Military

Crashed on take off for unknown reason. Occupant fate unknown as well.

The crew was performing a flight from the RAF Llandwrog (Caernarfon Airport) and while cruising by night over the Snowdonia mountains, the twin engine aircraft hit the slope of Mt Mynydd Perfedd (812 meters high). The aircraft was destroyed by impact forces and all four occupants were killed.
Crew (9th AFU):
Sgt John George Shepherd, pilot,
Sgt Edwin John Keightley, wireless operator and air gunner,
LAC John Chrystal, navigator,
LAC John Thomas Key, navigator.
Source and photos:
http://www.peakdistrictaircrashes.co.uk/pages/wales/walesperfedd.htm

Eleven minutes after its take off from Alotau, in the Milne Bay Province, the aircraft hit a mountain and was destroyed. All four occupants were killed. The aircraft was also wearing the civil registration VH-CTO.
Crew (33th Squadron):
F/Lt R. Head,
Sgt D. H. Palmer,
F/O W. J. Wilson,
LAC W. J. O'Brien.

Three French crew members took place on board this RAF Boston on behalf of the 342th Squadron of the Free French Forces of the Groupe Lorraine. With 11 other similar airplanes, the Boston was engaged in a flare smoke dispersion to hide the ships. While approaching the coast, the airplane was shot down by German antiaircraft fire and crashed into the sea off Utah Beach. The aircraft was lost and all three crew members were killed.
Crew:
Sgt Roger Boissieux, pilot,
1st Lt Bernard Canut, navigator,
Sgt Jean-François Henson.

The crew was taking part to the D-Day over Normandy when flying some 15 km south of Cherbourg, the aircraft was shot by the German Flak. All but one paratroopers were able to bail out. The pilot attempted to make an emergency landing but the aircraft hit tree tops and crashed in a wooded area. A paratrooper and a crew member were killed.
Crew (9th TCC):
1st Lt William R. Hitzaler, pilot,
2nd Lt Stanley E. Edwards Jr., copilot,
2nd Lt John Herbert Hendry, navigator,
S/Sgt Orlo A. Montgomery, radio operator, †
T/Sgt Alvin F. Vezin, flight engineer.
Paratroopers (507th Parachute Infantry Division):
1st Lt Walter C. Heisler,
Sgt Carl R. Letson,
Sgt Harry E. LaChance Jr.,
T/5 William P. Emmet,
Cpl Joseph E. Romas,
Pvt Ricardo R. Alvarez,
Pvt Donn W. Cummings,
Pvt Bernard D. Ely,
Pvt John L. Ponder,
Pvt Olivier Lindberg,
Pvt Weldon F. Truett,
Pvt Charles G. Stout, †
Pfc Glenn Ball,
Pfc George R. Hitchcock,
Pfc John E. Hollmann,
Pfc Robert T. Hurley,
Pfc Blair W. Terryberry,
Pfc John C. Wagner,
Pfc Robert R. Taylor.

The aircraft left Exeter Airport in the night and was taking part to the D-Day over Normandy on a paratroopers mission. While cruising at an altitude of some 3,000 feet 10 km south of Cherbourg, the aircraft was shot down by the German Flak, dove into the ground and crashed in a field located in Magneville. All 22 occupants were killed.
Crew (440th TCG / 95th TCS):
1st Lt Ray B. Pullen, pilot,
2nd Lt John M. Greeley, copilot,
S/Sgt Finney W. Gordon,
S/Sgt Sidney H. Saltzman, radio navigator.
Passengers (paratroopers):
1st Lt Gerald V. Howard Jr.,
Sgt Robert L. Todd,
T/4 John T. Bray Jr.,
Cpl Donald E. Bignall,
Cpl Marvin M. Stallings,
T/5 Orville Vanderpool,
Pfc Gilbert Amabisco,
Pfc Richard L. Calhoon,
Pfc Warren K. Carney,
Pfc John J. Kittia,
Pfc William E. Olson,
Pvt James J. Farrel,
Pvt Frederick P. Smith,
Pvt Paul J. Weber,
Pvt Howard Phillips,
Pvt Glen L. Weirich,
Pvt Clarence M. Wright,
Pvt John A. Wright.

The Dakota was involved in a paratroopers mission and was taking part to the D-Day over Normandy. While cruising by night south of Pointe du Hoc, the aircraft was shot down by the German Flak. Four paratroopers were able to bail out before the aircraft dove into the ground and crashed in a field located near Grandcamp-Maisy. All 19 occupants were killed.

The crew was taking part to the D-Day over Normandy with several paratroopers on board. Just after the paratroopers bailed out, the aircraft was shot down by the German Flak and crashed in a field located near Carentan. All four crew members were killed.
Crew (441st TCG):
Cpt John Burke McCue,pilot
2nd Lt Ernest Eugene Wheeler, copilot,
S/Sgt Archer Bruce Hughes, flight engineer,
Sgt James Andrew Freda, radio operator.

The Dakota was involved in a paratroopers mission and was taking part to the D-Day over Normandy. While cruising by night some 35 km south of Cherbourg, the aircraft was shot down by the German Flak. All the paratroopers were able to bail out before the aircraft crashed in a field located near Chef-le-Pont. All five crew members were killed.
Crew (93rd Transport Squadron):
1st Lt Marvin F. Muir,
2nd Lt Kenneth C. Bell,
2nd Lt John A. Martsay,
S/Sgt Clifford L. Burgess,
Sgt Philip Snyder.

The Dakota was involved in a paratroopers mission and was taking part to the D-Day over Normandy. While cruising by night some 35 km south of Cherbourg, the aircraft was shot down by the German Flak. Out of control, the aircraft dove into the ground and crashed in a field located near Picauville. All 20 occupants were killed.
Crew (91st Transport Squadron):
2nd Lt Marston F. Sargent,
F/O Steve C. Baran,
T/Sgt Walter F. Gendron,
S/Sgt Melvin B. Shullanberger.
Paratroopers (501st Parachute Infantry Division):
1st Lt Kenneth A. Beatty,
Sgt Colin Campbel,
Sgt Roy H. Speake,
T/5 John D. Hall,
T/5 John L. Davis,
Cpl Eugene E. Middleton,
Pvt Jay E. Cheel,
Pvt Augustine Gonzales,
Pvt James D. King,
Pvt Salvatore Laferrera,
Pvt Luther F. Morrison,
Pvt Benjamin Winn,
Pvt Hugh F. Williams,
Pfc Frederick J. Feneran,
Pfc Robert J. Hensel,
Pfc Robert M. Naimola.