Crash of a Consolidated LB-30 Liberator in Rochefort: 28 killed

Date & Time: Dec 3, 1945 at 1330 LT
Type of aircraft:
Consolidated LB-30 Liberator
Operator:
Registration:
KH125
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Location:
Rochefort
Charente-Maritime
Country:
France
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
23
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
28
Circumstances:
The crew was performing a flight from India to RAF Oakington, near Manchester, on behalf of the Air Transport Command (ATC). While cruising in poor weather conditions, the aircraft went out of control, dove into the ground and crashed near Rochefort, killing all 28 occupants.
Crew:
F/lt L. J. Slack,
F/Lt E. W. Beech,
F/Lt A. J. Balsom,
W/O S. J. Gillingham,
F/O H. Rowe.
Passengers:
LAC C. C. Baker,
LAC W. R. Birkett,
LAC B. F. Blackbourn,
Sgt H. Bolton,
Bsm T. G. Burch,
Sgt C. Donaldson,
F/Lt W. G. Gibson,
Sgt L. Hainsworth,
Cdr J. G. Halliday,
Bom H. D. Henderson,
Pvt C. J. John,
Pvt A. Mitchell,
Gun R. W. Norton,
Pvt F. J. Parkin,
Gun S. W. Pearson,
Pvt I. G. Richards,
Gun D. Ross,
Gun C. C. Thompson,
Bom W. E. Turner,
LAC W. Vincent,
Pvt D. West,
Gun G. Whitehead,
Cpl E. S. Winslade.
Probable cause:
The loss of control occurred while the aircraft was flying in a low pressure area with thunderstorm activity and severe turbulence. It is understood that the aircraft suffered of turbulence, maybe was hit by lightning and lost several pieces on the left wing before the control was lost.

Crash of a Douglas C-47B-5-DK near Carlos Pellegrini: 14 killed

Date & Time: Dec 3, 1945
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
43-48602
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Asunción – Montevideo
MSN:
14418/25863
YOM:
1944
Location:
Carlos Pellegrini
Corrientes
Country:
Argentina
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
9
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
14
Circumstances:
Enroute, while flying at a too low altitude, the aircraft hit a hill located 16 km southeast of Carlos Pellegrini, killing all 14 occupants.
Crew:
Cpl Charles W. Brown,
Sgt Frank G. Dubinskas,
1st Lt Zane W. Gilcher,
Cpl David S. Kellogg,
1st Lt Earl S. King Jr.,
1st Lt Reuben Klein,
Pfc Theodore H. Leopold,
1st Lt Chester F. Lowe,
1st Lt Orville A. Michelsen,
1st Lt William B. Nunemaker,
Sgt James R. Roberson,
T/Sgt Richard W. Schweitzer,
Sgt Clarence Joseph Setko.

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 a Douglas C-47B-30-DK Dakota C.4 in Cairo: 8 killed

Date & Time: Nov 30, 1945
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
KN432
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
16113/32861
YOM:
1945
Location:
Cairo-Almaza
Cairo
Country:
Egypt
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
8
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
8
Circumstances:
During the final approach completed by night, the aircraft was too low and hit an earth bank and crashed short of runway. The aircraft was destroyed by impact forces and all eight crew members were killed.

Crash of a Douglas R5D-1 in Manila

Date & Time: Nov 30, 1945
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-54 Skymaster
Operator:
Registration:
39147
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
3104
YOM:
1943
Location:
Manila
Metro Manila
Country:
Philippines
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
On approach to Manila Airport, the four engine aircraft was too low and hit a hill. There were no casualties but the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of a Lockheed PV-1 Ventura near Mt Saint Helens: 3 killed

Date & Time: Nov 29, 1945
Type of aircraft:
Lockheed PV-1 Ventura
Operator:
Registration:
49459
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Whidbey Island - Clinton
Location:
Mt Saint Helens
Washington
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
Enroute, the crew encountered unknown technical problems with the engines while cruising in poor weather conditions. Shortly later, the twin engine aircraft hit a mountain slope locate about 7 miles east of Mt Saint Helens. SAR operations were conducted but eventually suspended few days later as no trace of the aircraft nor the crew was found. The wreckage was located by walkers in early 1960.

Crash of a Douglas C-47B-1-DL near Auburn: 9 killed

Date & Time: Nov 28, 1945 at 1715 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
43-16374
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Davis Monthan – Palm Springs – McClellan
MSN:
20840
YOM:
1944
Flight number:
115
Location:
Auburn
California
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
22
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
9
Circumstances:
The aircraft departed Palm Springs in VFR conditions but while approaching the Sacramento area, the crew should continue in IFR mode. While descending to McClellan AFB, pilots were unable to locate the airport and were unaware of their exact position when the aircraft hit tree tops and crashed on a wooded mountain located three miles northwest of Auburn, about 20 miles northeast of the McClellan AFB. All three crew members and six passengers were killed while 16 other occupants were injured.
Probable cause:
Controlled flight into terrain.

Crash of a Douglas C-47B-1-DL near Beruas: 3 killed

Date & Time: Nov 27, 1945
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
43-16261
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Singapore – Butterworth
MSN:
20727
YOM:
1944
Location:
Beruas
Perak
Country:
Malaysia
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
While cruising at an altitude of 600 meters, the aircraft hit tree tops and crashed in a dense wooded area. SAR operations were conducted but eventually suspended few days later as no trace of the aircraft nor the crew was found. The wreckage was discovered by walkers in June 1985 in an isolated area.
Crew:
F/O Judson B. Baskett,
Pfc Donald E. Jones,
1st Lt William H. Myers.

Crash of a Noorduyn UC-64A Norseman in Caen

Date & Time: Nov 26, 1945
Type of aircraft:
Noorduyn Norseman
Operator:
Registration:
44-70550
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
MSN:
815
YOM:
1945
Location:
Caen
Calvados
Country:
France
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The engine failed in flight, forcing the pilot John A. Guinn to make an emergency landing. The aircraft eventually crashed in a field located two miles southeast of Caen. While the pilot was unhurt, the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
Engine failure caused by fuel starvation.

Crash of a Douglas C-47B-1-DL on Mindoro Island: 12 killed

Date & Time: Nov 25, 1945
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
43-16332
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
MSN:
20798
YOM:
1944
Location:
Mindoro Island
Palawan
Country:
Philippines
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
12
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
12
Circumstances:
Lost without trace over the Mindoro Island, while completing a flight within the Philippines. No trace of the aircraft nor the 12 crew members was ever found.
Crew:
Sgt Patrick Callahan,
Cpl Carl Deegan,
2nd Lt William L. Friedrich,
T/Sgt Walter Gawencki,
1st Lt Daniel L. Halperin,
Sgt Marion C. Osborn,
Cpt Robert G. Porter,
2nd Lt Pearlie W. Prather,
F/O L. C. Reed Jr.,
M/Sgt Jackson P. Roop,
1st Lt Ashley G. Trope,
Pvt David Waters.
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