Crash of a Noorduyn UC-64A Norseman in Le Bourget: 2 killed

Date & Time: Dec 3, 1944 at 1200 LT
Type of aircraft:
Noorduyn Norseman
Operator:
Registration:
43-5313
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
304
YOM:
1944
Location:
Paris-Le Bourget
Seine-Saint-Denis
Country:
France
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
The crew started the approach to Paris-Le Bourget in very bad weather conditions: low ceiling, freezing rain and fog. While too low, the single engine aircraft hit tree tops and crashed in a wooded area. Both occupants were killed.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-85-DL near Rouen: 4 killed

Date & Time: Dec 3, 1944
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
43-15500
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Greenham Common – Saint-Dizier
MSN:
19966
YOM:
1944
Location:
Rouen
Seine-Maritime
Country:
France
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
While cruising north of Rouen, the crew encountered poor weather and severe icing conditions. The aircraft went out of control and crashed in a field located north of Rouen, some 24 km southeast of Saint-Valéry-en-Caux. All four crew members were killed.

Crash of a Lockheed C-60A-1-LO LodeStar in Mt Bear: 9 killed

Date & Time: Dec 1, 1944 at 1945 LT
Type of aircraft:
Lockheed C-60 LodeStar
Operator:
Registration:
42-32197
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Hondo – Fresno
MSN:
2287
Location:
Bakersfield
California
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
9
Circumstances:
While on a flight from Hondo AAF, the crew started the descent to Fresno by night when at the altitude of 4,300 feet, the twin engine aircraft hit the north slope of Mt Bear located some 18 miles southeast of Bakersfield. All nine occupants were killed.
Crew and passengers:
Clarence W. DeGroff,
1st Lt Hobert D. Simpson Jr.,
2nd Lt James F. Applewhite,
2nd Lt Jimmie E. Hoch,
2nd Lt Louis J. Hoekstra,
F/O Otto F. Illias,
F/O Michel D. Pavich,
Sgt Ira R. Ratliff,
Pfc Walter H. Denk.

Crash of a Martin PBM-5 Mariner on Mt Tamalpais: 8 killed

Date & Time: Nov 30, 1944 at 2325 LT
Type of aircraft:
Martin PBM Mariner
Operator:
Registration:
45415
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Alameda - Honolulu
MSN:
45415
Location:
San Rafael
California
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
8
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
8
Captain / Total flying hours:
1500
Captain / Total hours on type:
1200.00
Circumstances:
Shortly after take off from Alameda NAS, while approaching the Golden Gate at an altitude of 2,000 feet, the crew encountered poor weather conditions and low visibility. The captain decided to return to his departure point and started a turn to the right while penetrating a cloudy area. By night, the seaplane hit the slope of Mt Tamalpais located some 5 miles southwest of San Rafael. The wreckage was spotted a day later and all eight occupants were killed.
Crew:
Lt Joseph L. Resley,
Lt Thomas W. Oliver,
Ens Chapin B. Miller,
ACMM Harry L. Holland,
AMM2 Rodney Jeffers,
ARM2 Thomas J. Joyce,
ARM3 John R. Kelly,
AOM2 Wayne D. Paxson.
Photos: http://www.aviationarchaeology.com/pbm5bu.htm
Probable cause:
According to investigations, the sky was broken at the time of the accident, with scattered showers. Due to an insufficient visibility, it was concluded that weather conditions were unsuitable for such transpacific flight. The crew was unable to detect the mountain because it was shrouded by clouds and the visibility was low due to night.

Crash of a Consolidated B-24L-10-FO Liberator in Nottingham: 9 killed

Date & Time: Nov 29, 1944 at 0930 LT
Type of aircraft:
Consolidated B-24 Liberator
Operator:
Registration:
44-49669
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Manchester – Gander
MSN:
4524
Location:
Nottingham
New Hampshire
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
9
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
9
Circumstances:
Few minutes after take off from Grenier Field AFB in Manchester, en route to Gander, the aircraft went out of control, nosed down and crashed in the Pawtuckaway State Forest in Nottingham, some 16 miles northeast of Manchester. All nine crew members were killed.
Crew:
Cpl Robert Hunter Wells,
2nd Lt Paul E. Hackstock,
2nd Lt Wilbur C. Stephensen,
F/O Russell L. Jones,
Cpl Calvin R. Rickenbach,
Cpl Thomas L. McDougall,
Cpl William L. Swarmer Jr.,
Cpl Preston K. Smith,
Cpl Kenneth J. Young.
Probable cause:
It appears the loss of control occurred when a tail surface hinge failed.

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

Date & Time: Nov 27, 1944 at 0200 LT
Type of aircraft:
Lockheed L-414 Hudson
Operator:
Registration:
T9463
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Tempsford - Tempsford
Location:
Brisy
Luxembourg
Country:
Belgium
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
The crew was engaged in a secret mission over Arnstadt, Germany, to drop an American Agent on behalf of the OSS. While returning to England after a successful mission and while flying over Belgium, the twin engine aircraft was shot down by the pilot of a German fighter and crashed in a field located in Brisy. All four crew members were killed.
Crew (161st Squadron):
S/L Reginald Eric Wilkinson, pilot,
F/O J. Weddell, navigator,
F/L Frederick John Joseph Champion, wireless operator and air gunner,
F/L G. H. Ash, air gunner.
Probable cause:
Shot down by a German fighter.

Crash of a Consolidated PBY-5A Catalina in Brazil: 22 killed

Date & Time: Nov 27, 1944
Type of aircraft:
Consolidated PBY Catalina
Operator:
Registration:
04973
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Location:
Brazil
All Brazil
Country:
Brazil
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
19
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
22
Circumstances:
Crashed somewhere in Brazil following an in flight fire. All 22 occupants were killed.

Crash of a Douglas C-47B-1-DL into the Pacific Ocean: 21 killed

Date & Time: Nov 27, 1944
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
43-16343
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Tacloban – Angaur
MSN:
20809
YOM:
1944
Location:
Pacific Ocean
All World
Country:
World
Region:
World
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
19
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
21
Circumstances:
Disappeared en route from Tacloban to Angaur Airfield, in Palau. No trace of the aircraft nor the 21 occupants was ever found.

Crash of a Douglas C54B-1-DC Skymaster in Kwajalein

Date & Time: Nov 26, 1944 at 1200 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-54 Skymaster
Operator:
Registration:
42-72320
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Military
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
10425
YOM:
1944
Location:
Kwajalein
All Marshall Islands
Country:
Marshall Islands
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crashed on take off.
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