Crash of a Lockheed A-29-LO Hudson in Allentown

Date & Time: Jan 31, 1944
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
41-23324
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
414-6141
YOM:
1941
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
En route, the crew encountered an unexpected situation and was forced to abandon the aircraft and bailed out. All occupants were unhurt while the aircraft crashed and was destroyed.

Crash of a Consolidated C-87 Liberator Express near Lhasa

Date & Time: Jan 31, 1944
Operator:
Registration:
41-23682
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Kunming - Jorhat
MSN:
648
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
En route, crew encountered poor weather conditions with severe icing and strong winds. The aircraft deviated from the prescribed track and in low visibility, hit a mountain slope located in the region of Lhasa, Tibet. SAR operations were suspended after few days as no trace of the aircraft was found. The wreckage was eventually spotted in July 1994 at the altitude of 14,000 feet in a glacier.

Crash of a Curtiss C-46A-25-CU Commando near Rilu: 4 killed

Date & Time: Jan 29, 1944
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
41-24739
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
MSN:
26660
Location:
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
The aircraft left Chanyi Airport at 1540LT bound for Misamari Airbase, Assam, India. It failed to arrive and was later found to have crashed in a jungle and mountainous area located northeast of Rilu, Assam. All four occupants were killed. At the time of the accident, strong winds up to 86 knots were reported from the southwest at an altitude greater than 18,000 feet and severe icing conditions were also reported till 21,000 feet.

Crash of a Douglas C-54A-DO Skymaster in Accra: 1 killed

Date & Time: Jan 27, 1944
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
41-37292
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
3083
YOM:
1943
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
Crashed on takeoff for unknown reason and came to rest in flames. At least one crew member was killed.

Crash of a Consolidated C-87-CF Liberator Express in China: 3 killed

Date & Time: Jan 25, 1944
Operator:
Registration:
42-107262
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Schedule:
Jorhat - Yangkai
MSN:
14
Location:
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
The crew was performing a flight from Jorhat, India, to the US Airbase of Yangkai located some 33 miles northeast of Kunming, Yunnan, China. En route, pilots encountered poor weather conditions and in an unclear situation, a crew member was able to bail out before the aircraft crashed in a mountainous region located in the northwest part of China. Three crew were killed while the fourth was rescued.

Crash of a Beechcraft AT-7 near Farmersville: 4 killed

Date & Time: Jan 24, 1944
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
43-33303
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
MSN:
5466
YOM:
1942
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
En route, in unknown circumstances, a Lockheed C-60A LodeStar registered 42-32203 with 6 people on board collided with the USAF Beechcraft AT-7 registered 43-33303. Right after impact, both aircraft dove into the ground and crashed in a prairie. All 10 occupants in both aircraft were killed. The reason of the occurrence is unknown.

Crash of a Lockheed C-60A-1-LO LodeStar near Farmersville: 6 killed

Date & Time: Jan 24, 1944
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
42-32203
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Selman City - Hugo
MSN:
2293
YOM:
1942
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Circumstances:
En route, while cruising at an altitude of 2,000 feet, the LodeStar registered 42-32203 collided with an USAAF Beechcraft AT-7 registered 43-33303 with 4 crew on board. Both aircraft went out of control, dove into the ground and crashed in a prairie. All 10 occupants in both aircraft were killed. The reason of the occurrence is unknown.

Crash of a Consolidated PBY-5A Catalina in Luganville: 6 killed

Date & Time: Jan 22, 1944
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
08386
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
1310
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
9
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Circumstances:
Crashed on takeoff with depth charges and exploded.

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

Date & Time: Jan 22, 1944
Operator:
Registration:
42-23302
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Maxton - Richmond
MSN:
9164
YOM:
1943
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
Following an uneventful flight from Maxton AFB, crew started the approach to Richmond-Byrd Field when he was informed that this airport was closed to traffic due to poor weather conditions. In accordance with ATC, crew diverted to Richmond-Central Airport and completed the approach and the landing procedure safely. After landing, aircraft vacated the runway via a taxiway and for unknown reasons, it entered the adjacent grass and got stuck. Pilot increased engine power too much, allowing the tail to rise and then the nose to plunge into the earth. Both engines propeller blades struck the ground and some of them were sheared off, hitting the cockpit and killing the captain. All three other occupants were uninjured while the aircraft was considered as damaged beyond repair.