Crash of a Douglas C-47A-80-DL in The Channel

Date & Time: Jun 7, 1944
Operator:
Registration:
43-15165
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Folkingham - Folkingham
MSN:
19631
YOM:
1944
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The crew was returning to his base in RAF Folkingham following a supply mission by the Normandy invasion. It appears the aircraft was hit by enemy fire and the captain attempted to ditch the aircraft into The Channel. While the aircraft sunk and was lost, all four crew members were rescued.
Probable cause:
Hit by enemy fire.

Crash of a Douglas C-53D-DO Skytrooper into The Channel

Date & Time: Jun 6, 1944
Operator:
Registration:
42-68734
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
11661
YOM:
1943
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The crew was taking part to the D-Day over Normandy and was towing a glider. While returning to his base in England, the crew was forced to ditch the aircraft into The Channel. While the aircraft sunk and was lost, all four crew members were rescued.

Crash of a Short S.25 Sunderland III into the Norwegian Sea: 12 killed

Date & Time: May 24, 1944 at 1420 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
DV990
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
12
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
12
Circumstances:
While performing a maritime patrol flight, the seaplane was shot down by the German submarine U-921 and crashed into the Norwegian Sea, some 240 km west of Kristiansund. All 12 occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
Shot down by a German submarine.

Crash of a Caproni Ca.313 into the Baltic Sea: 4 killed

Date & Time: May 23, 1944
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Survivors:
No
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
While flying over the Baltic Sea, the aircraft crashed in unknown circumstances. The wreckage was eventually found in 1951, showing bullet impacts.
Probable cause:
Shot down by enemy action.

Crash of a Consolidated PBY-5A Catalina into the Pacific Ocean: 6 killed

Date & Time: May 21, 1944
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
08509
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
1453
YOM:
1944
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
8
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Circumstances:
For unknown reasons, the seaplane went out of control and dove into the south Pacific ocean and burned. Two crewmen were rescued while all six other occupants were killed.

Crash of a Caproni Ca.313 into the Baltic Sea: 4 killed

Date & Time: May 15, 1944
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
The crew was engaged in a SAR mission following the disappearance the preceding day of another Caproni Ca.133 of the Swedish Air Force. En route, the three engine aircraft was shot down and crashed into the sea, killing all four crew members. It was later confirmed by eyewitnesses that the aircraft was shot down by the pilot of a German fighter. According to the Swedish Authorities, the aircraft was shot down while flying over the international waters.
Probable cause:
Shot down by a German fighter.

Crash of a Consolidated B-24J-130-CO Liberator into the Pacific Ocean: 10 killed

Date & Time: May 10, 1944 at 1255 LT
Operator:
Registration:
42-110080
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Mokerang - Eton
MSN:
3876
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
10
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
10
Circumstances:
The crew was performing a flight from Mokerang (Los Negros Island, PNG) to Eton, Truk Island, Micronesia. En route, the bomber crashed into the ocean in unknown circumstances. No trace was ever found.

Crash of a Consolidated PBY-5A Catalina into the Pacific Ocean: 3 killed

Date & Time: Apr 30, 1944
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
08431
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
1365
YOM:
1943
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
8
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
The crew was taking part to a rescue mission following the recent 'accident' of a USN Consolidated Privateer. While landing onto the sea, the seaplane nosed over and came to rest. Three crew members were killed while five others were rescued. The exact circumstances of the accident remains unknown.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-15-DK into the Atlantic Ocean

Date & Time: Apr 15, 1944
Operator:
Registration:
42-92848
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
MSN:
12694
YOM:
1944
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crashed in unknown circumstances into the Atlantic Ocean, some 480 km west of the Ascension Island. Occupant fate unknown.

Crash of a Consolidated PBY-5A Catalina into the Caribbean Sea: 16 killed

Date & Time: Apr 6, 1944
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
08044
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
San Juan – Guantánamo
MSN:
863
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
27
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
16
Circumstances:
En route from San Juan to the Guantánamo NAS, crew encountered engine problems and elected to ditch the aircraft that crashed into the Caribbean Sea. Fifteen occupants were missing, one was killed and fourteen others were rescued. No trace of the missing crew was ever found.
Probable cause:
Fuel exhaustion.