Military | Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives

Crashed into the sea off Pitu, killing all four crew members.
Crew:
Pfc Roland L. De Cordova,
Sgt Donald D. Dyvig,
1st Lt Gilbert Kaufman,
1st Lt Clarence W. Million.

Crash of a Curtiss C-46D-5-CU Commando into the Pacific Ocean: 5 killed

Date & Time: Jun 11, 1945

Type of aircraft:

Curtiss C-46 Commando

Operator:

Registration:

44-77336

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

MSN:

32732

YOM:

1944

Location:

Country:

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Circumstances:

Crashed in unknown circumstances while performing a flight between The Philippines and Indonesia. Probably crashed in the west part of the Pacific. No trace of the aircraft nor the crew was found. The date of May 26 is also mentioned for this mishap.
Crew:
S/Sgt James A. Lyerly,
2nd Lt Thomas J. O'Brien,
2nd Lt Edward Y. Ong,
Sgt William B. Pemberton,
Sgt Ernest Gilbert Radcliff.

Crash of an Avro 652 Anson I in Wallal

Date & Time: Jun 10, 1945 at 0750 LT

Type of aircraft:

Avro 652 Anson

Operator:

Registration:

AW914

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

Schedule:

Port Hedland – Wallal

Location:

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Captain / Total flying hours:

832

Circumstances:

The aircraft left Port Hedland headed for Wallal, about 120 km northeast of Port Hedland, with three crew members and freight on board. At about 0950LT, the aircraft landed at Wallal with crosswinds gusty up to 7 mph. The pilot applied brakes but they did not work due to the nipple pulling off the brake cable. There was not enough runway left to takeoff again so the pilot applied coarse rudder and engine power settings to attempt to turn the aircraft around. This did not work and the aircraft ran off the runway and hit a mound of dirt and then crashed through a fence which knocked the undercarriage off. The aircraft slid for another 20 yards on the fuselage causing extensive damage.
Crew (7th CU)
P/O B. R. Wilson 2.
Source: http://www.ozatwar.com/ozcrashes/wa89.htm

Crash of a Noorduyn UC-64A Norseman in Siliguri: 1 killed

Date & Time: Jun 10, 1945

Type of aircraft:

Noorduyn Norseman

Operator:

Registration:

44-70301

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

MSN:

566

YOM:

1944

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Circumstances:

Crashed on landing, killing the pilot, sole occupant.

Crash of a Lockheed PV-1 Ventura in Lelet Plateau: 6 killed

Date & Time: Jun 9, 1945

Type of aircraft:

Lockheed PV-1 Ventura

Operator:

Registration:

NZ4613

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

Schedule:

Emirau - Rabaul

MSN:

6268

Location:

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The crew left Emirau Airport on a bombing mission to Rabaul. Following a uneventful mission and while returning to its base, the twin engine aircraft crashed in the Lelet Plateau. The wreckage was found in November 1945 only. All six crew members have been killed.
Crew (8th Squadron):
F/O Norman Benton,
F/Sgt James Cunneen,
F/Sgt Robert Buchanan,
W/O Chris Jeffares,
F/Sgt James Mallett,
Sgt Norman Merfield.

Crash of a Douglas C-47B-20-DK into the Pacific Ocean: 8 killed

Date & Time: Jun 8, 1945

Type of aircraft:

Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)

Operator:

Registration:

43-49762

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Schedule:

Tacloban – Sansapor

MSN:

15578/27023

YOM:

1944

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Circumstances:

Lost without trace into the west part of the Pacific Ocean while on a flight from Tacloban to Sansapor, West Papua.
Crew:
2nd Lt Melvin L. Pruett,
1st Lt Odis B. Torbett,
Sgt John A. Morgan,
Sgt Arnold M. Ross.
Passengers:
M/Sgt Chester E. Adams,
Tec James W. Borren,
S/Sgt Dallas H. Coley,
Tec Kenneth W. True.

Crash of Douglas DC-3 Dakota IV near Comilla: 24 killed

Date & Time: Jun 7, 1945 at 0730 LT

Type of aircraft:

Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)

Operator:

Registration:

KN254

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

Schedule:

Dhaka – Chittagong

MSN:

15736/27181

YOM:

1945

Location:

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Circumstances:

The aircraft left Dhaka in the early morning on a non operational flight to Chittagong, carrying a crew of five and 19 Indian soldiers. While cruising in poor weather conditions, the aircraft disintegrated in the air and crashed in a field near Comilla. All 24 occupants were killed. Heavy turbulence are suspected.
Crew (215th Squadron):
W/O Peter Le Rey Boucaut, pilot,
F/Sgt G. K. Gibb, copilot,
Sgt A. Stephen, navigator,
Cpl R. F. Sandilands,
LAC H. N. Sandford.

Crash of a Douglas R4D-6 in Papua New Guinea: 4 killed

Date & Time: Jun 7, 1945

Type of aircraft:

Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)

Operator:

Registration:

17277

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Schedule:

Momote – Biak

MSN:

14335/25780

YOM:

1944

Location:

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Circumstances:

Lost without trace on a flight from Momote to Biak.

Crash of an Avro 685 York C.1 in RAF Holmsley South

Date & Time: Jun 7, 1945

Type of aircraft:

Avro 685 York

Operator:

Registration:

MW166

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

MSN:

MW166

YOM:

1945

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

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Circumstances:

Just after liftoff, while in initial climb, the aircraft stalled and hit the runway surface. The captain decided to increase power on all four engines and made a go around. After completing a circuit around the airport, the crew followed the landing procedure when on touchdown, all main undercarriage collapsed. The aircraft slid for several yards before coming to rest. There were no casualties but the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Probable cause:

While the reason for the stall remains unknown, the undercarriage failed to lock down during the circuit due to the impact that occurred at liftoff.