Crash of a Consolidated B-24H-5-FO Liberator in Rabenwald: 7 killed

Date & Time: Feb 22, 1944
Operator:
Registration:
42-7700
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Location:
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
11
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
7
Circumstances:
En route, aircraft went out of control and crashed in Rabenwald, some 36 km northeast of Graz. Four crew were rescued while seven others were killed. Exact circumstances unknown.
Crew who were killed:
Harry Moore,
Bale Semack,
James Richels,
Gordon Thornton,
Roy Reneau,
James Milnes,
George Stout.
Taken prisoner:
Walter Cates,
Charles Freeman,
Carl Shedlock,
Francis Stack.

Crash of a Curtiss C-46A-10-CU near Palmdale: 4 killed

Date & Time: Feb 20, 1944 at 1200 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
41-12363
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Wickenburg - Long Beach
MSN:
26490
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
While descending to Palmale, aircraft was too low and hit the slope of Mt Pallet at a height of 7,300 feet and located some 20 miles southeast of Palmdale. All four occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
For unknown reason, crew was approaching Palmdale at a too low altitude.

Crash of a Curtiss C-46A-25-CU in Mangnung: 4 killed

Date & Time: Feb 20, 1944
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
41-24724
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Kunming - Misamari
MSN:
26645
YOM:
0
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
While cruising at a height of 8,000 feet over the mountainous region of Arunachal Pradesh, crew informed ground he was losing his orientation and could not locate his position due to poor weather conditions (heavy rain falls). Captain also requested to ATC if they were able to see his lights but the answer was negative. Thirty seconds later, the aircraft hit a mountain slope and was demolished, killing all four occupants.
Crew:
2nd Lieutenant Jack Hunter, pilot,
2nd Lieutenant Alfred S. Hemmer, copilot,
Sergeant Inman A. Watson, radio operator,
Staff Sergeant John L. Weinberg, flight engineer.

Crash of an Avro 652 Anson I on Mt Lyn Cowlyd: 1 killed

Date & Time: Feb 20, 1944
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
LT433
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Location:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
En route, while cruising in a snowstorm, aircraft hit Mt Lyn Cowlyd located some 15 km southeast of Bangor, Wales. The pilot was killed while all three other occupants were injured.
Crew:
Sergeant Joseph William Francis Grant, pilot, †
Sergeant Robert Birch, navigator,
Warrant Officer Thomas Renni Renton, wireless operator,
Mervyn John Byrne, wireless operator.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-65-DL in Sookerating

Date & Time: Feb 19, 1944
Operator:
Registration:
42-100588
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
MSN:
19051
YOM:
1943
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crashed on takeoff for unknown reason. Occupant fate unknown as well.

Crash of a Curtiss C-46A-10-CU in McClellan AFB: 2 killed

Date & Time: Feb 18, 1944 at 0100 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
41-12339
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
McClellan AFB - Reno
MSN:
26466
YOM:
1943
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
Few minutes after takeoff from McClellan AFB, while climbing, aircraft lost height and crashed in flames near the American River, south of the airbase. Two crew were killed while three others were injured.
Probable cause:
An undetermined fire erupted in the cockpit, forcing the crew to attempt an emergency landing.

Crash of a Douglas R4D-1 in the Pacific Ocean: 14 killed

Date & Time: Feb 16, 1944
Operator:
Registration:
01989
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Seattle - Kodiak
MSN:
4553
YOM:
1942
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
12
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
14
Circumstances:
En route, while cruising over the North Pacific, the aircraft disappeared in unknown circumstances. SAR operations were conducted and eventually suspended few days later as no trace of the aircraft nor the 14 occupants was ever found.

Crash of a Douglas R4D-1 in El Toro MCAS: 3 killed

Date & Time: Feb 14, 1944
Operator:
Registration:
05057
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
MSN:
4657
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from El Toro MCAS, while climbing, the aircraft crashed for unknown reason. All three crew were killed.

Crash of a Lockheed 14-WF62 Super Electra in Alice Springs

Date & Time: Feb 13, 1944
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
VH-CXI
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Alice Springs - Adelaide
MSN:
1414
YOM:
0
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
10
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The aircraft was performing a flight on behalf of the Royal Australian Air Force with a crew of three en ten passengers on board. During the takeoff run, thw twin engine aircraft skidded on runway when the left main gear collapsed. Aircraft banked left, causing the left propeller to hit the ground and to be sheared off, hitting the nose of the airplane. While all 13 occupants were slightly injured, the aircraft was considered as damaged beyond repair.
Crew:
Captain John Robins, pilot,
Sergeant Ken Bird, copilot,
Sergeant Phoenix, radio operator.

Crash of a Curtiss C-46A-20-CU in Chabua AFB

Date & Time: Feb 9, 1944
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
41-24640
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
26561
YOM:
1943
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crashed on landing for unknown reason. No casualties.