Crash of a Douglas C-47A-80-DL in Louisville: 4 killed

Date & Time: Mar 22, 1944 at 1755 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
43-15303
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Fort Wayne - Louisville
MSN:
19769
YOM:
1944
Location:
Louisville
Kentucky
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
On final approach to Louisville-Bowman Airport, the captain decided to attempt a go around for unknown reason. He retracted the landing gear and increased both engine power. The aircraft climbed to a height of 400 feet when it yawed to the left, stalled and crashed onto the tarmac. One crew was seriously injured while all four other crew were killed. The aircraft was destroyed as well as four Aeronca L-3B and three Taylorcraft L-2M.

Crash of a Handley Page H.P.57 Halifax III in Palterton: 3 killed

Date & Time: Mar 22, 1944 at 0055 LT
Type of aircraft:
Handley Page H.P.57 Halifax III
Operator:
Registration:
LK930
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Location:
Chesterfield-Spirit of St Louis
Derbyshire
Country:
United Kingdom
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Captain / Total flying hours:
900
Captain / Total hours on type:
11.00
Circumstances:
While cruising by night over Derbyshire, one of both left engines failed. The pilot was unable to maintain a safe altitude and instructed the crew to bail out. For unknown reason, only three crew were able to abandon the aircraft that crashed in flames in Palterton, nine km west of Chesterfield. Three crew members were killed:
Sergeant William Arthur Roland Andrew,
Sergeant Arley Carlisle Carl Starnes, air gunner,
Sergeant Russell Irvine Pym, flight engineer.
Probable cause:
Engine failure.

Crash of a Noorduyn UC-64A Norseman in Dover AFB

Date & Time: Mar 22, 1944
Type of aircraft:
Noorduyn Norseman
Operator:
Registration:
43-5192
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
183
YOM:
1943
Location:
Dover AFB
Delaware
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:
Crashed on landing. The pilot was injured.

Crash of a Consolidated B-24E-25-FO Liberator near Wilccox: 4 killed

Date & Time: Mar 22, 1944
Type of aircraft:
Consolidated B-24 Liberator
Operator:
Registration:
42-7350
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Desert
MSN:
338
Location:
Willcox
Arizona
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
9
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
En route, the aircraft crashed in unknown circumstances some 22 miles southeast of Willcox, Arizona. Five crew were injured while all four others were killed.

Crash of a North American B-25 Mitchell in Bourbon: 4 killed

Date & Time: Mar 20, 1944
Type of aircraft:
North American B-25 Mitchell
Operator:
Registration:
FR141
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Location:
Lons-le-Saunier
Jura
Country:
France
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
While flying over Jura, the twin engine aircraft was shot down by Flak and crashed in a field located in Bourbon, southeast of Lons-le-Saunier. All four crew members were killed.
Probable cause:
Shot down by Flak.

Crash of a Consolidated C-87CF Liberator Express near Loshan: 7 killed

Date & Time: Mar 18, 1944
Type of aircraft:
Consolidated C-87 Liberator Express
Operator:
Registration:
43-30575
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
MSN:
55
Location:
Loshan
Heilongjiang
Country:
China
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
3
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
7
Circumstances:
Crashed in unknown circumstances some 48 km west of Loshan. All seven occupants were killed.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A Dakota III into the Pacific Ocean: 2 killed

Date & Time: Mar 17, 1944
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
FL650
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
MSN:
12079
YOM:
1943
Location:
Pacific Ocean
All World
Country:
World
Region:
World
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
The twin engine aircraft crashed in unknown circumstances into the Pacific Ocean, off the coast of British Columbia. No trace of the aircraft nor the crew was ever found.

Crash of a Lockheed C-60 LodeStar IA in RAF Bilbeis

Date & Time: Mar 14, 1944
Type of aircraft:
Lockheed C-60 LodeStar
Operator:
Registration:
HK980
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
2024
YOM:
1940
Location:
Bilbeis
Al Sharqia
Country:
Egypt
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
During the take off run, the pilot attempted to rotate but the aircraft did not respond. Crew decided to abandon the take off procedure but the aircraft was unable to stop within the remaining runway, overrun and came to rest into a ditch. While all occupants escaped unhurt, the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
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