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Crash of a Bristol 170 Freighter 2A into the Atlantic Ocean

Date & Time: Jul 4, 1946
Type of aircraft:
Bristol 170 Freighter
Operator:
Registration:
G-AHJB
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Delivery
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Bristol – Bathurst – Natal – Rio de Janeiro
MSN:
12734
YOM:
1946
Location:
Atlantic Ocean
All World
Country:
World
Region:
World
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The crew was on his way to Rio de Janeiro to deliver the aircraft to the Brazilian operator Real Aerovias. While at cruising level off Aracaju, both engines failed simultaneously. The captain ditched the aircraft about 198 km off the Brazilian coast. While the aircraft sank and was lost, all five crew members were rescued by the crew of an American merchant ship.
Probable cause:
Double engine failure due to a fuel exhaustion caused by a navigational error on part of the crew.

Crash of an Avro 652 Anson I into the Irish Sea: 5 killed

Date & Time: Jul 2, 1946 at 2110 LT
Type of aircraft:
Avro 652 Anson
Operator:
Registration:
MG437
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Survey / Patrol / Reconnaissance
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Jurby - Jurby
Location:
Irish Sea
All World
Country:
World
Region:
World
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
3
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
The crew was completing a reconnaissance flight following the recent lost of a RAF Wellington registered LP764. While flying over the Irish Sea at a very low altitude, the twin engine aircraft hit the mast of a boat and crashed into the sea. The aircraft sank rapidly and was lost. All five crew members were killed.
Crew (5th ANS):
John Thomas Marcham Crow 4.

Crash of a Vickers 440 Wellington X into the Irish Sea: 2 killed

Date & Time: Jul 1, 1946
Type of aircraft:
Vickers 440 Wellington X
Operator:
Registration:
LP764
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Londonderry – Andreas
Location:
Irish Sea
All World
Country:
World
Region:
World
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
Enroute from Londonderry to RAF Andreas, while overflying the Irish Sea, the aircraft went out of control and crashed into the sea. Both crew members were killed.

Crash of a Consolidated B-24J-5-NT Liberator into the Celebes Sea: 2 killed

Date & Time: Apr 9, 1946
Type of aircraft:
Consolidated B-24 Liberator
Operator:
Registration:
A72-378
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Manila – Darwin
MSN:
861
Location:
Celebes Sea
All World
Country:
World
Region:
World
Crew on board:
8
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
Enroute, both left engines (number one and two) failed. The captain lost control of the aircraft that crashed into the Celebes Sea but was able to report his exact position. On scene, the crew of 'HMS Opposum' was able to evacuate eight wounded people while two others were killed.
Crew (23rd Squadron):
W/Cdr J. Handbury, pilot,
W/O F. Welsh, copilot,
F/Lt P. Mathews, navigator, †
W/O C. McKenzie, wireless operator,
W/O W. Nesbitt, radar operator,
W/O R. Smith, flight engineer,
F/Sgt D. Norton, flight engineer,
Cpl E. Pye, fitter.
Passengers:
Cpt J. McFadden,
Lt J. Potten. †
Probable cause:
Double engine failure for unknown reason.

Crash of an Avro 691 Lancastrian I into the Indian Ocean: 10 killed

Date & Time: Mar 23, 1946
Type of aircraft:
Avro 691 Lancastrian
Operator:
Registration:
G-AGLX
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
London – Karachi – Colombo – Cocos Island – Sydney
MSN:
1178
YOM:
1944
Location:
Indian Ocean
All World
Country:
World
Region:
World
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
5
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
10
Circumstances:
The aircraft crashed in unknown circumstances into the Indian Ocean while on a leg from Colombo to Cocos Islands. As the aircraft failed to arrive, SAR operations were conducted but eventually suspended 10 days later as no trace of the aircraft nor the crew was ever found. Lost without trace.
Probable cause:
As the aircraft was no recovered, it was not possible to determine the exact cause of the accident.

