Military | Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives

Shortly after take off from Châteaudun Airfield, while climbing to a height of 500 feet, the aircraft stalled and crashed in flames on a road located two miles southeast of the airbase. All ten occupants were killed. They were on their way back to England.
Crew (91st TCS):
1st Lt Warren R. Schuman, pilot,
F/O Harold L. Boggs, copilot,
Sgt Robert M. Kelley, radio operator,
T/Sgt Roy L. Harker, crew chief.
Passengers:
T/4 Alvin P. Hymel,
Cpl Frederick B. Cannon,
Pvt August C. Teresi,
Pvt Doyal Kincade,
Pvt Thomas H. Williams,
Pvt Alpha A. La Favers.
Source & photos:
http://www.airbornetroopcarrier.com/ardenneschristmasaccidents.html

Probable cause:

The accident was probably caused by an aerodynamic stall due to an excessive accumulation of ice on both wings, the fuselage and the tail as well.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-25-DK in RAF Ramsbury: 3 killed

Date & Time: Dec 22, 1944

Type of aircraft:

Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)

Operator:

Registration:

42-93508

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

MSN:

13427

YOM:

1944

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The crew was on his way to RAF Grove, Oxfordshire, but a landing was impossible due to poor visibility. The aircraft was diverted to Exeter Airport but again, landing was not possible due to marginal weather conditions. The crew continued to RAF Ramsbury and on final approach, the aircraft hit tree tops and crashed in a wooded area. Three crew members were killed while two others were injured.
Crew:
1st Lt Benjamin A. Taylor, pilot, †
P/O Willard Leutenegger, copilot, †
T/Sgt John J. Vojcik, crew chief, †
Daniel V. B. Riley, assistant to the crew chief,
Charles A. Kdlak, radio operator.
Source & photo:
http://www.ramsburyatwar.com/crashes/c47ramsbury.htm

Crash of a Douglas C-47-DL Skytrain in Dawson Farm: 6 killed

Date & Time: Dec 22, 1944

Type of aircraft:

Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)

Operator:

Registration:

41-38608

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Burtonwood – Grove – Le Culot

MSN:

4636

YOM:

1942

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The crew was flying to Le Culot Airbase, Belgium, with supplies on board. The aircraft was scheduled to make a stop at RAF Grove, Oxfordshire. Some 30 minutes after its departure from RAF Burtonwood, the crew encountered poor weather conditions and decided to return to his departure point. In low visibility (30 to 40 yards), the aircraft hit a tree and crashed in flames in an open field. The aircraft was destroyed by a post crash fire and six occupants were killed. The captain was the only survivor.
Crew (33rd Photo Reconnaissance Squadron):
Maj Theodore A. Rogers, pilot,
1st Lt John E. Barnby, copilot,
Sgt William E. Davis,
Charles P. Ingram.
Passenger:
Lt Col Richard L. Cardozo,
Lt Col Holmes L. Payne,
Maj Cecil R. Steele.
Source & photos:
http://www.peakdistrictaircrashes.co.uk/pages/peakdistrict/peakdistrict41-38608.htm

Crash of an Avro 683 Lancaster near Åseral: 7 killed

Date & Time: Dec 21, 1944

Type of aircraft:

Avro 683 Lancaster

Operator:

Registration:

PB461

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Site:

Mountains

Schedule:

Coningsby - Coningsby

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The aircraft was flying in formation with another RAF Lancaster registered PB691. While cruising over the south part of Norway, the aircraft went out of control and crashed on the slope of a wooded hill. All seven crew members were killed.
Crew (97th Squadron):
F/O W. R. Sinclair,
Sgt S. B. Morgan,
F/O G. H. Kendall,
F/S K. Mannion,
F/S T. D. Cremins,
F/S E. J. Hobbs,
F/S Oliver Gaon.

Crash of an Avro 683 Lancaster near Åseral: 7 killed

Date & Time: Dec 21, 1944

Type of aircraft:

Avro 683 Lancaster

Operator:

Registration:

PB691

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Site:

Mountains

Schedule:

Fulbeck - Fulbeck

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The aircraft was flying in formation with another RAF Lancaster registered PB461. While cruising over the south part of Norway, the aircraft went out of control and crashed on the slope of a wooded hill. All seven crew members were killed.
Crew (189th Squadron):
F/Lt G. B. White,
Sgt J. B. Clayton,
F/O H. L. Shepherd,
F/O E. A. Underwood,
Sgt W. A. Gamble,
F/O A. W. Heughan,
Sgt N. Summers.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-90-DL near Ironton: 5 killed

Date & Time: Dec 20, 1944 at 2220 LT

Type of aircraft:

Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)

Operator:

Registration:

43-16066

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Site:

Mountains

Schedule:

Malden – Marion

MSN:

20532

YOM:

1944

Location:

Ironton

Missouri

Country:

United States of America

Region:

North America

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

While cruising by night over Missouri, the crew did not realize his altitude was too low. The aircraft hit a ridge and crashed in a mountainous region located 5,6 miles south of Ironton. All five occupants were killed.

Crash of a Consolidated PBY-5A Catalina in Broome

Date & Time: Dec 19, 1944

Type of aircraft:

Consolidated PBY Catalina

Operator:

Registration:

A24-76

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Schedule:

Broome – Darwin

MSN:

1661

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Crashed on an early morning departure from Broome on behalf of the 43rd squadron. No casualties.

Crash of a North American B-25 Mitchell in Goronne: 1 killed

Date & Time: Dec 19, 1944

Type of aircraft:

North American B-25 Mitchell

Operator:

Registration:

FV928

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

While cruising over Belgium, the twin engine bomber was shot down by the German Flak. The captain was able to reduce his altitude in an attempt to make an emergency landing but the aircraft eventually crashed in a pasture. A member of the crew was killed while all three other occupants were injured.

Probable cause:

Shot down by the German Flak.