Crash of a Douglas C-47A-65-DL in RAF Membury

Date & Time: May 16, 1944
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
42-100549
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Membury - Membury
MSN:
19012
YOM:
1943
Location:
Membury AFB
Berkshire
Country:
United Kingdom
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The crew completed the approach by night. On final, the aircraft hit tree tops and crashed 3 km short of runway. The aircraft was damaged beyond repair while all four occupants were injured. At the time of the accident, the airport was unlit due to the possible presence of enemy aircraft in the region.

Crash of a Noorduyn UC-64B Norseman in Elmendorf AFB

Date & Time: May 15, 1944
Type of aircraft:
Noorduyn Norseman
Operator:
Registration:
43-5276
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
267
YOM:
1943
Location:
Elmendorf-Richardson AFB (JBER)
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:
0
Circumstances:
The single engine aircraft crashed on take off for unknown reason and was destroyed. The pilot Harry B. Dubuque was injured.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-20-DK in Gaudo: 2 killed

Date & Time: May 14, 1944
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
42-92992
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
MSN:
12854
YOM:
1944
Location:
Gaudo
Molise
Country:
Italy
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
In unknown circumstances, a collision involving three Douglas C-47 of the USAF occurred near Gaudo, southwest of Campobasso, Molise. All three aircraft were destroyed in the accident and one crewman was killed in the Dakota registered 41-18446, five crew members were killed in the Dakota registered 42-23527 and two other crewmen were killed in the Dakota registered 42-92992. The causes and the circumstances of the occurrence remains unclear.

Crash of a Caproni Ca.313 off Ventspils: 1 killed

Date & Time: May 14, 1944
Type of aircraft:
Caproni Ca.310/311/312/313
Operator:
Registration:
3335
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
MSN:
4942
Location:
Ventspils
Courland (Kurzeme)
Country:
Latvia
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
While overflying the Baltic Sea, the three engine aircraft was shot down by the pilot of a German Messerschmitt Me.109. The pilot ditched the aircraft some 13 km off Ventspils, Latvia. Three crew members were rescued and taken POW while the flight engineer Ingvar Ringström was killed. The Swedish government confirmed the aircraft was shot down over the international waters.
Probable cause:
Shot down by a German fighter.

Crash of a Douglas C-47-DL in Gaudo: 1 killed

Date & Time: May 14, 1944
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
41-18446
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
MSN:
4508
Location:
Gaudo
Molise
Country:
Italy
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
In unknown circumstances, a collision involving three Douglas C-47 of the USAF occurred near Gaudo, southwest of Campobasso, Molise. All three aircraft were destroyed in the accident and one crewman was killed in the Dakota registered 41-18446, five crew members were killed in the Dakota registered 42-23527 and two other crewmen were killed in the Dakota registered 42-92992. The causes and the circumstances of the occurrence remains unclear.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-20-DL in Gaudo: 5 killed

Date & Time: May 14, 1944
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
42-23527
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
MSN:
9389
Location:
Gaudo
Molise
Country:
Italy
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
In unknown circumstances, a collision involving three Douglas C-47 of the USAF occurred near Gaudo, southwest of Campobasso, Molise. All three aircraft were destroyed in the accident and one crewman was killed in the Dakota registered 41-18446, five crew members were killed in the Dakota registered 42-23527 and two other crewmen were killed in the Dakota registered 42-92992. The causes and the circumstances of the occurrence remains unclear.

Crash of a Noorduyn UC-64B Norseman in Gunn

Date & Time: May 14, 1944
Type of aircraft:
Noorduyn Norseman
Operator:
Registration:
43-5106
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
097
YOM:
1943
Location:
Gunn
Alberta
Country:
Canada
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crashed on landing for unknown reason. The aircraft was damaged beyond repair while the pilot Thomas C. Fooks was injured.

Crash of a Douglas C-54-DO Skymaster in Stephenville

Date & Time: May 13, 1944
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-54 Skymaster
Operator:
Registration:
42-32942
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Military
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
3117/D27
YOM:
1942
Location:
Stephenville
Newfoundland & Labrador
Country:
Canada
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crashed while taking off from Stephenville-Harmon Field Airport and was destroyed by a post crash fire. Occupant fate unknown.

Crash of a Consolidated B-24J-130-CO Liberator into the Pacific Ocean: 10 killed

Date & Time: May 10, 1944 at 1255 LT
Type of aircraft:
Consolidated B-24 Liberator
Operator:
Registration:
42-110080
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Mokerang - Eton
MSN:
3876
Location:
Pacific Ocean
All World
Country:
World
Region:
World
Crew on board:
10
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
10
Circumstances:
The crew was performing a flight from Mokerang (Los Negros Island, PNG) to Eton, Truk Island, Micronesia. En route, the bomber crashed into the ocean in unknown circumstances. No trace was ever found.

Crash of a Consolidated PBY-5A Catalina off Natal: 10 killed

Date & Time: May 10, 1944 at 1252 LT
Type of aircraft:
Consolidated PBY Catalina
Operator:
Registration:
46520
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Belém - Recife
Location:
Natal
Rio Grande do Norte
Country:
Brazil
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
10
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
10
Circumstances:
The aircraft was completing a flight from Belém to Recife with a crew of ten on board, among them an officer. While flying some 65 km west of Natal in poor weather conditions, the crew made his last radio contact at 1252LT. Shortly later, the aircraft went out of control and crashed in a pasture, killing all ten occupants. At the time of the accident, the weather conditions were as follow: rain falls, cloudy with cumulus till 9,000 feet , stratus till 10,000 feet and wind from 150 degrees at 10 knots.
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