Crash of a Curtiss C-46D-5-CU Commando near Tanauan: 34 killed

Date & Time: Mar 12, 1945 at 1315 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
44-77373
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Mindoro - Tanauan
MSN:
32769
YOM:
1944
Location:
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
30
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
34
Circumstances:
The aircraft departed Elmore Airfield in Mindoro and an air evacuation mission to Tanauan, Leyte, carrying 28 passengers, two medical staff and four crew members. Around 1300LT - 1330LT, en route to Leyte, the crew informed ground he was returning to Mindoro. This was the last contact heard from the crew. No trace of the aircraft nor the occupants was ever found.
Crew:
2nd Lt Leo J. Kelly, pilot,
2nd Lt Paul A. Healy, copilot,
Sgt Theodore S. Oja, flight engineer,
S/Sgt Charles W. Kiester, radio operator.

Medical attendants:
2nd Lt Beatrice H. Memler,
Tec John A. Hudson.

Passengers:
Pfc Thomas Adamsky,
T5 William F. Anger,
Pvt Gerald P. Arel,
Cpl William H. Avers,
Sgt Audie H. Bishop,
Sgt Matthew J. Clarke,
T5 Clyde C. Collins,
T4 Fabian T. Cots,
Pvt Virgil H. Fredrickson,
Pfc Paul E. Gilley,
Sgt John E. Handerson,
Cpl Ralph H. Howard,
Pvt Phillip Ingalls,
Pfc Ray S. Jahnke,
Pfc Hurtle Johnes,
Pfc Alfred J. Kvist,
Pvt Harry B. Maegher,
Pvt Maximo Magboo,
T4 Charles L. Mills,
Pfc Edward J. Najecki,
Pvt Joseph E. Sintic,
Pfc Lytle I. Turner,
Pfc James E. Twitchell,
Sgt George E. Wells,
Pfc Harold W. Weltick,
Pvt Clarence H. White,
T5 James L. Wynn,
Slc Rudolph L. Zakrzawski.
Final Report:

Crash of a Curtiss C-46D-5-CU Commando off Tanauan: 37 killed

Date & Time: Mar 10, 1945 at 1700 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
44-77341
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Clark – Mabalacat – Tanauan
MSN:
32737
YOM:
1944
Flight number:
XA395
Location:
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
30
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
37
Circumstances:
The aircraft left Clark AFB at 1017LT and made a stop at Mabalacat Airfield to board two additional nurses on this ambulance flight bound for Tanauan, Leyte. There were on board 30 passengers, most of them wounded people, and a crew of 7. On approach to Tanauan Airport, weather conditions were marginal with low ceiling. The crew contacted the control tower to obtain instructions and requested five ambulances to stand by for patients. This was the last radio contact and the aircraft failed to arrive. SAR operations were conducted but eventually suspended few days later as no trace of the aircraft was found. It is believed that the aircraft probably crashed into the San Pablo Bay off Tanauan.
Crew (70th Transport Squadron):
Cpl Delbert V. Beery,
1st Lt Martha F. Black,
2nd Lt Clark E. Chapman,
2nd Lt Versal R. Josephson,
2nd Lt James R. Norton,
S/Sgt William J. Treich,
Cpl Gordon G. Vondrak.

Crash of a Tugan LJW7 Gannet off Exmouth: 3 killed

Date & Time: Aug 25, 1944 at 0519 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
A14-4
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Exmouth - Argyle Downs
MSN:
TA-58
YOM:
1937
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
The twin engine airplane departed Exmouth Airport in the early morning on an urgent medevac flight to Argyle Downs, in the northeast of Western Australia. On board were two crew members and one doctor. Shortly after takeoff, while climbing at night and in heavy mist, the pilot lost his orientation and the airplane crashed into the sea. The wreckage was found one mile from the airfield and about 50 yards out to sea. All three occupants were killed.
Crew:
F/O Gordon Edward Dix, pilot,
Sgt Norman Catton, mechanic.
Passenger:
S/Ldr John Clive Sangster, doctor.
Probable cause:
Loss of control during initial climb after the pilot suffered a spatial disorientation.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-65-DL on Daugo Island

