Crash of a Douglas SC-47D in Phônsavan: 7 killed
Date & Time:
Mar 23, 1961
Operator:
Registration:
44-76330
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Vientiane – Saigon
MSN:
15914/32662
YOM:
1945
Crew on board:
8
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
7
Circumstances:
While approaching Phônsavan, the twin engine aircraft was hit by Pathet Lao AAA or small arms fire, lost a wing and crashed 6 km northwest of Phônsavan. Seven crew members were killed and one was taken PoW.
Crew (315th AD):
1st Lt Ralph Wayne Magee, †
1st Lt Oscar Branch Weston, †
2nd Lt Glenn Matteson, †
S/Sgt Algonso Aloyze Bankowski, †
S/Sgt Frederick Thomas Garside, †
S/Sgt Leslie Verne Sampson, †
Maj Lawrence Robert Bailey,
W01 Edgar Wilken Weitkamp. †
Crew (315th AD):
1st Lt Ralph Wayne Magee, †
1st Lt Oscar Branch Weston, †
2nd Lt Glenn Matteson, †
S/Sgt Algonso Aloyze Bankowski, †
S/Sgt Frederick Thomas Garside, †
S/Sgt Leslie Verne Sampson, †
Maj Lawrence Robert Bailey,
W01 Edgar Wilken Weitkamp. †
Probable cause:
Shot down by enemy action.
Crash of a Douglas C-47A-25-DK in Brasilia
Date & Time:
Mar 14, 1961 at 2139 LT
Operator:
Registration:
2066
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Brasília - Brasília
MSN:
13636
YOM:
1944
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The crew was completing a local training mission at Brasilia Airport. By night, the airplane crashed near the airfield, injuring all five crew members.
Crash of a Boeing B-52F-70-BW Stratofortress near Yuba City
Date & Time:
Mar 14, 1961 at 1103 LT
Operator:
Registration:
57-0166
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Mather - Mather
MSN:
464155
YOM:
1957
Crew on board:
8
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The crew was engaged in a sortie from Mather AFB, Sacramento. En route, the failure of the cabin pressurization system caused by a window crack forced the crew to make an emergency descent. The pilot informed ground about his situation and elected to divert to the nearest airport when all crew members decided to abandon the airplane that crashed in an uninhabited area located 15 miles west of Yuba City. The airplane was totally destroyed and all eight crew members were rescued, four of them were injured.
Probable cause:
Failure of the pressurization system caused by a window crack.
Crash of a Boeing KB-50D-120-BO Superfortress at Biggs AAF: 9 killed
Date & Time:
Mar 5, 1961 at 1955 LT
Operator:
Registration:
49-0328
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Wake Island - Biggs
MSN:
16104
YOM:
1949
Crew on board:
9
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
9
Circumstances:
The crew was completing a transpacific flight from Wake Island to Biggs AAF. While descending by night under VFR mode, the pilot informed ground his fuel reserve was low. On approach, the airplane struck the ground in a desert area, slid for 300 yards and eventually crashed on a sand dune and exploded six miles from runway 21 threshold. The aircraft was destroyed and all nine crew members were killed.
Crew:
Maj Fred G. Padelford, pilot,
Cpt Bruce E. Christian, copilot,
Maj Wayne W. Holt, navigator,
T/Sgt Charles C. Timmsen, flight engineer,
S/Sgt Bernard F. Rivers, flight engineer,
S/Sgt Harold B. Mecusen, refueling operator,
A1c Clifton C. Tabor, refueling operator,
S/Sgt Claude L. Early, maintenance crew chief,
A2c Joseph T. Rothschopf, assistant crew chief.
Crew:
Maj Fred G. Padelford, pilot,
Cpt Bruce E. Christian, copilot,
Maj Wayne W. Holt, navigator,
T/Sgt Charles C. Timmsen, flight engineer,
S/Sgt Bernard F. Rivers, flight engineer,
S/Sgt Harold B. Mecusen, refueling operator,
A1c Clifton C. Tabor, refueling operator,
S/Sgt Claude L. Early, maintenance crew chief,
A2c Joseph T. Rothschopf, assistant crew chief.
Crash of a Convair R4Y-1Z at Bader Field AFB
Date & Time:
Feb 23, 1961
Operator:
Registration:
140378
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
New York - Andrews
MSN:
140
YOM:
1954
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
4
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The aircraft was performing a flight from New York to Andrews AFB, carrying a crew of four and four passengers, among them Paul B. Fay Jr. who should be appointed under-secretary of the US Navy. While descending to Andrews, the crew was informed about poor weather conditions at destination and the captain decided to divert to Bader Field. Few minutes later, the electric system failed. The pilot-in-command was able to land on runway 04 at Bader Field but after touchdown, he was unable to activate the reverse thrust due to the electric failure. Unable to stop withing the remaining distance, the aircraft overran and eventually plunged into the Bay of Thorofare. All eight occupants were quickly rescued while the aircraft was lost.
Probable cause:
Failure of the electric system in flight.
Crash of a Fairchild C-119G Flying Boxcar in Luluabourg: 3 killed
Date & Time:
Feb 15, 1961
Operator:
Registration:
MM52-6011
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Lyra 15
MSN:
10869
YOM:
1952
Crew on board:
9
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
Just after liftoff, while in initial climb, the left engine failed. The aircraft stalled and crashed. Three crew members were killed and six others were injured, among them some Pakistan soldiers taking part to a UNO mission. Those killed were:
Cpt Sergio Celli, pilot,
Lt Dario Giorgi, pilot,
Italo Quadri.
Cpt Sergio Celli, pilot,
Lt Dario Giorgi, pilot,
Italo Quadri.
Probable cause:
Failure of the left engine during takeoff.
Crash of a Douglas C-47B-35-DK in Bizana: 5 killed
Date & Time:
Feb 10, 1961
Operator:
Registration:
6856
Survivors:
No
MSN:
16625/33373
YOM:
1945
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
Crashed in unknown circumstances at Bizana, killing all five crew members.
Crash of a Fairchild C-119G Flying Boxcar in Kwamouth
Date & Time:
Feb 2, 1961
Operator:
Registration:
MM52-6037
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Léopoldville – Coquilhatville
MSN:
11076
YOM:
1952
Flight number:
Lyra 22
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The crew encountered an unexpected situation en route and was forced to attempt an emergency landing. The aircraft crash landed in Kwamouth and was damaged beyond repair. There were no injuries. Cpt Farinelli.
Crash of a Grumman JRF-5 Goose in Tambacounda: 6 killed
Date & Time:
Jan 27, 1961
Operator:
Registration:
27.F-12
Survivors:
No
MSN:
B7
YOM:
1943
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
3
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Circumstances:
Crashed on takeoff from Tambacounda Airport for unknown reason. The seaplane was destroyed and all six occupants were killed, among them the French Commodore Pierre Ponchardier and his wife.
