Military

Douglas C-53 Skytrooper (DC-3)

Operator:

Registration:

KG429

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Down Ampney - Down Ampney

MSN:

12464

YOM:

1944

Location:

Country:

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The aircraft left RAF Down Ampney, Gloucestershire, at 2316LT on June 16 to take part to the D-Day in Normandy with paratroopers on board. While cruising over Caen by night, the aircraft was hit by the German Flak and crashed in a field located in Colombelles, in the northeast suburb of Caen. A paratrooper survived while all 22 other occupants were killed.
Crew (233th Squadron):
F/O Munro Murdoch McCannell, pilot, †
W/O Nathan Louis Berger, radio, †
W/O Albert Theodore Downing, navigator, †
F/Sgt Alexander Robert Porter, navigator. †
Paratroopers (8th Btn):
Sgt Alfred Dockerill, †
Sgt James Albert Moir, †
Cpl Samuel Reuben Fewings, †
Cpl Thomas Robert Henry Longman, †
Cpl Leonard Frank Smith, †
Cpl John Patrick Boyle, †
Pte Roger Frank Cantin, †
Pte Sydney George Cox, †
Pte Charles Frederick Hollis, †
Pte Arthur Humphries, †
Pte Dennis Johnson, †
Pte Edward Jones, †
Pte R. P. Kent, †
Pte J. A. Mills, †
Pte W. Piggot, †
Pte J. Robinson, †
Pte W. H. Thorpe, †
Pte J. H. Watkins, †
CSM Leslie Jones.

Probable cause:

Shot down by the German Flak.

Crash of a Douglas C-53D-DO Skytrooper into The Channel

Date & Time: Jun 6, 1944

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

42-68734

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

MSN:

11661

YOM:

1943

Location:

Country:

Region:

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Circumstances:

The crew was taking part to the D-Day over Normandy and was towing a glider. While returning to his base in England, the crew was forced to ditch the aircraft into The Channel. While the aircraft sunk and was lost, all four crew members were rescued.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-75-DL off Cherbourg: 4 killed

Date & Time: Jun 6, 1944

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

42-100914

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Schedule:

Exeter - Exeter

MSN:

19377

YOM:

1943

Location:

Country:

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Circumstances:

The crew was taking part to the D-Day in Normandy and was flying back to his base in Exeter after dropping 17 paratroopers. While just flying over The Channel, the aircraft was shot down by the German Flak and crashed into the sea some 10 miles north of Cherbourg. All four crew members were killed.

Probable cause:

Shot down by the German Flak.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-75-DL near Cherbourg

Date & Time: Jun 6, 1944

Type of aircraft:

Douglas C-53 Skytrooper (DC-3)

Operator:

Registration:

42-101006

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

MSN:

19469

YOM:

1944

Location:

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Region:

Crew on board:

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Pax on board:

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Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The crew was taking part to the D-Day over Normandy. After all paratroopers bailed out, the aircraft was hit by the German Flak. The pilot was able to make an emergency landing in a field near Cherbourg. While all four crew members were rescued, the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Crew (99th TCS):
1st Lt Harvey W. Doering Jr., pilot,
2nd Lt Thomas R. Westrope, copilot,
Sgt John A. Delistovic, radio operator,
T/Sgt James E. Smith, flight engineer.

Probable cause:

Shot down by the German Flak.

Crash of a Douglas C-53D-DO Skytrooper near Bayeux

Date & Time: Jun 6, 1944

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

42-108870

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Schedule:

Ramsbury - Ramsbury

MSN:

12548

YOM:

1944

Location:

Country:

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Circumstances:

The crew was taking part to the D-Day over Normandy and was towing a glider. Shortly after the glider was released, the twin engine aircraft was shot down by enemy fire. The crew decided to attempt an emergency landing in a field located in the region of Bayeux. While all five occupants were rescued, the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.

Probable cause:

Shot down by enemy fire.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-5-DK Skytrain in Basseneville: 1 killed

Date & Time: Jun 6, 1944

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

KG356

Flight Phase:

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Site:

Schedule:

Blakehill Farm - Blakehill Farm

MSN:

12365

YOM:

1944

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Circumstances:

The Dakota was taking part to the D-Day over Normandy and left RAF Blakehill Farm at 2317LT on June 5 with 4 crew members and several paratroopers on board. Over Calvados, all paratroopers bailed out and the crew continued at low altitude to join the K drop zone. On approach, the aircraft was hit by enemy fire. Two crew members, the navigator and the copilot, were able to bail out while the captain stayed in the aircraft with the air gunner who was injured and unable to bail out. The aircraft crashed in a field and while the air gunner was rescued, the captain was killed.
Crew (233th Squadron):
F/O Harvey Edgar Jones, pilot, †
F/Sgt J. A. Daldorph, copilot,
F/O L. H. Williams, radio navigator,
W/O N. Engleberg, air gunner.

Probable cause:

Shot down by enemy fire.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-70-DL near Cherbourg: 4 killed

Date & Time: Jun 6, 1944

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

42-100803

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

Schedule:

Ramsbury - Ramsbury

MSN:

19266

YOM:

1943

Location:

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Circumstances:

The crew was taking part to the D-Day over Normandy. After all paratroopers bailed out, the aircraft was shot down by the German Flak, dove into the ground and crashed in a field near Cherbourg. All four crew members were killed.
Crew:
Lt Donald W. Handegaard 3.

Probable cause:

Shot down by the German Flak.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-75-DL near Carentan: 22 killed

Date & Time: Jun 6, 1944

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

42-101025

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

North American B-25 Mitchell

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

MSN:

19488

Location:

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Circumstances:

The crew was taking part to the D-Day over Normandy and left the RAF Merryfield in the evening of June 5. While flying in the region of Carentan, the aircraft was shot down by the German Flak and crashed in a field. All 22 occupants were killed.
Crew (441st TCG):
2nd Lt Eugene Hennig, pilot,
2nd Lt Albert Dorrance, copilot,
T/Sgt Dave Kramer, flight engineer,
Cpl James Davison, radio operator.
Paratroopers (101st Division):
Pfc Chavez San Juan,
Cpl Thomas Harris,
Pvt Claude Hope,
S/Sgt George Hurt,
Pvt William Jacobs,
Sgt Robert Kennel,
T/5 Dale Knight,
T/4 Joseph Liorida,
1st Sgt Fred Moeller,
Pvt Onger Ellsworth,
Pfc James Sheen,
Pvt Clifford Smith,
Pfc Doyce Spruell,
Pvt Robert Vail,
Pvt Zale Wells,
Sgt Louis Wesctcoat,
Pvt Sterling Hammond,
1st Lt Ian Nicholson Ian.

Probable cause:

Shot down by the German Flak.

Crash of a North American B-25D-30 Mitchell off Tarpum Bay

Date & Time: Jun 6, 1944

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

FW154

Flight Phase:

Flight Type: