Crash of a Douglas C-54A-5-DO Skymaster into the Atlantic Ocean: 26 killed

Date & Time: Jul 26, 1944 at 0300 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
41-107470
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
London – Keflavik – Stephenville – New York
MSN:
7489
YOM:
1944
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
20
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
26
Circumstances:
The last radio contact with the crew was about three hours into the flight after departure from Keflavik. SAR operations were conducted southeast of Greenland but they were eventually suspended after few days as no trace of the aircraft nor the crew was found. All six crew members were employees of the Transcontinental & Western Air but were conducting this flight under the Air Transport Command. All passengers were US Army personnel flying back home.

Crash of a Martin B-26C Marauder into the Gulf of Mexico: 6 killed

Date & Time: Jul 24, 1944
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
41-35118
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Lake Charles - Lake Charles
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Circumstances:
The crew left Lake Charles AFB on a routine training exercise over the Gulf of Mexico. En route, the twin engine aircraft crashed in the sea for unknown reason. No trace of the aircraft nor the crew was ever found.

Crash of a Consolidated Canso into the Norwegian Sea: 3 killed

Date & Time: Jun 24, 1944
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
9754
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Wick - Wick
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
The crew attacked and sunk the German submarine U-1225 but was attacked as well. The pilot attempted to make an emergency landing in the Norwegian Sea, some 150 miles northeast of the Feroe Islands. The aircraft sunk while all three crew members took place in a dinghy. Rescuers arrived on the scene 21 hours later. Two crew were already dead while the third occupant died few hours later.
Crew (162th Squadron):
F/L D. E. Hornell 2.
Probable cause:
Shot down by enemy fire.

Crash of a Martin PBM-3D Mariner Flying Boat into the Pacific Ocean: 12 killed

Date & Time: Jun 21, 1944 at 1200 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
45216
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
MSN:
45216
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
12
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
12
Circumstances:
Crashed into the Pacific Ocean in unclear circumstances. All SAR operations were suspended after few days as no trace of the aircraft nor the 12 crew members was found. According to the USAAF, it may be possible that the Flying Boat was accidentally shot down by friendly fire from a US destroyer cruising in the area as its transponder was out of service at the time of the accident.

Crash of a Consolidated PBY-5A Catalina off the Aleutians Islands: 7 killed

Date & Time: Jun 16, 1944
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
48427
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
MSN:
1789
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
7
Circumstances:
En route, the crew encountered poor weather conditions and attempted to reduce his altitude to land. In unclear circumstances, the seaplane went out of control and crashed into the sea off the Aleutians Islands. All seven crew members were killed.

Crash of a Canadian Vickers PBV-1A Canso A into the Norwegian Sea: 1 killed

Date & Time: Jun 13, 1944
Operator:
Registration:
9816
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Wick - Wick
MSN:
CV-250
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
The aircraft was involved in a mission over the Norwegian Sea to attack German submarine. The submarine U-705 sunk but the seaplane was attacked as well. The captain ditched the aircraft and the crew waited for nine hours prior to be rescued. Four crew members were recovered while the fifth occupant was drowned.
Probable cause:
Shot down by enemy fire.

Crash of a Short S.25 Sunderland into the Bay of Biscay: 12 killed

Date & Time: Jun 12, 1944 at 1200 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
ML760
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Pembroke Dock - Pembroke Dock
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
12
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
12
Circumstances:
The floatplane was involved in a maritime patrol flight when it was shot down by a German submarine. Out of control, it crashed into the Bay of Biscay, off the Spanish coast. No trace of the aircraft nor the crew was found.
Crew (201st Squadron):
S/L William Dennys Butterworth, pilot,
F/O Colin John Griffith, pilot,
F/S John Charles Leleux, flight engineer,
F/S James William Hobson, flight engineer,
F/O Peter Anthony Cavendish Hunt, navigator,
F/O Anthony Valentine Philp, wireless operator,
F/S Duncan Jamieson McCormick Currie, wireless operator and air gunner,
Sgt Dennis Edward South, wireless operator and air gunner,
F/S Dennis Sharland, air gunner,
Sgt Frederick Foster, air gunner,
Sgt Jesse Robert French, air gunner,
F/S Edwin Watson, air gunner.
Probable cause:
Shot down by a German submarine.

Crash of a Short S.25 Sunderland III into the Bay of Biscay: 11 killed

Date & Time: Jun 12, 1944
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
ML880
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Pembroke Dock - Pembroke Dock
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
11
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
11
Circumstances:
The crew was involved in a maritime patrol flight over the Bay of Biscay and left RAF Pembroke Dock at 1810LT on June 11. The floatplane should return to its base on June 12 with an ETA at 0725LT but failed to arrive. The British authorities confirmed that no trace of the aircraft nor the crew was found and that the aircraft has probably been shot down during the night by enemy fire, maybe by a German night fighter or a submarine.
Crew (228th Squadron).
Source: ASN
Probable cause:
Shot down by enemy fire.

Crash of a Consolidated B-24J-105-CO Liberator in The Channel: 5 killed

Date & Time: Jun 8, 1944
Operator:
Registration:
42-109830
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
3626
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
10
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
The crew was taking part to the Normandy invasion. For unknown reason, the bomber christened 'Daisy Mae Scraggs' crashed into The Channel. Five crew members were rescue by a French fishermen while all five other occupants were killed.
Crew (446th BG):
1st Lt James Q. Ogden,
2nd Lt Raymond J. Morris,
2nd Lt William L. Lauten,
2nd Lt Walter R. Allaman,
T/Sgt Lewis B. Leedy,
T/Sgt George H. Rupard,
S/Sgt George E. Griffith,
S/Sgt William R. Nace,
S/Sgt William A. Sawyer,
S/Sgt Frank D. Dileva.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-75-DL into The Channel: 2 killed

Date & Time: Jun 7, 1944
Operator:
Registration:
42-100902
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
19365
YOM:
1943
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
The crew was involved in a supply mission over France, taking part to the Normandy invasion. While returning to its base in England, the aircraft crashed into the sea for unknown reason. Two crew members were killed.