Region
North America
code

USA

Crash of a Lockheed C-60 LodeStar in Wright-Patterson AFB

Date & Time: Jun 5, 1943
Type of aircraft:
Lockheed C-60 LodeStar
Operator:
Registration:
42-108790
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Military
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
18-2169
YOM:
1942
Location:
Wright-Patterson AFB (Dayton)
Ohio
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Shortly after take off from Wright-Patterson AFB, the aircraft stalled and crashed. The crew fate remains unknown.
Probable cause:
Loss of control shortly after rotation caused by an engine failure.

Crash of a Martin B-26A-1 Marauder in Sarasota: 5 killed

Date & Time: May 31, 1943
Type of aircraft:
Martin B-26 Marauder
Operator:
Registration:
41-7477
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
7477
YOM:
1941
Location:
Sarasota
Florida
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
Crashed in unknown circumstances near Sarasota-Bradenton Airport. All five crew members were killed.

Crash of a Boeing B-17F-45-BO Flying Fortress near Covelo: 6 killed

Date & Time: May 30, 1943 at 1423 LT
Type of aircraft:
Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress
Operator:
Registration:
42-5318
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Hamilton - Hamilton
MSN:
3857
YOM:
1942
Location:
Covelo
California
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Captain / Total flying hours:
204
Circumstances:
The crew left Hamilton AFB in the morning on a routine training sortie. En route, the pilot informed ground about his position and a little later, the aircraft hit tree tops and crashed on a hilly terrain located ten miles northeast of Covelo. All six crew members were killed.
Photos on http://www.aviationarchaeology.com/b17tday.htm
Probable cause:
The exact cause of the accident could not be determined. Nevertheless, it is believed that weather conditions deteriorated in flight and the crew encountered poor visibility and marginal weather conditions between 1,500 and 5,000 feet with fog and turbulence. It is possible that the crew lost his orientation. The PIC was young with a total experience of 204 flying hours.

Crash of a Curtiss C-46A-10-CU Commando on Black Mountain: 2 killed

Date & Time: May 28, 1943
Type of aircraft:
Curtiss C-46 Commando
Operator:
Registration:
41-12355
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
MSN:
26482
YOM:
1943
Location:
Black Mountain
Colorado
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
While overflying Colorado, the aircraft hit the slope of the Black Mountain located some 15 miles west of Guffey. Both pilots, sole on board, were killed.
Crew:
Cpt Robert E. McIntyre, pilot,
2nd Lt William H. Eisenman Jr., copilot.
Probable cause:
The crew was asleep with the autopilot ON when the accident occurred.

Crash of a Consolidated PBY-5A Catalina into the Luluk Bay: 8 killed

Date & Time: May 24, 1943
Type of aircraft:
Consolidated PBY Catalina
Operator:
Registration:
04411
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Survey / Patrol / Reconnaissance
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Location:
Luluk Bay
Alaska
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
8
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
8
Circumstances:
The approach to Luluk Bay was completed in poor weather conditions. The seaplane hit the water surface, went out of control and sank, killing all eight crew members.

Crash of a Noorduyn UC-645A Norseman in Great Falls

Date & Time: May 23, 1943
Type of aircraft:
Noorduyn Norseman
Operator:
Registration:
43-5139
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
130
YOM:
1943
Location:
Great Falls
Montana
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
After touchdown at Great Falls-Gore Field, the single engine aircraft went out of control and ground looped. There were no casualties.

Crash of a Consolidated PBY-5A Catalina off Adak Island: 10 killed

Date & Time: May 18, 1943
Type of aircraft:
Consolidated PBY Catalina
Operator:
Registration:
7271
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Survey / Patrol / Reconnaissance
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Adak - Adak
Location:
Adak
Alaska
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
10
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
10
Circumstances:
Crashed in unknown circumstances into the Bering Sea, off Adak Island, while on a maritime patrol flight. No trace of the aircraft nor the crew was ever found.

Crash of a Consolidated PBY-5A Catalina off Sitka

Date & Time: May 18, 1943
Type of aircraft:
Consolidated PBY Catalina
Operator:
Registration:
7289
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Survey / Patrol / Reconnaissance
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Sitka - Sitka
Location:
Sitka
Alaska
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
6
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Shortly after take off from Sitka Harbor, while climbing to a height of 30 feet, the seaplane stalled, crashed into the bay and broke in two. All occupants managed to escape while the aircraft drifted to the rocks and was destroyed.
Probable cause:
It appears that rotation was performed by crew while the speed was unsufficient.

Crash of a Douglas C-47-DL in Mt Gingercake: 18 killed

Date & Time: May 15, 1943
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
41-18562
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
MSN:
4687
YOM:
1942
Location:
Jonas Ridge
North Carolina
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
15
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
18
Circumstances:
En route, the crew encountered foggy conditions. While cruising northwest of Morganton, the aircraft hit tree tops and crashed in a wooded area located on Mt Gingercake, few miles south of the small village of Jonas Ridge. All 18 occupants were killed. They were performing a liaison flight from Laurinburg-Maxton AFB.

Crash of a Lockheed PV-1 Ventura in Mt Washington: 5 killed

Date & Time: May 14, 1943
Type of aircraft:
Lockheed PV-1 Ventura
Operator:
Registration:
33142
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Seattle - Seattle
MSN:
5151
Location:
Mt Washington
Washington
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
The crew was performing a training sortie from Seattle. En route, in unknown circumstances, the twin engine aircraft hit the northeast side of Mt Washington. All five crew members (Marine Corps) were killed.
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