Crash of an Avro 683 Lancaster I: 26 killed

Date & Time: Sep 29, 1945
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
PD343
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Location:
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
19
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
26
Circumstances:
The crew was performing a flight from Italy to the UK, repatriating wounded soldiers and 7 crew members from the 550th Squadron. As the aircraft failed to arrive in England, SAR operations were conducted but eventually suspended few days later as no trace of the aircraft nor the 26 occupants was found. It is believed the aircraft may have crash in the Italian Alp mountains.

Crash of a Douglas R4D-5 in Venice

Date & Time: May 30, 1945
Operator:
Registration:
17240
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
13993/25438
YOM:
1944
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crash landed in Venice-Lido Airfield. No casualties.

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

Date & Time: May 3, 1945
Operator:
Registration:
43-15117
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Pisa – Villacoublay
MSN:
19583
YOM:
1944
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
Crashed in unknown circumstances in Quara, killing all five crew members.
Crew:
Cpl Sterling Harrelson,
S/Sgt Henry Nicholson Jr.,
2nd Lt Robert L. Polk Jr.,
T/Sgt William A. Rice,
1st Lt James A. Riley.

Crash of a Consolidated B-24M Liberator at San Giovanni AFB: 6 killed

Date & Time: Apr 12, 1945
Operator:
Registration:
44-50468
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
5323
YOM:
1944
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
10
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Circumstances:
During the takeoff roll, the airplane failed to gain sufficient height, overran and hit an embankment, nosed down and crashed about 150 metres past the runway end, coming to rest on its nose. Six crew members were killed and four others were injured.
Crew (740th Bombardment Squadron, 455th Bombardment Group):
Lt James T. Harris, pilot, †
2nd Lt Wilbur D. Blackwell, copilot, †
2nd Lt Samuel H. Slawett, navigator, †
F/O Charles R. Shelton, bomber, †
Cpl Delker L. Krumey, flight engineer and air gunner, †
Cpl William C. Edghill, radio operator, †
Cpl Peter W. Armato,
Cpl Donald F. Behkamp,
Cpl Robert Smith,
Cpl Thomas C. Roberts.
Probable cause:
It is believed that the accident was the consequence of a crew error after the pilot-in-command applied brakes before the aircraft was airborne.

Crash of a Douglas C-47B-20-DK in Pomigliano AFB: 2 killed

Date & Time: Mar 29, 1945
Operator:
Registration:
43-49912
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
MSN:
27173/15728
YOM:
1945
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
Crashed on takeoff for unknown reason, killing both pilots.
Crew:
Cpl Samuel R. Johnston,
F/O Arvid M. Weidman.

Crash of a Douglas DC-3 Dakota III in Bari

Date & Time: Mar 19, 1945
Operator:
Registration:
KG727
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
13728
YOM:
1944
Location:
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
A premature retraction of the landing gear during the takeoff roll caused the aircraft to crash on the runway. There were no casualties but the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
Premature retraction of the landing gear during takeoff.

Crash of a Consolidated B-24L-5-FO Liberator near Spinazzola: 7 killed

Date & Time: Mar 8, 1945 at 1120 LT
Operator:
Registration:
44-49278
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
4133
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
10
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
7
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from Venosa AAF, while climbing, a life raft deployed accidentally in the cabin, went through the left door intentionally let opened and hit the port stabilizer. The captain ordered his crew to bail out and three of them were able to abandon the aircraft before it crashed in a field located 13 km northeast of Spinazzola, about 25 km east of Venosa. The aircraft was destroyed by impact forces and seven other crew members were killed.
Crew:
1st Lt Erwin W. Bussick, navigator, †
T/Sgt Richard H. Callaham Jr., flight engineer, †
1st Lt William Craven Jr., †
Maj Philip Edward Cummings, pilot, †
S/Sgt Aloysius F. Gasiorek, †
1st Lt Glenn Wilson Jones, copilot, †
S/Sgt Mike J. Kovich, air gunner, †
T/Sgt George Kavanaugh, radio operator,
S/Sgt Richard Peath Ball, air gunner,
Lt Argie Simmons, bombardier
Probable cause:
Inadvertent deployment of a life raft in the cabin during initial climb.

Crash of a Consolidated B-24J-10-FO Liberator off Grado: 11 killed

Date & Time: Feb 28, 1945
Operator:
Registration:
42-51642
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
MSN:
3173
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
11
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
11
Circumstances:
The crew was engaged in a mission consisting to bomb bridges over the Isarco - Albes railroad, in the region of Bolzano. In flight, the aircraft was hit by the German Flak and the captain left the combat area and elected to fly to Trieste to ditch the aircraft. Eventually, the four engine aircraft went out of control and crashed into the Adriatic Sea, off Grado. All 11 crew members were killed.
Crew:
1st Lt Howard Hanson, pilot,
S/Sgt Albert L. Acampora,
2nd Lt Edward H. Betz,
T/Sgt Lawrence W. Brady,
S/Sgt James S. Cox,
2nd Lt Clarence L. Dragoo,
2nd Lt Darrell E. German,
2nd Lt Richard M. Horwitz,
S/Sgt Thomas M. McGraw,
T/Sgt Lawrence F. Nally,
S/Sgt Adolph Turpin.
Probable cause:
Shot down by the German Flak.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-75-DL near Romagnese: 7 killed

Date & Time: Feb 22, 1945
Operator:
Registration:
42-100954
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
MSN:
19417
YOM:
1944
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
7
Circumstances:
The aircraft left Rosignano AFB at 2030LT with a crew of five and two passengers on board. Few minutes later, in good weather conditions, the aircraft hit the slope of a mountain located west of Romagnese. All seven occupants were killed.
Crew:
1st Lt Robert Ernest Wallin, pilot,
2nd Lt Donald R. Faull, copilot,
1st Lt Lloyd C. Poole, navigator,
Sgt John V. Rupnik, crew chief,
Sgt Richard J. Perzyk, radio operator.
Passengers:
Edward J. Ford,
David C. Saynor.
Source:
http://www.gracpiacenza.com/c-47-dakota-monte-calenzone.html

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-10-DK near Naples: 11 killed

Date & Time: Feb 5, 1945
Operator:
Registration:
42-92707
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Tarquinia – Naples
MSN:
12537
YOM:
1944
Location:
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
11
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
11
Circumstances:
Crashed in unknown circumstances in the region of Naples, while performing a flight from Tarquinia, killing all 11 occupants.
Crew:
Cpt Robert R. Baster,
Tech Louis M. Bice,
T/Sgt Paul L. Cloney,
1st Lt Harold G. Ginter,
Sgt Harold P. Kuruzar,
1st Lt Chester L. Nelson,
Cpl Albert H. Olin,
2nd Lt Robert W. Saxton,
Tech Arthur D. Steiner,S
2nd Lt Robert Vallandingham,
2nd Lt Howard P. Wilson.