Crash of a Douglas C-47A-10-DL near Caddo Gap: 3 killed

Date & Time: Sep 29, 1943 at 0320 LT
Operator:
Registration:
42-23359
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Grenada - Nashville
MSN:
9221
YOM:
1943
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
En route, while cruising by night, the crew encountered poor weather conditions and attempted to climb when, at an altitude of 1,900 feet, the aircraft hit a hill located 3,5 miles northeast of Caddo Gap. All three crew members were killed. The accident occurred in stormy weather with strong turbulence.
Crew:
2nd Lt Charles F. Leidel,
2nd Lt Howard R. Omundsen,
Pfc Dale B. Watts.

Crash of a Douglas C-53D Skytrooper in Alliance: 2 killed

Date & Time: Sep 29, 1943 at 0059 LT
Operator:
Registration:
42-68788
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Alliance - Scottsbluff
MSN:
11715
YOM:
1943
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
Shortly after take off from Alliance AFB, the aircraft banked left and right, causing both wings to touch the ground. Out of control, the aircraft crashed in a huge explosion and was destroyed. Both pilots were killed.
Crew:
2nd Lt Robert G. Bartels,
2nd Lt William Cardie.

Crash of a Curtiss C-46A-CU near Lovelock: 1 killed

Date & Time: Sep 28, 1943 at 2245 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
41-5170
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Salt Lake City - Reno
MSN:
26372
YOM:
1942
Location:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
10
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
While cruising at an altitude of 14,000 feet, the right engine failed and the fuel pressure decreased. The crew attempted to restart the right engine without success and pilots were unable to feather the propeller. Due to high drag, the aircraft lost height and at an altitude of 8,000 feet, all occupants decided to bail out as the minimum safe altitude for the region was set at 9,000 feet. Out of control, the aircraft dove into the ground and crashed in a valley near Lovelock. Fourteen occupants were found alive while one crew member (Pfc George E. Johnson) was killed as his parachute did not open properly.
Probable cause:
Engine failure.

Crash of a Consolidated PBY-5A Catalina off Attu

Date & Time: Sep 28, 1943
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
08407
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Attu - Attu
MSN:
1331
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Following an uneventful mission, the crew was returning to Casco Cove Guard Station on Attu Island. On approach, the pilot realized that the sea was rough and decided to continue to the Massacre Bay where the situation seemed to be easier. On landing, the seaplane was hit by a wave and plunged into the sea. While all occupants were able to evacuate the cabin, the aircraft sank and was lost. It was carrying a cargo of 1,200 gallons of fuel and two bombs.
Probable cause:
Hit by wave while landing on rough sea.

Crash of a Douglas C-47-DL near Fort Benning AFB: 4 killed

Date & Time: Sep 27, 1943 at 0730 LT
Operator:
Registration:
41-18566
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Fort Benning - Fort Benning
MSN:
4691
YOM:
1942
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
The crew was completing a routine training flight and left Fort Benning AFB in the early morning. While cruising at an altitude of 5,000 feet, a technical failure occurred on the left engine from which all propeller blades broke away. The engine suffered severe vibrations and detached few seconds later, causing the wing to be partially torn off. Out of control, the aircraft dove into the ground and crashed, killing all four occupants.
Crew:
Cpl Vincent James Faggione,
2nd Lt Orville Clarence Hern,
2nd Lt Melvin Lloyd Jenkinson,
Cpl Edward Hugh Jolly.
Probable cause:
Failure of the propeller blade on port engine.

Crash of a Noorduyn UC-64A Norseman near Poorman

Date & Time: Sep 27, 1943
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
43-5117
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
108
YOM:
1943
Location:
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
En route, the engine failed due to fuel exhaustion. The pilot decided to abandon the aircraft and bailed out. Out of control, the aircraft dove into the ground and crashed some 45 miles south of Ruby, near Poorman.
Probable cause:
Engine failure caused by a fuel exhaustion.

Crash of a Consolidated B-24 Liberator in Lowry AFB: 7 killed

Date & Time: Sep 26, 1943 at 1200 LT
Operator:
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Lowry - Lowry
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
7
Circumstances:
Crashed in unknown circumstances, killing all 7 crew members.

Crash of a Consolidated 16 Commodore off Miami: 1 killed

Date & Time: Sep 24, 1943
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
NC668M
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
12
YOM:
1930
Location:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
The crew was engaged in a test flight when the seaplane crashed in unknown circumstances off Miami. A crewmen was killed.

Crash of a Martin PBM-3C Mariner into the Perquimans River: 6 killed

Date & Time: Sep 24, 1943
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
01668
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Circumstances:
During a night training mission, the seaplane was landing on the Perquimans River when it nosed down and sank. All six crew members were killed.

Crash of a Curtiss C-46A-10-CU Commando in McCloud: 5 killed

Date & Time: Sep 23, 1943 at 2345 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
41-12356
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
McClellan - Seattle
MSN:
26483
YOM:
1943
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
In the evening, the crew left McClellan AFB, near Sacramento, on a routine flight to Seattle, Washington. After take off, the pilot completed a circuit over the airport to reach the assigned altitude of 16,500 feet and reduced the engine power to 2,300 RPM. After few minutes, the right engine failed, followed shortly later by the left engine. A crew member was able to bail out before the aircraft went out of control, dove into the ground and crashed in a huge explosion. All five occupants were killed while the sixth was found alive.
Crew:
Cpt Marvin E. Bradley,
Cpl Robert E. Delmar,
2nd Lt Christopher P. Gadsden Jr.,
2nd Lt Joe F. Welch.
Probable cause:
Double engine failure.