Crash of a Douglas C-54A-1-DC Skymaster in Prestwick: 25 killed

Date & Time: Aug 28, 1944 at 0100 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-54 Skymaster
Operator:
Registration:
42-72171
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
City
Schedule:
Boston – Gander – Keflavik – Prestwick
MSN:
10276
YOM:
1943
Location:
Prestwick
Ayrshire
Country:
United Kingdom
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
14
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
25
Circumstances:
The pilot started the descent by night and poor weather conditions. On final approach, the four engine aircraft was too low and hit the roof of a house before crashing onto houses, short of runway. All 20 occupants were killed and five people on the ground as well. Due to low visibility, the crew did not realize his altitude was insufficient.
On board the aircraft:
G. Golden,
B. S. Oglesby,
D. McGrew,
L. Bigotto,
A. Gorski,
A. Scott,
Eugene R. Venabe,
Norman A. Loeb,
Madison C. Schepps,
John E. Fissel Jr.,
Vivanna Cronin,
Thomas W. Kirk,
Braxton G. Flemming,
Horace J. Fortenberry,
Ernest E. Jesch,
William C. Farley,
Glenn K. Erickson,
Burt D. Hogsett,
John B. Krusi,
Harry Berman,
Civilians killed on the ground:
Thomas George Maitland,
Robert A. Handyside,
William K. Snowden,
Thomas Kinnear,
Irene Haswell.

Crash of a Lockheed 10A Electra in Al Matariyyah

Date & Time: Aug 25, 1944
Type of aircraft:
Lockheed 10 Electra
Operator:
Registration:
AX701
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
1124
YOM:
1937
Location:
Cairo-Almaza
Cairo
Country:
Egypt
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
On final approach to Cairo-Almaza Airport, the twin engine aircraft crashed in unknown circumstances in Al Matariyyah, some 4 km short of runway. While the aircraft was damaged beyond repair, there was no casualties.

Crash of a Noorduyn UC-64A Norseman in Stanton Harcourt

Date & Time: Aug 24, 1944 at 1200 LT
Type of aircraft:
Noorduyn Norseman
Operator:
Registration:
43-35371
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
MSN:
445
YOM:
1944
Location:
Stanton Harcourt AFB
Oxfordshire
Country:
United Kingdom
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
En route, the engine failed, forcing the pilot to attempt an emergency landing. On final, the aircraft went out of control and crashed in a field located in Stanton Harcourt, west of Oxford. While the pilot was injured, the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Crew:
Harvey T. Bonser, pilot.
Probable cause:
Engine failure caused by a fuel exhaustion. A fuel gauge stuck indicating ¼ tank when the tank was actually empty.

Crash of a Douglas B-18A Bolo in Watkins: 9 killed

Date & Time: Aug 22, 1944 at 2000 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas B-18 Bolo
Operator:
Registration:
39-22
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
MSN:
2670
YOM:
1939
Location:
Watkins
Colorado
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
7
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
9
Circumstances:
En route from Lowry AFB, the crew encountered poor weather conditions with thunderstorm activity, hail and turbulences. The airplane entered an uncontrolled descent and crashed in hilly terrain near Watkins, east of Denver. All nine occupants were killed.

Crash of a Noorduyn UC-64A Norseman Off Bogala: 3 killed

Date & Time: Aug 21, 1944 at 1200 LT
Type of aircraft:
Noorduyn Norseman
Operator:
Registration:
A71-1
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
MSN:
179
YOM:
1943
Location:
Bogala (Basilaki Island)
Milne Bay
Country:
Papua New Guinea
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
Crashed into the sea off Bogala for unknown reason. All three occupants were killed.
Crew:
F/Sgt Frank Henry Rossiter, pilot,
LAC John Norman George Dunn,
LAC Clifford David Searle.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-80-DL into the Atlantic Ocean: 8 killed

Date & Time: Aug 21, 1944
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
43-15162
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Gibraltar - St Mawgan
MSN:
19628
YOM:
1944
Location:
Atlantic Ocean
All World
Country:
World
Region:
World
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
8
Circumstances:
The crew left Gibraltar bound for RAF Newquay-St Mawgan, Cornwall. En route, the aircraft encountered poor weather conditions and likely crashed into the Atlantic Ocean. No trace of the aircraft nor the eight occupants was ever found.

Crash of a Lockheed L-414 Hudson IIIA into the Pacific Ocean: 7 killed

Date & Time: Aug 20, 1944 at 1200 LT
Type of aircraft:
Lockheed L-414 Hudson
Operator:
Registration:
NZ2066
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Nausori - Whenuapai
Location:
Pacific Ocean
All World
Country:
World
Region:
World
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
7
Circumstances:
The twin engine aircraft left Nausori Airport at 0600LT with five other similar aircraft bound for Whenuapai, in New Zealand. En route, the weather conditions worsened and while in a thick cloud layer, the aircraft went out of control and crashed into the sea. SAR operations were conducted for almost a week but no trace of the aircraft nor the seven crew members was ever found.
Crew (4th Squadron):
F/O Norman Beard,
W/O Arthur Dunstan,
Sgt Thomas Carey,
Sgt Robert Gillespie,
P/O Ivan Johnson,
F/Sgt Thomas Ward,
F/O John Waugh.

Crash of a Lockheed L-414 Hudson IIIA into the Pacific Ocean: 7 killed

Date & Time: Aug 20, 1944 at 1200 LT
Type of aircraft:
Lockheed L-414 Hudson
Operator:
Registration:
NZ2044
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Nausori - Whenuapai
Location:
Pacific Ocean
All World
Country:
World
Region:
World
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
7
Circumstances:
The twin engine aircraft left Nausori Airport at 0600LT with five other similar aircraft bound for Whenuapai, in New Zealand. En route, the weather conditions worsened and while in a thick cloud layer, the aircraft went out of control and crashed into the sea. SAR operations were conducted for almost a week but no trace of the aircraft nor the seven crew members was ever found.
Crew (4th Squadron):
F/Lt Wilbur Lange,
Sgt George Bryant,
P/O Kenneth Ross,
F/O Sydney Aldridge,
P/O Kenneth Marshall,
F/O Jack Olson,
F/O David Stewart.
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