Crash of a Curtiss C-46A-45-CU Commando in Casablanca: 13 killed

Date & Time: Feb 23, 1945
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
42-107377
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
27064
YOM:
1944
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
26
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
13
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from Casablanca-Cazes Airport, while climbing, the aircraft stalled and crashed 3 km from the airfield. Thirteen occupants were killed while 17 others were injured.
Crew killed were:
R. Garrett,
F/O J. Harrington,
1st Lt Stanley E. Indyk,
1st Lt Eric B. Ives,
Sgt R. T. Johnson,
Cpl Watters L. Lamkin,
1st Lt Samuel W. Lipscomb,
Pfc Michael A. Miraglio,
Lt Col Harry Paller,
1st Lt Bernard A. Perlick,
Maj George E. Skiriey,
Cpt E. Wertman,
Lt Col Charles L. Wheaton.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-10-DK in Vélizy-Villacoublay: 4 killed

Date & Time: Feb 22, 1945
Operator:
Registration:
42-92742
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
MSN:
12576
YOM:
1944
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
While approaching the Vélizy-Villacoublay Airbase, the aircraft was shot down by antiaircraft fire and crashed, killing all four crew members. The origin of the fire remains unknown.
Crew:
S/Sgt Morey Cutler,
2nd Lt Miles C. Matthews,
2nd Lt Bruce A. McKern,
Sgt Thomas J. Quattrene.
Probable cause:
Shot down by antiaircraft fire.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-75-DL near Romagnese: 7 killed

Date & Time: Feb 22, 1945
Operator:
Registration:
42-100954
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
MSN:
19417
YOM:
1944
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
7
Circumstances:
The aircraft left Rosignano AFB at 2030LT with a crew of five and two passengers on board. Few minutes later, in good weather conditions, the aircraft hit the slope of a mountain located west of Romagnese. All seven occupants were killed.
Crew:
1st Lt Robert Ernest Wallin, pilot,
2nd Lt Donald R. Faull, copilot,
1st Lt Lloyd C. Poole, navigator,
Sgt John V. Rupnik, crew chief,
Sgt Richard J. Perzyk, radio operator.
Passengers:
Edward J. Ford,
David C. Saynor.
Source:
http://www.gracpiacenza.com/c-47-dakota-monte-calenzone.html

Crash of a Curtiss C-46A-40-CU Commando in Xi'an

Date & Time: Feb 21, 1945
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
42-107332
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
27019
YOM:
1944
Location:
Country:
Region:
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 damaged beyond repair.

