Crash of a Noorduyn UC-64A Norseman in RAF Chalgrove

Date & Time: Jul 14, 1945
Type of aircraft:
Noorduyn Norseman
Operator:
Registration:
44-70255
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
520
YOM:
1944
Location:
Chalgrove AFB
Oxfordshire
Country:
United Kingdom
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Ground looped on landing at RAF Chalgrove and came to rest. The pilot Ralph D. Campbell Jr. was unhurt while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of a Consolidated B-24L-1-FO Liberator VIII near Bamfield: 14 killed

Date & Time: Jul 13, 1945 at 1510 LT
Type of aircraft:
Consolidated B-24 Liberator
Operator:
Registration:
11121
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Patricia Bay – Comox – Tofino – Patricia Bay
MSN:
3986
Location:
Bamfield (Vancouver Island)
British Columbia
Country:
Canada
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
7
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
14
Circumstances:
Few minutes after takeoff from Tofino Airport, while flying at an altitude of 2,800 feet in low visibility due to clouds, the aircraft hit the slope of a mountain located 7 miles east southeast of Bamfield, in the Somerset Range. The wreckage was found for days later (July 17) in an isolated area and all 14 occupants were killed.
Crew (11th Squadron):
F/O W. E. Davies, pilot,
F/O R. J. Martello,
F/O N. M. Popovich,
F/O H. A. Lowe,
W/O V. C. Crosson,
W/O J. B. Presse,
F/Sgt D. W. Hope.
Passengers:
Sgt Bennett,
Cpl N. W. Johnson,
Cpl W. Hrysko,
Cpl N. Johnston,
LAC R. B. Kitely,
LAC L. H. Tull,
LAW M. Mann.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-30-DK off Savo Island

Date & Time: Jul 12, 1945
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
NZ3521
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
MSN:
13929/25374
YOM:
1944
Location:
Savo Island
All Solomon Islands
Country:
Solomon Islands
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crashed in unknown circumstances into the sea, some 400 yards offshore. The aircraft sank and was lost while there were no casualties.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-1-DK off Kisumu: 28 killed

Date & Time: Jul 11, 1945
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
6812
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Kisumu – Durban
MSN:
11987
YOM:
1943
Location:
Kisumu
Nyanza
Country:
Kenya
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
24
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
28
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from Kisumu Airport, while in initial climb, the aircraft crashed on an island located in the Winam Bay, northeast part of the Lake Victoria. All 28 occupants were killed, among them SAAF soldiers that were released after being prisoners of war.
Probable cause:
The exact cause of the accident could not be determined with certainty but Kenyan Civil Aviation Authority banned all night takeoffs from Kisumu Airport for several weeks following this accident.

Crash of a Noorduyn UC-64A Norseman in Innsbruck

Date & Time: Jul 9, 1945
Type of aircraft:
Noorduyn Norseman
Operator:
Registration:
43-35376
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
450
YOM:
1944
Location:
Innsbruck
Tyrol
Country:
Austria
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crash landed. The aircraft was destroyed and the pilot John D. Dunleavy was injured.

Crash of a Consolidated PBY-5A Catalina off Kisumu: 6 killed

Date & Time: Jul 8, 1945
Type of aircraft:
Consolidated PBY Catalina
Operator:
Registration:
FP115
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Location:
Kisumu
Nyanza
Country:
Kenya
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Circumstances:
The seaplane hit the water surface on landing, overturned and sank. All six crew members were killed.
Crew (259th Squadron):
F/O Stanley William Ives, pilot,
F/O Denis Claude William Churchill, pilot,
F/Sgt David Francis Deans, flight engineer,
F/Sgt George Thomas Parsons, navigator,
F/Sgt Noel Wilks, wireless operator,
F/Sgt Laurence Roy McIntosh, wireless operator and air gunner.
Source: http://www.rafcommands.com/archive/12251.php
Probable cause:
Misjudged landing by an inexperienced pilot on the Lake when it was glassy calm.The crew captain was not actually flying the aircraft at the time.

Crash of a Douglas C-47B-15-DK in Luganville

Date & Time: Jul 6, 1945
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
NZ3529
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
15205/26650
YOM:
1944
Location:
Luganville
All Vanuatu
Country:
Vanuatu
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
During the takeoff roll, the aircraft veered to the right, went off runway, lost its undercarriage and came to rest into trees. The aircraft was written off but there were no casualties.

Crash of a Douglas C-54B-1-DC Skymaster near Kunming: 5 killed

Date & Time: Jul 4, 1945
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-54 Skymaster
Operator:
Registration:
42-72370
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
MSN:
10475
YOM:
1944
Location:
Kunming
Yunnan
Country:
China
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
Crashed in unknown circumstances in the region of Kunming, killing all five crew members.
Crew:
Cpt Edwin N. Brissey,
F/O Hugh C. Ferris,
Cpt Lewis H. Magin Jr.,
S/Sgt Elmer Sharpe,
S/Sgt James W. Stooksbury .

Crash of a Curtiss R5C-1 off North Field AFB

Date & Time: Jul 4, 1945
Type of aircraft:
Curtiss C-46 Commando
Operator:
Registration:
39561
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Military
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
MSN:
30438
YOM:
1944
Location:
Andersen AFB
All Guam Island
Country:
Guam Island
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff, while climbing, the twin engine aircraft crashed into the ocean, about five miles offshore. The crew fate remains unknown.

Crash of a Consolidated RY-3 Privateer into the Atlantic Ocean: 15 killed

Date & Time: Jul 4, 1945
Type of aircraft:
Consolidated PB4Y-2 Privateer
Operator:
Registration:
JT982
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Washington DC – Montreal – Gander – Keflavik – Prestwick – Northolt
MSN:
90030
YOM:
1944
Location:
Atlantic Ocean
All World
Country:
World
Region:
World
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
11
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
15
Circumstances:
En route, while flying over the North Atlantic, the aircraft disappeared in unknown circumstances. SAR operations were conducted but eventually suspended after two weeks as no trace of the aircraft nor the 15 occupants was found. All passengers were US, Canadian and British Officers who were flying back to the UK after taking part to a military conference in Washington DC.
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