Crash of a Noorduyn UC-64A Norseman on Attu Island: 1 killed

Date & Time: Jul 24, 1944 at 1200 LT
Type of aircraft:
Noorduyn Norseman
Operator:
Registration:
43-5232
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
MSN:
223
YOM:
1943
Location:
Attu Island
Alaska
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
Crashed in unknown circumstances, killing the pilot, sole aboard.

Crash of a Douglas R4D-5 near Kokoda: 17 killed

Date & Time: Jul 23, 1944
Type of aircraft:
Douglas DC-3
Operator:
Registration:
39090
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Cairns – Momote
MSN:
13859
YOM:
1943
Location:
Kokoda
Central
Country:
Papua New Guinea
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
15
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
17
Circumstances:
En route, the aircraft hit the slope of a mountain located some 30 km west of Kokoda, in the center PNG. The wreckage was eventually found in 1970. All 17 occupants were killed. Other source reports the accident occurred in the region of Cairns.

Crash of a Noorduyn UC-64A Norseman in RAF Podington

Date & Time: Jul 22, 1944 at 1200 LT
Type of aircraft:
Noorduyn Norseman
Operator:
Registration:
43-5398
Flight Phase:
Taxiing
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
389
YOM:
1944
Location:
Podington AFB
Northamptonshire
Country:
United Kingdom
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The aircraft suffered a ground accident at RAF Podington while taxiing. No casualties.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-60-DL off North Carolina: 5 killed

Date & Time: Jul 21, 1944 at 2200 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
43-30664
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
MSN:
13815
YOM:
1943
Location:
North Carolina
North Carolina
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
A mass flight of 54 Douglas C-47 aircraft was proceeding at an altitude of 500 feet over the Atlantic Ocean. The third squadron consisted of nine aircraft flying in V-formation. Aircraft number 3 of the left element and aircraft 1 and 2 of the right element lost contact with the squadron leader. After running into a rainstorm the squadron leader ordered the aircraft to make a 180-degree turn and reassemble over the coastline. Despite a three day search no trace of the three aircraft (42-100712, 42-92115, 43-30664) was found.
Source: ASN
Probable cause:

Possible causes for the accidents are a mid-air collision, stalling in formation or controlled flight into water while on instruments and under influence of vertigo.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-1-DK off North Carolina: 5 killed

Date & Time: Jul 21, 1944 at 2200 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
42-92115
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
MSN:
11880
YOM:
1943
Location:
North Carolina
North Carolina
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
A mass flight of 54 Douglas C-47 aircraft was proceeding at an altitude of 500 feet over the Atlantic Ocean. The third squadron consisted of nine aircraft flying in V-formation. Aircraft number 3 of the left element and aircraft 1 and 2 of the right element lost contact with the squadron leader. After running into a rainstorm the squadron leader ordered the aircraft to make a 180-degree turn and reassemble over the coastline. Despite a three day search no trace of the three aircraft (42-100712, 42-92115, 43-30664) was found.
Source: ASN
Probable cause:
Possible causes for the accidents are a mid-air collision, stalling in formation or controlled flight into water while on instruments and under influence of vertigo.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-70-DL off North Carolina: 5 killed

Date & Time: Jul 21, 1944 at 2200 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
42-100712
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
MSN:
19175
YOM:
1943
Location:
North Carolina
North Carolina
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
A mass flight of 54 Douglas C-47 aircraft was proceeding at an altitude of 500 feet over the Atlantic Ocean. The third squadron consisted of nine aircraft flying in V-formation. Aircraft number 3 of the left element and aircraft 1 and 2 of the right element lost contact with the squadron leader. After running into a rainstorm the squadron leader ordered the aircraft to make a 180-degree turn and reassemble over the coastline. Despite a three day search no trace of the three aircraft (42-100712, 42-92115, 43-30664) was found.
Source: ASN
Probable cause:
Possible causes for the accidents are a mid-air collision, stalling in formation or controlled flight into water while on instruments and under influence of vertigo.

Crash of a Consolidated PBY-5A Catalina near Namlea: 9 killed

Date & Time: Jul 20, 1944 at 1200 LT
Type of aircraft:
Consolidated PBY Catalina
Operator:
Registration:
A24-45
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Location:
Namlea
Maluku
Country:
Indonesia
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
9
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
9
Circumstances:
En route, while cruising in poor weather conditions, the seaplane hit a mountain (2,000 meters high) located in the region of Namlea. No trace of the aircraft nor the crew was found until 1993.

Crash of a Douglas A-26B-5-DT Invader in Portland: 21 killed

Date & Time: Jul 11, 1944 at 1640 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas A-26 Invader
Operator:
Registration:
43-22253
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
City
Schedule:
Barksdale - Portland
MSN:
18400
Location:
Portland
Maine
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
21
Circumstances:
The crew was completing a flight from Barksdale AFB, Louisiana. While descending to Portland, the visibility was reduced due to fog and the crew was unable to localize the airfield and the runway. On approach, the aircraft crashed in a huge ball of fire in the Redbank Trailer Park. Both pilots and 18 people on the ground (mothers and their children) were killed. Less than one month later, one of the survivor died from his injuries.
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