Crash of a Douglas DC-3 Dakota III in RAF Zeals: 20 killed

Date & Time: Feb 19, 1945 at 1526 LT
Operator:
Registration:
TS436
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Zeals - Leicester
MSN:
19349
YOM:
1943
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
17
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
20
Circumstances:
The aircraft was assigned to the Glider Pick-Up Training Flt, whose role was to train crews in the 'snatch take-off method for retrieving gliders. Those on board were mostly returning to their base in Leicester, on completion of the course of instruction at Zeals. The aircraft took off at 1523LT in conditions of broken cloud, with some patches down to 100 feet and generally overcast, a westerly wind at 10 mph and visibility of 1 to 2 miles at ground level. The pilot made a quarter circuit of the airfield and then set course to the north-east. Three minutes later, whilst flying in and out of the broken cloud and whilst in level flight, the aircraft flew into a clump of 60 foot tall beech trees on top of a knoll. The impact ripped 10 feet off the port wing and the aircraft rolled to port, hit two more trees and then impaled itself on a cluster of four mature trees, caught fire and disintegrated, scattering wreckage over a distance of 300 yards on the far side of the knoll. Destruction of the aircraft was complete but investigation revealed the engines to have been at a high power setting on impact.
Crew:
F/Lt Reed Tilton Hyde, pilot,
F/O James Cassells Howden, pilot,
F/O Gerard Jean Guay, wireless operator,
F/O Mervyn Esmond Llewellyn Scovell, navigator.
Passengers:
F/Sgt Alan Geoffrey Shaddick, pilot,
F/Sgt John Ogilvy Allen, wireless operator,
F/Sgt Leslie Daniel Slipper, pilot,
F/Lt Thomas Arthur Evans, pilot,
F/Lt Alan James Roberts, pilot,
F/O Sidney Graham Williams, navigator,
F/Sgt Donald Grant, navigator,
F/Sgt Maxwell Vernon Gilder,
F/Sgt James Ross, flight engineer,
F/Sgt Ronald Edward Jelfs, flight engineer,
F/Lt Douglas Elliott Turnbull, wireless operator,
F/Lt John Heywood, equipment officer,
Cpl Kenneth Stanley Anderson,
LAC Reginald Ernest Suggars,
LAC Walter James Colby,
F/Lt Frank Joseph Plant, navigator.
Source: http://ww2talk.com/
Probable cause:
The Accident Report, published on 17 May 45, suggests that the pilot who was the sole survivor, had failed to climb to a safe height when flying in poor visibility, although the knoll was a well known obstruction in close proximity to the airfield. The tragic sequel to this loss is that the pilot, who had been awarded the DFC for his gallantry on operations, followed a restless career afterwards leaving and returning to the RAF until finally joining the Foreign Service and being appointed an Assistant District Officer. While on assignment in Kenya, he committed suicide.

Crash of a Consolidated B-24J-1-FO Liberator near Burnley: 8 killed

Date & Time: Feb 19, 1945
Operator:
Registration:
42-50668
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Schedule:
North Pickenham - Burtonwood
MSN:
2553
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
6
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
8
Circumstances:
While performing a flight from RAF North Pickenham to RAF Burtonwood, the four engine aircraft hit the slope of Mt Black Hameldon located near Burnley. Eight occupants were killed while three others were injured. The aircraft was totally destroyed.
Crew (854th Bombing Squadron):
1st Lt Charles Albert Goeking, pilot,
2nd Lt George H. Smith, copilot, †
1st Lt Frank E. Bock, navigator, †
T/Sgt Howard E. Denham, flight engineer, †
T/Sgt Leslie E. Johnson, radio operator.
Passengers:
2nd Lt Joseph B. Walker III, †
2nd Lt Elmer R. Brater, †
F/O Gerald Procita, †
F/O David A. Robinson, †
Sgt Randolph R. Mohlhenrich, †
Sgt Robert D. Hyett.

Crash of a Curtiss C-46A-45-CU Commando in Abadan: 4 killed

Date & Time: Feb 18, 1945
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
42-96544
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
MSN:
30206
YOM:
1944
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from Abadan Airport, while in initial climb, the aircraft nosed down and crashed, killing all four occupants. The flight was completed on behalf of the 1266th Army Air Force Base Unit, North African Division, Air Transport Command.
Crew:
Cpl Joseph Brine,
2nd Lt George H. Hafford,
1st Lt Samuel B. Isbell,
1st Lt Richard E. Wheelus.
Probable cause:
The right rudder tab became jammed in a nose-down position after rotation for unknown reasons.

Crash of a Grumman J4F-2 Widgeon into the Atlantic Ocean: 4 killed

Date & Time: Feb 17, 1945
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
37714
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Floyd Bennett Field - Brunswick
MSN:
1344
YOM:
1943
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
In flight, an engine caught fire and the seaplane crashed into the Atlantic Ocean. All four crew members were killed.
Probable cause:
Engine caught fire in flight.

Crash of a Douglas C-47B-10-DK in Les Mureaux AFB: 3 killed

Date & Time: Feb 15, 1945
Operator:
Registration:
43-48956
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
MSN:
26217/14772
YOM:
1944
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
Crashed on landing, killing all three crew members.
Crew:
Cpt Robert W. Bonhard,
Cpt Donald O. Larson,
S/Sgt H. S. MacFarland Jr.