Crash of a Boeing B-17G-65-DL Flying Fortress near Hinterbichl: 20 killed

Date & Time: Jun 6, 1945
Type of aircraft:
Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress
Operator:
Registration:
44-6765
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
MSN:
22988
Location:
Hinterbichl
Tyrol
Country:
Austria
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
15
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
20
Circumstances:
While flying in marginal weather conditions, the four engine aircraft hit the slope of a mountain located in the Austrian Alps, in Tyrol. The wreckage was found about 20 miles northeast of Campo Tures and few km north of Hinterbichl. All 20 occupants were killed.
Crew:
T/S William H. Arroyo,
T/S Milton A. Jackson,
Cpt Francis S. J. Sargeant
Cpl Herman O. Vold,
1st Lt Alex A. Williams Jr.

Crash of a Douglas C-47-DL near Sakden: 7 killed

Date & Time: Jun 5, 1945
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
41-38746
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Calcutta – Jorhat
MSN:
6205
YOM:
1942
Location:
Sakden
Trashigang
Country:
Bhutan
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
7
Circumstances:
Enroute from Calcutta to Jorhat, the aircraft crashed in a mountainous area located south of Sakden, Bhutan. All seven occupants were killed.
Crew:
Cpl Morris Adoff,
Pfc John Barto,
1st Lt John J. Besone,
S/Sgt Murdoch M. McLaughlin,
Pfc Charles Perkel.
Passengers:
Cpt Earl E. Cunningham,
Cpt Lloyd F. Melichar.

Crash of a Douglas C-47B-1-DL in Bogotá-Techo

Date & Time: Jun 3, 1945 at 1015 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
43-16148
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Bogotá – Panama City
MSN:
20614
YOM:
1944
Location:
Bogotá-Techo
Bogotá Capital District
Country:
Colombia
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff, while climbing to a height of 25 meters, the aircraft stalled and crashed on the runway. All three occupants were injured and the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of a Douglas DC-3 Dakota IV in Karin: 5 killed

Date & Time: Jun 2, 1945 at 0700 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
KN283
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
MSN:
15776/27221
YOM:
1945
Location:
Karin
Uttar Pradesh
Country:
India
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
Enroute, the aircraft flew into cumulus and encountered severe turbulence. It went out of control, disintegrated in the air and crashed in a field, killing all five crew members.
Crew:
F/Sgt Ronald Percival Elston 4.
Probable cause:
It appears that turbulence in clouds were beyond the design limit of the aircraft that disintegrated in flight.

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

Date & Time: Jun 2, 1945
Type of aircraft:
Consolidated PBY Catalina
Operator:
Registration:
46468
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Location:
Pacific Ocean
All World
Country:
World
Region:
World
Crew on board:
8
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
8
Circumstances:
Lost without trace while on a mission to Osaka. Probably crashed enroute into the Pacific Ocean. No trace of the aircraft nor the crew was ever found.

Crash of a Douglas C-47B-5-DK in Longreach

Date & Time: Jun 1, 1945 at 0300 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
A65-62
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Pitu – Longreach – Brisbane
MSN:
14555/26000
YOM:
1944
Location:
Longreach
Queensland
Country:
Australia
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Aircraft flight hours:
1208
Circumstances:
The crew was performing a flight from Pitu to Brisbane with an intermediate stop in Longreach. While descending by night and in foggy conditions, the crew was unable to locate the airfield and the captain decided to make a go around. A second attempt to land was abandoned as well. During the third attempt, the aircraft was too low and hit the ground and crashed. While all four crew members were unhurt, the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of a Douglas C-47B-28-DK off Sassandra: 21 killed

Date & Time: May 30, 1945 at 0920 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
44-76406
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Accra - Monrovia
MSN:
15990/32738
YOM:
1945
Location:
Sassandra
Bas-Sassandra
Country:
Ivory Coast
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
18
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
21
Circumstances:
The aircraft was performing a flight from Accra to Monrovia with members of the USAF female corps on board, on behalf of the Air Transport Command. While flying along the shore, the crew sent a brief mayday message when the aircraft dove into the sea and crashed nose down by 45° angle. All 21 occupants were killed.
Crew:
1st Lt Alfred R. Ellis,
F/O Robert E. Mulhern ,
Cpl George A. Shiffman.

Crash of a Douglas R4D-5 in Venice

Date & Time: May 30, 1945
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
17240
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
13993/25438
YOM:
1944
Location:
Venice-Lido
Veneto
Country:
Italy
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crash landed in Venice-Lido Airfield. No casualties.

Crash of a Lockheed PV-1 Ventura in Malaita Island: 5 killed

Date & Time: May 27, 1945
Type of aircraft:
Lockheed PV-1 Ventura
Operator:
Registration:
NZ4578
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
MSN:
6209
YOM:
1944
Location:
Malaita Island
All Solomon Islands
Country:
Solomon Islands
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
Enroute, the twin engine aircraft hit the slope of a mountain and disintegrated on impact. All five crew members were killed. As the aircraft was carrying a load of bombs, the explosion on impact was so severe that no trace of the crew was found.
Crew (4th Squadron):
F/O Keith Graham,
Sgt Melville Moxham,
F/Sgt Leo Marshall,
Sgt Eric Priest,
Sgt Douglas Reid.
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