Crash of a Curtiss C-46A-35-CU Commando near Pangseng Pass

Date & Time: Mar 24, 1945
Type of aircraft:
Curtiss C-46 Commando
Operator:
Registration:
42-3629
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Mountains
MSN:
26762
YOM:
1943
Location:
Pangseng Pass
Kachin State
Country:
Myanmar
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
En route, an engine failed, forcing the crew to abandon the aircraft that crashed in a mountainous region located near the Pangseng Pass. The aircraft was destroyed while all crew members survived.
Probable cause:
Engine failure.

Crash of a Lockheed L-414 Hudson III in Manhay: 4 killed

Date & Time: Mar 21, 1945
Type of aircraft:
Lockheed L-414 Hudson
Operator:
Registration:
T9445
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
MSN:
414-2480
YOM:
1941
Location:
Manhay
Luxembourg
Country:
Belgium
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
While overflying Belgium, the twin engine aircraft was mistakenly shot down by the pilot of a Northrop P-61 Black Widow and crashed in a field located in Manhay. All four crew members were killed.
Crew (161st Squadron):
F/Lt R. Ferris,
W/O R. Hutton,
F/Lt A. Penhale,
F/O J. Traill.
Probable cause:
Shot down.

Crash of a Curtiss C-46D-5-CU Commando near Chittagong: 2 killed

Date & Time: Mar 21, 1945
Type of aircraft:
Curtiss C-46 Commando
Operator:
Registration:
42-101234
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
MSN:
30689
YOM:
1944
Location:
Chittagong
Chittagong
Country:
Bangladesh
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
Crashed 64 km east of Chittagong, possibly following an inflight collision with a USAAF Stinson L-5 Sentinel registered 44-16815. The circumstances of the occurrence remains unknown but the C-46 crashed, killing its both crew members.
Crew:
1st Lt Robert E. Claudius,
2nd Lt Lynwood Logan.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.83 Fox Moth in Miles

Date & Time: Mar 20, 1945
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DH.83 Fox Moth
Operator:
Registration:
A41-4
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Brisbane – Dulacca
MSN:
4048
YOM:
1933
Location:
Miles
Queensland
Country:
Australia
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The pilot, sole aboard, was performing a flight from Brisbane-Archerfield Airport to Dulacca, Queensland. While approaching Miles, he encountered unspecified problems and was forced to attempt an emergency landing when the single engine airplane hit power cables and crashed in a field. The pilot was injured and the aircraft was written off.

Crash of a Douglas R4D-6 into the Pacific Ocean: 17 killed

Date & Time: Mar 19, 1945 at 0800 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
50770
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Pitu – Tacloban
MSN:
26325/14880
YOM:
1944
Location:
Pacific Ocean
All World
Country:
World
Region:
World
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
12
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
17
Captain / Total flying hours:
2728
Captain / Total hours on type:
434.00
Circumstances:
The aircraft left Pitu Airport on Morotai Island in the early morning bound for Tacloban, Philippines. It failed to arrive and SAR operations were conducted. Unfortunately, no trace of the aircraft nor the crew was ever found. At the time of the accident, the weather conditions were considered as marginal.
Crew:
Lt Donald Leslie McInteer, pilot,
Cpt Richard A. Kirkland, copilot,
James Thompson Jr.,
Barton J. Rassmussen,
Edmund Z. Szczygiel.
Passengers:
Lt Donald V. Johnson,
Lt Louis C. Skinner,
Lt G. M. L. Costner,
Alsie A. Porterfield,
Alpha Scott,
Charles W. Kallal,
Alfred A. France,
Tony D. Drakos,
Ben Williams,
Bennice Hathaway,
Sgt A. B. Bosely,
Pvt H. L. Straub.

Crash of a Douglas DC-3 Dakota III in Bari

Date & Time: Mar 19, 1945
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
KG727
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
13728
YOM:
1944
Location:
Bari
Apulia
Country:
Italy
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
A premature retraction of the landing gear during the takeoff roll caused the aircraft to crash on the runway. There were no casualties but the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
Premature retraction of the landing gear during takeoff.

Crash of a Douglas DC-3 Dakota IV into the Coral Sea

Date & Time: Mar 19, 1945
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
KN343
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Madang – Port Moresby – Townsville
MSN:
32659/15911
YOM:
1945
Location:
Coral Sea
All World
Country:
World
Region:
World
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
24
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The aircraft was on its way from Madang to Townsville with an intermediate stop in Port Moresby-Jackson Airport. While cruising over the Coral Sea, a dual engine failure forced the crew to ditch the aircraft some 200 km south of Port Moresby. All 28 occupants took refuge into dinghies and were later rescued. The aircraft sank and was lost.
Crew (243rd Squadron):
P/O Frank Leslie Carnell, pilot,
W/O Nutt,
F/Sgt Wrench,
F/Sgt Moffatt.
Source: http://www.ozatwar.com/ozcrashes/qld20.htm
Probable cause:
Dual engine failure.

Crash of a Curtiss C-46D-5-CU Commando in Chittagong

Date & Time: Mar 19, 1945
Type of aircraft:
Curtiss C-46 Commando
Operator:
Registration:
42-101190
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
30645
YOM:
1944
Location:
Chittagong
Chittagong
Country:
Bangladesh
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crashed on takeoff. No casualties.

Crash of a Curtiss C-46A-30-CU Commando near Shin Bway Yang

Date & Time: Mar 19, 1945
Type of aircraft:
Curtiss C-46 Commando
Operator:
Registration:
41-24746
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Chabua - Kunming
MSN:
26667
YOM:
1943
Location:
Shin Bway Yang
Kachin State
Country:
Myanmar
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crashed for unknown reason 30 miles southwest of Shin Bway Yang. There were no casualties.

Crash of a Curtiss C-46A-55-CK near Yunlong

Date & Time: Mar 19, 1945
Type of aircraft:
Curtiss C-46 Commando
Operator:
Registration:
43-47114
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
MSN:
185
YOM:
1944
Location:
Yunlong
Yunnan
Country:
China
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Following an engine failure in flight, the crew decided to abandon the aircraft and bailed out. The aircraft dove into the ground and crashed. All four crew members were uninjured.
Probable cause:
Engine failure.
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