Crash of a Douglas C-47A-80-DL in Tring: 1 killed

Date & Time: Mar 4, 1945
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
43-15254
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
MSN:
19720
YOM:
1944
Location:
Tring
Buckinghamshire
Country:
United Kingdom
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
Crashed in unknown circumstances in Tring, killing one crew member, 2nd Lt Charles V. Smith Jr.

Crash of a Douglas C-47-DL in Ledo: 27 killed

Date & Time: Mar 3, 1945
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
41-18554
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
4679
YOM:
1942
Location:
Ledo
Assam
Country:
India
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
23
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
27
Circumstances:
On final approach to Ledo Airfield, while completing a turn, the aircraft stalled and crashed, killing all 27 occupants, among them 15 female nurses and several officers.
Crew:
1st Lt Walter S. Amsler Jr.,
2nd Lt Francis H. Blalock,
2nd Lt Thomas E. Dellinger,
1st Lt Henry D. Hammack Jr.,
2nd Lt Joseph R. Launier,
Cpt Charles W. Loucks,
Cpt John J. Lukaszczyk,
Cpt Nicholas J. Mandoukos,
1st Lt Grady A. Masters,
Cpt Edward R. Moore.

Crash of a Consolidated B-24D-CO Liberator in Belfast

Date & Time: Mar 2, 1945
Type of aircraft:
Consolidated B-24 Liberator
Operator:
Registration:
FL928
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
246
YOM:
1941
Location:
Belfast-Nutts Corner
Antrim
Country:
United Kingdom
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Swerved on landing, lost its nose gear and came to rest. All crew members escaped unhurt but the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of a Curtiss C-46A-45-CU Commando in Yantai

Date & Time: Feb 27, 1945
Type of aircraft:
Curtiss C-46 Commando
Operator:
Registration:
42-96689
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
30351
YOM:
1944
Location:
Yantai
Shandong
Country:
China
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
After touchdown, the aircraft was unable to stop within the remaining distance, overran and came to rest in a ditch. There were no casualties but the aircraft was written off.
Probable cause:
The crew chose the wrong runway and landed with a tailwind, increasing the landing roll.

Crash of a Curtiss C-46A-20-CU near Dali

Date & Time: Feb 27, 1945
Type of aircraft:
Curtiss C-46 Commando
Operator:
Registration:
41-24687
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Site:
Plain, Valley
MSN:
26608
YOM:
1943
Location:
Dali
Yunnan
Country:
China
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Suffered an engine failure in flight and crashed 10 km southeast of Erhai Lake (Tali Lake), near Dali. Crew fate remains unknown.
Probable cause:
Engine failure.

Crash of a Consolidated C-87A Liberator Express into the Pacific Ocean: 10 killed

Date & Time: Feb 26, 1945
Type of aircraft:
Consolidated C-87 Liberator Express
Operator:
Registration:
41-24174
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Guam – Kwajalein – Honolulu
MSN:
969
Location:
Pacific Ocean
All World
Country:
World
Region:
World
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
4
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
10
Circumstances:
The four engine aircraft left Guam Island on a flight to Honolulu with an intermediate stop in Kwajalein to refuel. At 1215LT, the crew reported his position at 11'15' N, 174'15' E, this was the last radio contact. The aircraft was lost into the ocean and no trace was ever found. There were on board senior staff that was flying to Honolulu to take part to a high command meeting about plans for the final assault of Japan.
Crew:
F/O James Roy Andersen,
M/Sgt Douglas O. Anderson,
T/Sgt Steve Geist,
T/Sgt Charles T. McInerney,
Pfc Arthur Ofner Jr.
1st Lt Jack M. West.
Passengers:
Lt Gen Millard Fillmore Harmon Jr.,
Col William Ball,
Maj Archibald Dean Anderson,
Maj Francis E. Savage.

Crash of a Douglas C-54B-1-DC Skymaster in Kunming

Date & Time: Feb 26, 1945
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-54 Skymaster
Operator:
Registration:
42-72403
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
10508
YOM:
1945
Location:
Kunming
Yunnan
Country:
China
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crashed on landing. There were no casualties but the aircraft was written off.

Crash of a Curtiss C-46A-45-CU Commando in the Sudanese Desert: 9 killed

Date & Time: Feb 23, 1945
Type of aircraft:
Curtiss C-46 Commando
Operator:
Registration:
42-96541
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Desert
MSN:
30203
YOM:
1944
Location:
Sudan
All Sudan
Country:
Sudan
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
9
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
9
Circumstances:
In flight, the pilot lost control of the aircraft following an engine failure. The aircraft crashed in a desert area located some 185 km north of Wadi Seidna AFB, in the suburb of Khartoum. All nine crew members were killed.
Crew:
Cpl John M. Anderson,
Cpt Harold Billups,
Pfc George Brodsky,
2nd Lt Norman Crossley,
1st Lt Frederick P. Downing,
T/Sgt Charles W. Hammock,
S/Sgt Noel A. Holleman,
Pfc Silvio T. Scardapane,
Pfc Milton J. Warrick.
Probable cause:
Engine failure.

Crash of a Douglas C-47B-1-DL off Biak: 20 killed

Date & Time: Feb 23, 1945
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
43-16224
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Tacloban – Biak
MSN:
20690
YOM:
1944
Location:
Biak
Special Region of Papua
Country:
Indonesia
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
16
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
20
Circumstances:
While descending to Biak Island while on a flight from Tacloban, the aircraft crashed in unknown circumstances into the sea, killing all 20 occupants.
Crew:
Pfc Conrad W. Andrews,
Sgt Oscar Arnold,
S/Sgt Howard E. Burlew Sr.,
2nd Lt Robert C. Greenmeyer,
Pfc Albert P. Herbst,
Cpt Edward D. Hirst,
S/Sgt Kendric L. Johnson,
2nd Lt Clarence M. Lindquist,
T/Sgt John F. Lisowski,
1st Lt Robert Marpet,
1st Lt Harold R. McMillan,
S/Sgt John A. Moore,
S/Sgt Henry C. Ousley Jr.,
1st Lt Horace V. Petty,
Cpl George R. Powell,
Pfc Sylvester J. Raba,
S/Sgt Bert J. Shelata Jr.,
Sgt John F. Stucky,
T/Sgt George G. Sullivan,
T/Sgt Judd N. Wommack.

Crash of a Junkers JU.52/3mg4e in Malá Úpa: 8 killed

Date & Time: Feb 23, 1945
Type of aircraft:
Junkers JU.52
Operator:
Registration:
4V+DR
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
MSN:
6820
YOM:
1940
Location:
Malá Úpa
Hradec Králové Region (Královéhradecký kraj)
Country:
Czech Republic
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
8
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
8
Circumstances:
Crashed in Malá Úpa, killing all eight crew members.
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