Military | Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives

En route, the three engine aircraft was attacked by the pilot of a Soviet Air Force Petlyakov Pe-3. The crew reduced his altitude and was able to attempt an emergency landing in a pasture. While all three occupants were slightly injured and rescued, the aircraft was damaged beyond repair and abandoned on site.

Probable cause:

Shot down by the pilot of a Soviet Petlyakov Pe-3.

Crash of a Consolidated B-24H-20-CF Liberator near Birkenhead: 24 killed

Date & Time: Oct 18, 1944 at 1540 LT

Type of aircraft:

Consolidated B-24 Liberator

Operator:

Registration:

42-50347

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

Schedule:

Greencastle - Tibenham

MSN:

778

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

While cruising at an altitude of 6,000 feet, the crew encountered marginal weather conditions with heavy rain falls and turbulence. The four engine bomber exploded in mid-air and dove into the ground before crashing in a field in a huge explosion. All 24 occupants were killed.
Crew:
William Driscoll,
Harold W. Olsen,
J. P. Hennessy,
Roy W. Sechler,
Reginald H. Gehman.
Passengers:
Vincent P. Hamilton,
William F. Price,
Richard M. Blake,
Edward F. Brick,
George J. Leary,
Roland F. Mosher,
Stephen J. Nagy,
Clesen H. Tenney,
Loran A. Umpleby,
Ralph G. Wills,
Robert E. Boyd,
James E. Patterson,
Robert L. Marshall,
Flyod K. Relyea,
Joseph L. Arrigotti,
Albert Engasser,
Frederick L. Mootz,
George S. Moss,
Clarence K. Smith.

Probable cause:

At the time of the accident, the cloud base was at 1,000 feet with an estimated horizontal visibility up to 7 miles. Investigations were unable to determine the exact cause of the explosion that cause the in flight disintegration of the aircraft. Furthermore, the assumption that the aircraft would have suffered a structural failure was not ruled out. Finally, investigations have been able to determine that no mechanical failure and no fire occurred prior to the final impact.

Crash of a Douglas C-54A-15-DC Skymaster in Bodmin Moor

Date & Time: Oct 18, 1944 at 1200 LT

Type of aircraft:

Douglas C-54 Skymaster

Operator:

Registration:

42-72249

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Lajes - Saint Mawgan

MSN:

10354

YOM:

1944

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

While approaching St Mawgan (Newquay) Airport, weather conditions deteriorated and due to the failure of the radio compass, the crew was unable to land and decided to continue to Exeter. Few minutes later, following a wrong altimeter setting, the four engine aircraft hit the slope of a hill and came to rest in flames near Bodmin Moor. All nine occupants were injured while the aircraft was written off.

Probable cause:

Radio compass failure, poor weather conditions, low visibility and wrong altimeter setting on part of the crew contributed to a collision with terrain.

Crash of a Curtiss C-46A-5-CK Commando in Natal

Date & Time: Oct 18, 1944 at 1200 LT

Type of aircraft:

Curtiss C-46 Commando

Operator:

Registration:

43-46997

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Military

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

MSN:

YOM:

1944

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Crashed on take off from Natal-Parnamirim Airport. Occupant fate unknown.

Crash of a Curtiss C-46A-40-CU Commando in Lüliang

Date & Time: Oct 18, 1944 at 1200 LT

Type of aircraft:

Curtiss C-46 Commando

Operator:

Registration:

42-107307

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

MSN:

26994

YOM:

1944

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

En route, the crew encountered unknown technical problems and completed an belly emergency landing. There was no casualties but the aircraft was written off.

Probable cause:

Unknown technical problem.

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

Date & Time: Oct 16, 1944 at 1200 LT

Type of aircraft:

Curtiss C-46 Commando

Operator:

Registration:

42-96762

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

MSN:

30424

YOM:

1944

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Crash landed for unknown reason. No casualties.

Crash of a Curtiss C-46A-35-CU Commando in Hsinching

Date & Time: Oct 16, 1944 at 1200 LT

Type of aircraft:

Curtiss C-46 Commando

Operator:

Registration:

42-3635

Flight Type:

Military

MSN:

26768

YOM:

1943

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Crashed in unknown circumstances. Crew fate unknown as well.

Crash of a Consolidated B-24J-5-FO Liberator on Mt Camels Hump: 9 killed

Date & Time: Oct 16, 1944

Type of aircraft:

Consolidated B-24 Liberator

Operator:

Registration:

42-51067

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Location:

Country:

United States of America

Region:

North America

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

En route, the four-engine aircraft hit the slope of the 4,083 foot Mt Camels Hump located east of Huntington. Nine crew members were killed, among them Pfc Casper Zacher. The only survivor was the air gunner James W. Wilson. The exact circumstances of the accident remains unknown.