Crash of a Junkers JU.52/mg4e off Odessa: 9 killed

Date & Time: Jan 13, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
G6+GW
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Bucharest - Mykolaiv
MSN:
6857
YOM:
1940
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
4
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
9
Circumstances:
The airplane departed Bucharest on a flight to Mykolaiv. Approaching Odessa, the crew encountered poor weather conditions. Control was lost and the airplane crashed into the sea. All nine occupants were killed. In 2009, the wreckage was found by a depth of 23 metres off Odessa.
Crew:
Lt Horst Ringel, pilot,
Oblt Axel von Jena, observer,
Ofw Wilhelm Möller, radio operator,
Ofw Alfred Volkmann, mechanic,
Ofw Johann Wichert, mechanic.
Passengers:
Uffz Emil Krebs
Ogfr Karl Kroh,
Cpt Karl Mack,
Owm Zink.

Crash of a Junkers JU.52/3m near Ochakov

Date & Time: Nov 2, 1941
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
1Z+OK
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
5764
YOM:
1937
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The three engine airplane was shot down by enemy fire and crashed near Ochakov. At least one crew member was injured.
Crew:
Fw Otto Lüning, pilot.
Probable cause:
Shot down by enemy fire.

Crash of a Douglas DC-3-196A in Mirgorod

Date & Time: Aug 21, 1941 at 2045 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
URSS-H
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Moscow - Kharkiv - Kiev
MSN:
2046
YOM:
1938
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
20
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The airplane departed Moscow at 1335LT on a flight to Kiev with an intermediate stop in Kharkiv, carrying four crew members and 20 passengers, doctors and link officers. At Kharkiv Airport, some equipment were unloaded then the crew continued to Kiev where the airplane landed at 1915LT. Because it was too dangerous to leave an airplane at Kiev for the overnight, the crew was instructed to continue to Mirgorod. Upon arrival, the pilot was unable to locate the runway due to the lack of visibility (night), the absence of ground light and the fact that the left headlight of the airplane failed about 20 minutes prior to landing. At a height of about 10-15 metres, the pilot saw the masts of antennas and made a sharp turn to the left to avoid the collision when the airplane stalled and crash landed. All 24 occupants evacuated safely while the airplane was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of a GVF PS-84 near Bereznegovatoe

Date & Time: Aug 8, 1941
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-L3919
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
184 12 10
YOM:
1941
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The airplane was engaged in a cargo flight, carrying flyers and topo charts. While cruising at a relative low altitude, the crew saw a fighter facing them and passing to their right but were unable to identify the airplane, German or Russian. Shortly later, they were attacked from behind and the captain reduced his altitude and attempted an emergency landing. The right engine impacted the ground and the airplane belly landed in an open field and slid for about 100 metres before coming to rest. The crew escaped uninjured and the airplane was abandoned on site.
Probable cause:
Shot down by a fighter.

Crash of a GVF PS-84 near Uman

Date & Time: Aug 2, 1941
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-L3431
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
6 5 18
YOM:
1940
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The airplane was engaged in a supply mission to the Soviet soldiers, carrying ammunition, weapons and fuel. It was shot down by the German Flak and crash landed beyond the enemy lines near Uman, bursting into flames. All three crew members became PoW.
Probable cause:
Shot down by the German Flak.

Crash of a GVF PS-84 near Uman: 4 killed

Date & Time: Aug 2, 1941
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-L3429
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
MSN:
6 5 13
YOM:
1940
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
The airplane was engaged in a supply mission to the Soviet soldiers, carrying ammunition, weapons and fuel. It was shot down by the German Flak and crashed near Uman, bursting into flames. All four crew members were killed.
Probable cause:
Shot down by the German Flak.

Crash of a GVF PS-84 near Mykolaiv: 10 killed

Date & Time: Jul 25, 1941 at 1943 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-L3469
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
MSN:
8 5 18
YOM:
1941
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
6
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
10
Circumstances:
The airplane was mistakenly shot down by the pilot of a Soviet fighter and crashed 35 km northwest of Mykolaiv, bursting into flames. All 10 occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
Mistakenly shot down by a Soviet fighter.

Crash of a Polikarpov P-5 near Kiev

Date & Time: Jul 18, 1941
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-F49
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
OD47
YOM:
1932
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
While flying at low height, the pilot lost control of the airplane that crashed west of the city. The pilot was injured and the airplane was destroyed.

Crash of a Tupolev PS-41 in Dmytrivka

Date & Time: Jul 12, 1941
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-L3502
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
17/206
YOM:
1940
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
On June 29, while on a flight from Moscow to Ternopol, the airplane was hit by ground fire and landed in Proskurov. The same day, the crew departed Proskurov for Kiev but the airplane was again hit by ground fire while approaching Kiev. The crew decided to land in a rye field near Dmytrivka. After the airplane was repaired on site, the crew attempted to take off but the airplane crashed in a swamp. Both pilots escaped uninjured and the airplane was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of a Polikarpov AP in Budenovka: 1 killed

Date & Time: May 27, 1941 at 1100 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-A1083
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Budenovka - Budenovka
MSN:
14256
YOM:
1939
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
The pilot, sole on board, was engaged in a crop spraying mission on beets field located near the village of Budenovka. Shortly after takeoff (last flight as the operation started at 0500LT), at a height of 20-25 metres, the pilot initiated a sharp turn to the right. The airplane rolled to an angle of 45° when the pilot reduced the engine power, causing the aircraft to stall and to crash. The airplane was destroyed and the pilot was killed.
Probable cause:
Poor piloting techniques on part of the pilot who initiated a sharp turn to the right at an insufficient height (below the minimum height of 50 meters) and reduced power too early.