probable cause:
Engine fire in flight.

Crash of a Junkers JU.86z-2 in Konstanz: 6 killed

Date & Time: Jul 20, 1939 at 1850 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
HB-IXA
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Vienna – Zurich
MSN:
951
YOM:
1939
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
4
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Circumstances:
The twin engine airplane departed Vienna-Schwechat Airport on a regular schedule service to Zurich (Dübendorf), carrying four passengers and two crew members. While approaching Konstanz, the left engine failed. The crew reduced his altitude in an attempt to make an emergency landing. During the last turn completed at a height of some 150 feet, the aircraft banked left, stalled and crashed in an open field. The airplane was destroyed and all six occupants were killed.
Crew:
Walter Ackermann, pilot,
Anton Mannhart, radio navigator.
Probable cause:
Engine failure. The accident apparently resulted from a loss of flying speed during a one-engine operation, and as HB-IXA was making a left turn with its undercarriage extended. A recovery was also impossible due to the low distance separating the aircraft from the ground.

Crash of a Junkers W.34 in Bad Zwischenahn: 3 killed

Date & Time: Jun 20, 1939
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
WL-OTAC
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
While performing an exercice, the airplane entered an uncontrolled descent and crashed, bursting into flames. All three crew members were killed.
Crew:
FF Näscher,
Bf Adolf Kaufmann,
Bm Wilhelm.

Crash of a Heinkel He.111P in Gelnhausen: 4 killed

Date & Time: Jun 7, 1939 at 1700 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
56+G24
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
The twin engine airplane departed Gelnhausen Airfield on a local training flight, carrying three crew members and an important load of bombs. Shortly after takeoff, while in initial climb, one of the engine failed. The airplane stalled and crashed in a huge explosion onto a house located Seestrasse 11, about 1,300 metres east of the airport. All three crew members and one people on the ground were killed, and 105 other people were injured.
Probable cause:
Engine failure shortly after takeoff.

Crash of a Junkers JU.52/3m in Bollstadt: 5 killed

Date & Time: Apr 29, 1939
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
While flying in limited visibility due to fog, the three engine airplane collided with a wooden tower used for observation, stalled and crashed in the forest of Rauhe Wanne, near Bollstadt. The radio operator and the pilot were seriously injured while five other occupants were killed.
Those killed were:
Franz Pallmann,
Hans Dörzbacher,
Mr. Benz,
Mr. Mäurer,
Mr. Schäfer.

Crash of a Junkers JU.52/3mge in Ohlau

Date & Time: Apr 17, 1939
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
D-ADUO
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Berlin - Berlin
MSN:
304
YOM:
1935
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The crew departed Berlin-Staaken on a test flight. En route, an error of manipulation forced the crew to attempt an emergency landing when the aircraft crashed in a field in Ohlau. All four occupants were injured and the aircraft was destroyed.
Crew:
Uffz Kalder, pilot, +3.

Crash of a Dornier Do.18D2 in Dithmarschen: 2 killed

Date & Time: Feb 17, 1939 at 1045 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
60+E52
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
719
YOM:
1939
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
The airplane was engaged in a long distance test flight with four crew members on board. While cruising at low height and completing a turn to the left, the airplane impacted the ground and crashed in a field located south of Dithmarschen (Burg). Two crew members were killed and two others were injured.
Crew:
Lt S. Seiler, †
Uffz Karl-Heinz Doss, †
Uffz Pörschman,
Uffz Knauf.
Probable cause:
Engine failure suspected.

Crash of a Potez 62.0 in Knapsack: 6 killed

Date & Time: Jan 27, 1939 at 1213 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
F-ANPJ
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Paris – Cologne – Berlin
MSN:
3926/4
YOM:
1935
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Circumstances:
The crew was performing a flight from Paris to Berlin with an intermediate stop in Cologne. While on approach to Cologne-Butzweilerhof Airport, the crew encountered poor visibility. Some 7 km south of the airfield, the aircraft named 'Courlis' collided with a chimney and crashed in Knapsack, bursting into flames. All six occupants were killed.
Crew:
André Tellet-Larente, pilot,
Jean-Pierre Pain, copilot,
René Harrault, radio navigator,
Guy Baranton, engineer.
Passengers:
Raoul Civet, journalist,
Mr. Buchalowski.

Crash of a Heinkel He.111 near Rauschenberg: 3 killed

Date & Time: Jan 13, 1939 at 1400 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
42+A20
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Giessen – Fritzlar
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
En route from Giessen to Fritzlar, the crew encountered poor weather conditions with heavy snow falls when the twin engine aircraft crashed in the Burgholzer forest located near the village of Rauschenberg. All three crewmen were killed.