Crash of a Douglas C-47-DL in Montieri: 23 killed

Date & Time: Feb 2, 1945 at 1015 LT
Operator:
Registration:
41-18603
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Schedule:
Florence – Rome
MSN:
4728
YOM:
1942
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
22
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
23
Circumstances:
While flying in a valley in poor weather conditions, the captain increased power to gain height when the aircraft hit tree tops and crashed on the slope of a wooded mountain located 5 km west of Montieri. Two passengers and the captain survived while 23 others occupants were killed, among them 12 civilians of which three nurses. Low clouds consisting of strato-cumulus and mist shrouded the mountain at the time of the accident.
Crew:
1st Lt John A. Boronko, †
1st Lt James D. Fitzgerald, †
Cpt Donald B. Kresch, †
T/Sgt William J. Maddox, †
2nd Lt Marjorie L. McBride, †
M/Sgt B. B. McNutt, †
Cpl Edmund J. Miskell, †
2nd Lt Marion C. Phillips, †
Cpt David M. Ruff, †
1st Lt Roger F. Woodbury. †

Crash of an Avro 685 York I off Lampedusa: 15 killed

Date & Time: Feb 1, 1945 at 2034 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
MW116
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
MSN:
MW116
YOM:
1944
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
11
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
15
Circumstances:
The four engine aircraft was enroute from Great Britain to Malta. While approaching Lampedusa Island by night, the crew lost his orientation and circle for about an hour when the captain decided to ditch the aircraft that crashed into the sea and was destroyed in position 35 degrees 30 North / 12 degrees 35 East (off Lampedusa Island) at 1934 hours GMT. It appears all 15 occupants were killed. Some of them were members of the staff that was involved in the Yalta Conference.
Crew (511th Squadron):
F/Sgt Alfred Claude Jack Walker, flight engineer,
F/O Arthur Appleby, air gunner,
W/O William Wright,
LAC John Chicken, wireless operator.
Passengers:
Lt Col Ivor Stuart Huntly Hooper,
Lt Col Wilfred George Newey,
Cpt Albany Kennett Charlesworth,
Cpt William Henry Finch,
Cpt Philip Stuart Jackson,
Mr Armine Roderick Dew from Foreign Office,
Mr Peter Noel Loxley from Foreign Office,
Mr John Chaplin from Foreign Office,
Cpt Robert MacDonald Guthrie,
Mr Harry Joseph Battley,
Mrs Patricia Maxwell Sullivan from foreign Office.
Source:
http://ww2talk.com/forums/topic/36813-remembering-today-1-february-1945-avro-york-mw116/
Probable cause:
There were a series of errors in navigation, the Met forecasts obtained by the wireless operator were out of date and the crew did not obtain any reliable radio bearings to allow them to reach Malta. The aircraft circled over Lampedusa for over an hour and it seems there was some confusion about whether they thought they were at Malta and could not pinpoint their position.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-10-DK in La Spezia: 7 killed

Date & Time: Dec 30, 1944
Operator:
Registration:
42-92680
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Siena - Siena
MSN:
12507
YOM:
1943
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
7
Circumstances:
The crew left Siena-Malignano Airport on a supply mission. En route, the aircraft encountered marginal weather conditions and severe turbulence. The airplane went out of control, dove into the ground and crashed in a field. All seven occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
Loss of control caused by heavy turbulence.

Crash of a Supermarine Walrus off Ravenna

Date & Time: Dec 26, 1944
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
L2170
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
While taking off from the bay of Ravenna, the seaplane hit rough sea and waves prior to coming to rest. No casualties.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-50-DL in Tarquinia: 3 killed

Date & Time: Nov 16, 1944
Operator:
Registration:
42-24213
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
MSN:
10075
YOM:
1943
Location:
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
En route, the C-47 collided with a Brazilian Air Force Republic P-47 Thunderbolt. Out of control, the C-47 dove into the ground and was destroyed on impact. All three crew members were killed. The fate of the Thunderbolt remains unknown. Apparently, the collision occurred when the pilot was blinded by the sun while performing an air to air photography mission.

Crash of a Consolidated B-24J-10-FO Liberator in Rochetta Sant’Antonio: 16 killed

Date & Time: Oct 14, 1944
Operator:
Registration:
42-51661
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Naples - Castellucio
MSN:
3192
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
13
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
16
Circumstances:
The crew started the descent to Castellucio AFB when the four engine aircraft hit a hill located in Rochetta Sant’Antonio, some 10 km south of the airbase. All 16 occupants were killed.

Crash of a Consolidated B-24J-15-FO Liberator in Mottola: 10 killed

Date & Time: Oct 1, 1944
Operator:
Registration:
42-51995
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
MSN:
3526
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
10
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
10
Circumstances:
Shortly after take off from Gioia del Colle AFB, while climbing, the aircraft went out of control and crashed in flames 2 km southwest of Mottola. All ten occupants were killed.
Crew:
Norman E. Apking,
Robert T. Leslie,
Murray Hershkowitz,
James E. Gibbs,
Forrest F. Shorey,
Harry K. Chamberlain,
Clayton J. Lund,
Earl B. Hubert,
John P. Horrigan,
Lyle H. Ervin.

Crash of a Martin B-26A Marauder in Grottaglie: 6 killed

Date & Time: Sep 21, 1944 at 1200 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
FK138
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
MSN:
7379
YOM:
1941
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Circumstances:
Shortly after take off, while in initial climb, the aircraft hit power cables and crashed in a huge explosion. All six crew members were killed.
Crew (14th Squadron):
W/O Frank Elliott, pilot,
Sgt Alan Keith Stewart, pilot,
Sgt James Michael Kahle, navigator,
Sgt Ronald Joseph Heller, wireless operator and air gunner,
Sgt John William Bates, air gunner,
F/Sgt Cyril Mervyn Taylor, air gunner.

Crash of a Martin B-26A Marauder in Alghero: 6 killed

Date & Time: Sep 13, 1944 at 1200 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
FK124
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Site:
MSN:
7358
YOM:
1941
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Circumstances:
The crew was engaged in a night reconnaissance mission over the Mediterranean Sea. Shortly after take off from Alghero Airport, while climbing, the twin engine aircraft hit a mountain and crashed. All six crew members were killed.
Crew (14th Squadron):
F/O Maurice Trevor Holmes, pilot,
P/O Phillip Matthew Todd, pilot,
Sgt Cornelius Swinnerton Keefe, navigator,
Sgt Walter Herbert Ellis, wireless operator and air gunner,
Sgt Mark Irwin, wireless operator and air gunner,
W/O William Hadyn Scourfield, air gunner.
Probable cause:
It was determined that the accident was caused by an error on part of the crew who started the take off procedure from the wrong runway. The absence of visibility caused by night was considered as a contributory factor as the crew was unable to distinguish the presence of the mountain.

Crash of a Martin B-26A Marauder in Alghero

Date & Time: Sep 13, 1944 at 1200 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
FK109
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
7355
YOM:
1941
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
8
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
While on a mission over the Mediterranean Sea, the Marauder was shot down by the pilot of a German Messerschmitt Me.109. The captain was able to leave the combat area and started a descent to the Alghero Airport but was unable to lower the landing gear. Thus, the twin engine aircraft belly landed and skidded for several yards before coming to rest. While the aircraft was damaged beyond repair, all eight crew members were unhurt.
Crew (14th Squadron):
P/O Herschell 7.
Probable cause:
Shot down by a German fighter.