Crash of a Douglas C-47B-30-DK into the Timor Sea: 25 killed

Date & Time: Dec 19, 1945 at 1150 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
A65-83
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Pitu – Ambon – Darwin
MSN:
16127/32875
YOM:
1945
Location:
Timor Sea
All World
Country:
World
Region:
World
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
21
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
25
Circumstances:
The aircraft arrived at Ambon Airport at 0850LT and the captain decided to wait for another RAAF C-47 flying from Darwin to have a briefing with the other crew about the enroute weather conditions. The aircraft left Ambon at 1040LT bound for Darwin but failed to arrive. SAR operations were conducted but eventually suspended after few days as no trace from the aircraft nor the 25 occupants was found.
Crew (35th Squadron):
F/O F. Robinson, pilot,
F/Lt N. J. Hazle, copilot,
F/O G. R. Connell, wireless operator,
Sgt F. Bodley, navigator.
Passengers:
Sgt W. Mullins,
LAC L. H. Wilson,
Pvt F. R. Carter,
Pvt B. Pearchall,
Cfn H. Arnold,
Pvt K. Kripper,
Cfn W. K. Arcus,
Pvt R. Albertson,
Sig J. E. Pollard,
Spr S. E. Evans,
Pvt R. Giochan,
Cpt T. Walgett,
Cpl L. R. Lishmind,
Pvt R. Bowles,
Pvt F. McCarthy,
Pvt R. Burg,
Cpt F. R. Barnett,
Gnr H. Robins,
Spr J. Wilson,
Cpl R. Green,
Able Seaman.
Source: http://www.adf-gallery.com.au/

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-80-DL into the Pacific Ocean: 4 killed

Date & Time: Dec 11, 1945
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
43-15423
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Tachikawa – Kadena
MSN:
19889
YOM:
1944
Location:
Pacific Ocean
All World
Country:
World
Region:
World
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
The aircraft left Tachikawa AFB in Tokyo at 1212LT on a ferry flight to Kadena AFB, Okinawa. As the aircraft failed to arrive, SAR operations were conducted but eventually suspended one week later as no trace of the aircraft nor the crew was found.
Crew:
Cpl Wesley L. Connett Jr.,
1st Lt Floyd G. Levy,
Cpl Harry L. Proctor,
F/Lt Samuel J. Valerio.

Crash of a Martin PBM-5 Mariner into the Sargasso Sea: 13 killed

Date & Time: Dec 5, 1945 at 1950 LT
Type of aircraft:
Martin PBM Mariner
Operator:
Registration:
59225
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Survey / Patrol / Reconnaissance
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Banana River - Banana River
Location:
Sargasso Sea
All World
Country:
World
Region:
World
Crew on board:
13
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
13
Circumstances:
The crew left Banana River NAS at 1927LT on a SAR mission, looking for five TBM Avenger that did not return to their base. Three minutes after departure, the contact was already lost. Twenty minutes later, while cruising at low height, the aircraft went out of control and crashed in a huge explosion into the Sargasso Sea, about 30 miles off New Smyrna, Bahamas. On site, the rescuers did not find any survivors among the 13 occupants.
Probable cause:
It is believed that the crew may have lost his situational awareness or suffered a spatial disorientation and lost control of the aircraft while flying by night over the sea, without any ground visual references.

Crash of a Consolidated PB4Y-2 Privateer in the Pacific Ocean: 25 killed

Date & Time: Nov 30, 1945 at 1000 LT
Type of aircraft:
Consolidated PB4Y-2 Privateer
Operator:
Registration:
59777
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Kodiak – Whidbey Island
MSN:
59777
YOM:
1943
Location:
Pacific Ocean
All World
Country:
World
Region:
World
Crew on board:
8
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
17
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
25
Circumstances:
On 30 November, PB4Y-2A, Bureau Number 59777, attached to VPB 122, piloted by Lt. JG John Edgar McMillan, took off from NAS Kodiak, Alaska, for Whidbey Island carrying a crew of eight and seventeen passengers. The plane was last heard from at 1747Z reporting position on the south west leg of Yakataga, estimating the southwest leg of Sitka at 1825Z. Through the entire coastal route from Kodiak to Whidbey Island has been searched thoroughly, no trace of the plane or occupants has ever been found.

Crash of an Avro 683 Lancaster III into The Channel: 8 killed

Date & Time: Nov 7, 1945
Type of aircraft:
Avro 683 Lancaster
Operator:
Registration:
PB431
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Survey / Patrol / Reconnaissance
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Thornaby - Thornaby
Location:
The Channel
All World
Country:
World
Region:
World
Crew on board:
8
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
8
Circumstances:
The crew left RAF Thornaby at 0200LT on a SAR mission, looking for another RAF Lancaster that disappeared the preceding evening. The following morning, the aircraft failed to return to its base and other SAR operations were conducted, without success. No trace of the aircraft nor the crew was found. It was lost without trace.
Crew (279th Squadron):
F/Sgt D. Anderson,
F/Sgt C. E. F. Blake,
F/Sgt E. E. W. King,
Sgt D. C. Maclean,
F/Sgt S. H. Mortimer,
F/O K. F. Parmenter,
W/O K. W. Robinson,
F/Sgt R. W. Vickers.
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