Crash of a De Havilland DH.84 Dragon near Croydon: 2 killed

Date & Time: Dec 6, 1943
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DH.84 Dragon
Operator:
Registration:
A34-25
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
MSN:
2014
YOM:
1943
Location:
Croydon
Queensland
Country:
Australia
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
En route from Townsville-Garbutt Field with radar equipment on board, the aircraft crashed in unknown circumstances some 15 miles south of Croydon. The wreckage was found few hours later and both crew members were killed.

Crash of a Short S.25 Sunderland III near Ballycastle: 9 killed

Date & Time: Dec 5, 1943
Type of aircraft:
Short S.25 Sunderland
Operator:
Registration:
W6013
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Mountains
Location:
Ballycastle
Antrim
Country:
United Kingdom
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
12
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
9
Circumstances:
In the early morning, while descending to the RAF Castle Archdale in marginal weather conditions, the seaplane hit the slope of Mt Knocklayd located south of Ballycastle. Nine crew members were killed while three others were injured. At the time of the accident, the mountain was shrouded by clouds and the visibility was poor.
Crew (423rd Squadron):
S/L Thomas, pilot,
F/O Blair, copilot 10.
Probable cause:
According to RAF Command, the accident was caused by a premature descend in marginal weather conditions and low visibility.

Crash of a Boeing B-17E Flying Fortress in the Peni Mountains: 12 killed

Date & Time: Dec 5, 1943
Type of aircraft:
Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress
Operator:
Registration:
41-9016
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
MSN:
2488
YOM:
1941
Location:
Peni Mountains
Catalonia
Country:
Spain
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
12
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
12
Circumstances:
While flying in poor weather conditions, the aircraft hit a mountain slope in the Peni Mountains. All 12 crew members were killed.
Crew (16th Squadron):
Cpl Christian Jean Becht,
S/Sgt Fred Clanton,
2nd Lt Earl Richard Clement,
2nd Lt Harvey Julian Hanson,
1st Lt John Albert MacDonald,
2nd Lt John Kemp Pheley,
S/Sgt Leonard Lable Rosenburg,
2nd Lt Robert Murray Ryan,
S/Sgt John Louis Scala,
S/Sgt Guy Edward Shoff,
T/Sgt James Theodore Thomas,
T/Sgt Thayer Todd Turman .
Probable cause:
According to the USAF Air Command, the accident was caused by a navigational error.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-65-DL off the Lundy Island

Date & Time: Dec 3, 1943
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
42-100511
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
MSN:
18974
YOM:
1943
Location:
Lundy Island
Devonshire
Country:
United Kingdom
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crashed in unknown circumstances in the Bristol Channel, off the Lundy Island. While the aircraft sank and was lost, all occupants were rescued.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-60-DL in Tsuyung AFB

Date & Time: Dec 2, 1943
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
42-24365
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
10227
YOM:
1943
Location:
Tsuyung AFB (Chuxiong)
Yunnan
Country:
China
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crashed on takeoff at Tsuyung AFB. There were no casualties.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-30-DL near Port Moresby

Date & Time: Dec 1, 1943
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
42-23659
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Townsville – Port Moresby
MSN:
9521
YOM:
1943
Location:
Port Moresby
National Capital District
Country:
Papua New Guinea
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
While approaching Port Moresby-Jackson Airfield at a height of 4,000 feet, both engines failed. The captain attemted an emergency landing in a prairie located 20 miles west of aerodrome, near the Vanapa River. While the aircraft was damaged beyond repair, all four crew members were unhurt.
Probable cause:
Double engine failure.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-60-DL in Townsville

Date & Time: Dec 1, 1943
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
43-30752
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
13903
YOM:
1943
Location:
Townsville
Queensland
Country:
Australia
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crashed on landing at Townsville-Garbutt Airfield for unknown reason. There were no casualties.

Crash of a Douglas C-47 Dakota III off RAF Portreath: 12 killed

Date & Time: Nov 30, 1943
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
FL515
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Portreath – Gibraltar
MSN:
10098
YOM:
1943
Location:
Portreath AFB
Cornwall
Country:
United Kingdom
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
12
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
12
Circumstances:
Shortly after take off from RAF Portreath, while in initial climb, the aircraft crashed into the sea one mile off shore. The aircraft sank and all 12 crew members were killed.
Probable cause:
It is believed that cargo shifted after take off, but this was not confirmed.

Crash of a Consolidated PBY-5A Catalina near Belém: 10 killed

Date & Time: Nov 28, 1943
Type of aircraft:
Consolidated PBY Catalina
Operator:
Registration:
2472
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Location:
Belém
Pará
Country:
Brazil
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
10
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
10
Circumstances:
During a convoy mission, the pilot was forced to attempt an emergency landing for unknown reason. The seaplane crashed in a river near Belém and some debris were found five days later, on December 3. All ten crew members were killed.

Crash of a Lockheed C-60A-5-LO LodeStar near Sabinal: 8 killed

Date & Time: Nov 27, 1943 at 0200 LT
Type of aircraft:
Lockheed C-60 LodeStar
Operator:
Registration:
42-56049
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Cleveland - Hondo
MSN:
2452
YOM:
1943
Location:
Sabinal
Texas
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
8
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
8
Circumstances:
While approaching Hondo AAF, Texas, the weather conditions worsened. Pilots were unable to localize the airport and decided to continue to San Antonio. In low visibility with clouds down to 900 feet, the aircraft went out of control, dove into the ground in a near vertical attitude and crashed in a prairie located 8 miles south of Sabinal. All eight occupants were killed. The crew was requesting radio compass assistance from San Antonio Ground Control Center when the loss of control occurred.
Crew:
2nd Lt Robert H. Gordon,
Cpt William F. Herbert,
Avc George B. Kirby,
Avc Walter F. Liszka,
Avc Edward A. Mallroy,
Avc Thomas J. Maroney Jr.,
Sgt Alfred F. Roberts,
2nd Lt Harry H. Womack.
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