India | Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives

While on a supply mission, the aircraft was lost without trace in the State of Assam. Debris were found by walkers in 2011 in the Karbi Anglong mountain range.
Crew:
1st Lt William M. Duffey,
Sgt Thomas J. French,
2nd Lt Kenneth E. Thomson.

Crash of a Curtiss C-46A-45-CU Commando near Tezpur: 4 killed

Date & Time: Jul 8, 1945

Type of aircraft:

Curtiss C-46 Commando

Operator:

Registration:

42-96739

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Supply

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

MSN:

30401

YOM:

1944

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Circumstances:

Few minutes after takeoff from Tezpur Airport, the twin engine aircraft crashed in a field located 16 km northeast of the airport. All five crew members were killed.
Crew:
2nd Lt Edmond F. Bony
F/O James H. German,
1st Lt Harry Simon,
2nd Lt Chester Titus Warner.

Crash of a Curtiss C-46D-5-CU Commando in Barrackpore

Date & Time: Jun 30, 1945

Type of aircraft:

Curtiss C-46 Commando

Operator:

Registration:

42-101050

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Supply

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

MSN:

30505

YOM:

1944

Location:

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Circumstances:

Crashed on landing for unknown reason. There were no casualties.

Crash of a Douglas DC-3 Dakota IV in Patna: 6 killed

Date & Time: Jun 13, 1945

Type of aircraft:

Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)

Operator:

Registration:

KN468

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

MSN:

16194/32942

YOM:

1945

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Circumstances:

Enroute, a fire broke out in the aircraft while the left engine failed. The captain attempted to make an emergency landing when the aircraft went out of control and crashed near the Dinawa Station in Patna. A crew member was seriously injured while six other occupants were killed.
Crew:
F/O B. D. Bancroft 4.

Crash of a Noorduyn UC-64A Norseman in Siliguri: 1 killed

Date & Time: Jun 10, 1945

Type of aircraft:

Noorduyn Norseman

Operator:

Registration:

44-70301

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

MSN:

566

YOM:

1944

Location:

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Circumstances:

Crashed on landing, killing the pilot, sole occupant.

Crash of a Douglas DC-3 Dakota IV in Karin: 5 killed

Date & Time: Jun 2, 1945 at 0700 LT

Type of aircraft:

Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)

Operator:

Registration:

KN283

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

MSN:

15776/27221

YOM:

1945

Location:

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Region:

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Circumstances:

Enroute, the aircraft flew into cumulus and encountered severe turbulence. It went out of control, disintegrated in the air and crashed in a field, killing all five crew members.
Crew:
F/Sgt Ronald Percival Elston 4.

Probable cause:

It appears that turbulence in clouds were beyond the design limit of the aircraft that disintegrated in flight.

Crash of a Consolidated C-8-CF Liberator Express in Golaghat: 4 killed

Date & Time: May 5, 1945

Type of aircraft:

Consolidated C-87 Liberator Express

Operator:

Registration:

44-39265

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

MSN:

Location:

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Crashed in unknown circumstances near Golaghat, killing all four crew members.
Crew:
Pvt Michael J. Bak,
1st Lt Richard J. Beckett,
1st Lt Richard H. Beckwith,
Pfc Willie C. Weaver Jr.

Crash of a Douglas C-47B-25-DK near Ledo: 3 killed

Date & Time: Apr 19, 1945

Type of aircraft:

Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)

Operator:

Registration:

42-24366

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Survey / Patrol / Reconnaissance

Survivors:

Site:

Mountains

Schedule:

Dibrugarh - Dibrugarh

MSN:

10228

YOM:

1943

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The crew left Dibrugarh-Mohanbari Airbase for a search mission. While flying in a mountainous area near Ledo, the aircraft hits trees and crashed in flames in a wooded area. All three crew members were killed.
Crew:
Cpt Walter J. Clemans,
T/Sgt Louis Levy,
1st Lt Michael F. Marcucellio.

Crash of a Curtiss C-46A-55-CK near Ledo

Date & Time: Apr 8, 1945

Type of aircraft:

Curtiss C-46 Commando

Operator:

Registration:

43-47115

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

MSN:

186

YOM:

1944

Location:

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Region:

Crew on board:

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Circumstances:

Enroute, an unknown technical failure forced the crew to abandon the aircraft. After both crew members bailed out, the aircraft dove into the ground and crashed near Ledo. The aircraft was destroyed while both occupants were unhurt.

Probable cause:

Unknown technical failure.

Crash of a Curtiss C-46A-55-CK near Chabua AFB

Date & Time: Apr 3, 1945

Type of aircraft:

Curtiss C-46 Commando

Operator:

Registration:

43-47165

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

MSN:

236

YOM:

1945

Location:

Chabua AFB (Dibrugarh)

Assam

Country:

India

Region:

Asia

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Shortly after takeoff, while climbing, a technical failure occurred on one engine. The crew decided to bail out and abandoned the aircraft that crashed 24 km southeast of Chabua AFB. While the aircraft was destroyed, both pilots were uninjured.

Probable cause:

Engine failure.