Date & Time: Jun 10, 1944
Operator:
Registration:
42-100628
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Lae - Alotau
MSN:
19091
YOM:
1943
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
18
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The Dakota left Lae-Nadzab Airport on a medevac flight to Milne Bay carrying 18 patients and 3 Medical Attendants. Whilst over Dobodura, the crew received radio reports that Milne Bay Airfield was not in service, probably due to poor weather conditions. The crew wanted to divert to Port Moresby. En route, the left engine failed. It then appeared that both Jacksons and Wards fields could not be reached due to low ceiling and rain. The airplane then diverted to the emergency airfield on Fisherman's Island. A belly landing was carried out along the strip. There was no fire and all aboard survived.
Source:
http://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=19440610-1
Probable cause:
Technical investigation revealed that the left engine had just been replaced and this was the first-flight since the work was done. For the lack of a single cotter-pin and some safety wire in the throttle-linkage, this aircraft ended up crash-landing.

Crash of a Bristol 130 Bombay I in Philippeville

Date & Time: Jul 27, 1943
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
L5838
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Location:
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
After touchdown, the aircraft was unable to stop within the remaining runway, overrun, lost its undercarriage and came to rest. All occupants escaped uninjured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of a Consolidated PBY-5A Catalina into the Atlantic Ocean: 8 killed

Date & Time: Jun 11, 1943 at 1810 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
7273
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
442
YOM:
1941
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
9
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
8
Circumstances:
The crew was engaged in a SAR mission over the Atlantic ocean to localize the crew of a RAF Boeing B-17 registered FA704 that crashed into the sea after being shot down by a German submarine about 200 km northwest of the Feroe Islands. For unknown reasons, the seaplane landed hard and came to rest upside down. All nine occupants were able to evacuate and took refuge in two dinghies. Unfortunately, the crew of USS Symbol arrived on scene six days later only, on June 17. On site, only one survivor could be evacuated as all eight other occupants were found dead.
Probable cause:
As the cause of the accident is unknown, it appears that survivors suffered a storm during several days after the accident and the only survivor was seriously injured.

Crash of a Savoia-Marchetti SM.75 in Castelvetrano: 4 killed

Date & Time: May 7, 1943 at 2300 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
I-MOLE
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Tunis - Castelvetrano
MSN:
32070
YOM:
1939
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
32
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
The aircraft left Tunis Airport in the early evening bound for Castelvetrano with wounded soldiers on board. At that time, the aircraft was heavily loaded. On a night approach to Castelvetrano, weather conditions were poor with low clouds and rain falls. The first approach was abandoned by the captain because he was unable to locate the runway due to poor visibility. The approach lights of the aircraft were out of order at that time. During the second approach, the aircraft was properly aligned with the runway but the speed was too high (160 km/h). During the last segment, the captain reduced the engine power to idle when the aircraft plunged and hit the runway surface. The right wing caught fire and the aircraft went out of control and crashed. Four soldiers (three Germans and one French) were killed while all 33 other occupants were injured. The aircraft was destroyed by fire.
Crew:
Ten Alfredo Bonsignore, pilot,
Sgt Ugo Antonellini, pilot,
Sgt Armando Marchetti, flight engineer,
Sgt Beniamino Valobra, radio navigator,
Sgt Pietro Punzi, air gunner.

Crash of a Junkers JU.52/3m in Karachev

Date & Time: Feb 14, 1943
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
TA+BY
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
MSN:
6661
YOM:
1939
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The crew encountered poor weather conditions and the three engine airplane crashed near Karachev while performing an ambulance flight. Crew fate unknown.

Crash of a Junkers JU.290-V1 in Stalingrad: 45 killed

Date & Time: Jan 13, 1943
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
BD+TX
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
290000001
YOM:
1942
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
75
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
45
Circumstances:
The four-engine aircraft was on its way back to Germany to evacuate German soldiers wounded in the Stalingrad Battle. It crashed on take off for unknown reason. Five crew members and 40 soldiers were killed in the accident.

Crash of De Havilland DH.86A Express in Siwa

Date & Time: Jun 24, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
AX762
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Heliopolis - Siwa
MSN:
2333
YOM:
1936
Location:
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
On landing at Siwa, while on an ambulance flight from Heliopolis, the right main gear failed. The aircraft went out of control and veered off runway before coming to rest. While the aircraft was damaged beyond repair, there was no casualties.
Probable cause:
Right main gear failure on touchdown.