Romania | Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives

The aircraft christened 'Raunchy' was engaged in the 'Tidal Wave' operation consisting on an air raid over the oil refineries of Ploiești. While approaching the target, the heavy bomber was shot down by Flak and crashed in flames. 8 crew members were killed while two others were taken PoW.
Crew (343rd BS):
Sgt Alfred D. Cason,
1st Lt Joel I. Corn,
Sgt Earl T. Edelen,
Sgt Charles P. Geers,
2nd Lt Herman H. Henslee,
1st Lt Samuel R. Neeley,
2nd Lt Eugene L. Rodgen,
Sgt Robert P. Schultz.

Probable cause:

Shot down by Flak.

Crash of a Consolidated B-24D-CO Liberator in Ploiești: 7 killed

Date & Time: Aug 1, 1943

Type of aircraft:

Consolidated B-24 Liberator

Operator:

Registration:

41-11776

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

MSN:

272

YOM:

1941

Location:

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Circumstances:

The aircraft christened 'Jersey Jackass/Bashful' was engaged in the 'Tidal Wave' operation consisting on an air raid over the oil refineries of Ploiești. While approaching the target, the heavy bomber was shot down by Flak and crashed in flames. Seven crew members were killed while three others were taken PoW.
Crew (344th BS):
2nd Lt George F. Giblin,
S/Sgt Julius A. Kish,
1st Lt John J. McGraw,
2nd Lt Robert J. Senff,
T/Sgt Warren T. Townley,
T/Sgt James A. Utley,
T/Sgt Albert H. Wilmess.

Probable cause:

Shot down by Flak.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.89 Dragon Rapide in Bucharest

Date & Time: Jul 17, 1942

Type of aircraft:

De Havilland DH.89 Dragon Rapide

Operator:

Registration:

YR-DNC

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

MSN:

6338

YOM:

1936

Location:

Country:

Region:

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Crashed in unknown circumstances in Bucharest. No casualties.

Crash of a Junkers W.34 near Constanța: 2 killed

Date & Time: Mar 14, 1942

Type of aircraft:

Junkers W.34

Operator:

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

MSN:

1024

YOM:

1928

Location:

Constanța

Country:

Romania

Region:

Europe

Crew on board:

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Circumstances:

The airplane crashed in unknown circumstances some 50 km north-northeast of Constanța. Both crew members were killed.

Crash of a Heinkel He.111H-3 in Avrămeni: 4 killed

Date & Time: Jul 5, 1941

Type of aircraft:

Heinkel He.111

Operator:

Registration:

1G+DN

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

MSN:

3348

Location:

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Circumstances:

The airplane was shot down by ground artillery and crashed in Avrămeni. Four crew members were killed and a fifth was injured.
Crew:
Cpt Werner Suden, pilot, †
Oblt Robert Kalischewski, observer, †
Ofw Adolf Hubensack, radio operator,
Fw Helmut Chedor, mechanic, †
Ogfr Otto Seibt, air gunner. †

Probable cause:

Shot down by ground fire.

Crash of a Douglas DC-3-227 in Bucharest

Date & Time: Jun 19, 1941

Type of aircraft:

Douglas DC-3

Operator:

Registration:

YR-PAF

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Bucharest – Sofia

MSN:

1986

YOM:

1937

Location:

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Region:

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Circumstances:

Just after liftoff, the airplane stalled and crashed by the runway. All 18 occupants were rescued while the aircraft was wrecked. The cause of the occurrence remains unknown.

Crash of a Lockheed 14-WG3B Super Electra in Bucharest

Date & Time: Jun 18, 1941

Type of aircraft:

Lockheed 14 Super Electra

Operator:

Registration:

YR-LIS

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

MSN:

1466

YOM:

1938

Location:

Country:

Region:

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Circumstances:

Crashed on take off for unknown reason. Occupant fate unknown.

Crash of a Junkers JU.52/mge on Mt Apuseni: 16 killed

Date & Time: Apr 21, 1941

Type of aircraft:

Junkers JU.52

Operator:

Registration:

NO+RH

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

MSN:

5264

YOM:

1935

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Circumstances:

The airplane departed Bucharest-Otopeni Airport on a transfer flight, carrying 14 paratroopers and four crew members. In unclear circumstances, it crashed in the Apuseni Mountain Range, southwest of Cluj Napoca. Sixteen occupants were killed and two passengers were apparently able to bail out from an altitude of 2,000 metres and were found alive.
Crew:
Fw Fritz Werner, pilot,
Uffz Heinz Sawatzki, observer,
Gefr Albert Kanis, radio operator,
Uffz Karl-Heinz Grabau, mechanic.
Paratroopers:
Gefr Max Föhl, Max,
Ogfr Paul Grätsch,
Pvt Josef Halik,
Pvt Johann Minden,
Gefr Willi Nohns,
Gefr Joseph Nürnberger,
Gefr Hans Pemoller,
Uffz Gerhard Schiller,
Gefr Helmut Schultz,
Gefr Fritz Schulze,
Fw Charly Senger,
Gefr Paul Sommer.

Probable cause:

It is believed that the accident was the consequence of a navigation error.

Crash of a Junkers JU.52/3m in Romania: 1 killed

Date & Time: Mar 23, 1941

Type of aircraft:

Junkers JU.52

Operator:

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

MSN:

5889

YOM:

1937

Location:

Country:

Region:

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The three engine airplane crashed in unknown circumstances in the south part of the Carpathian Mountain Range, in Romania. A crew member was killed and three others were injured.
Crew:
Uffz Kurt Kerwarth, pilot,
Uffz Heinz Morgenstern, radio operator, †
Fw Ludwig Bär, mechanic,
Uffz Alfred Dann, bomb aimer.

Crash of a Junkers JU.52/3mg3e in Oradea: 12 killed

Date & Time: Jan 18, 1941

Type of aircraft:

Junkers JU.52

Operator:

Registration:

HA-JUA

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Scheduled Revenue Flight

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Oradea – Budapest

MSN:

5523

YOM:

1936

Location:

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Region:

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Circumstances:

Shortly after takeoff from Oradea Airport, while climbing, the three engine aircraft named 'Kaszala Károly' stalled and crashed near the runway end, bursting into flames. The aircraft was destroyed by impact forces and a post crash fire. Four passengers were injured and 12 other occupants were killed.
Crew:
Mihály Dúló,
Tibor Küpri,
Károly Zsimkó.