Crash of a Boeing B-17F-55-DL Flying Fortress on Mt Bomber: 10 killed

Date & Time: Jun 28, 1943 at 2359 LT
Type of aircraft:
Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress
Operator:
Registration:
42-3399
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Pendleton – Grand Island
MSN:
8335
Location:
Bomber Mountain
Wyoming
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
10
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
10
Circumstances:
The crew was returning to his base in Grand Island in order to prepare to join the European operations. En route, the crew inform ground about his position over Powder River. This was the last communication. Around 2359LT, the aircraft hit the slope of a mountain located in the Bighorn Mountain Range, in the north part of Wyoming. All SAR operations were suspended after few days as no trace of the aircraft nor the 10 crew members was found. Two cowboys found the wreckage on August 12, 1945. The aircraft was off course at the time of the accident. After a petition by veterans groups in Wyoming, the unnamed mountain on which the aircraft crashed was christened 'Bomber Mountain' on 22 August 1946 by the U.S. Forest Service.
Crew (318th BS):
Lt William R. Ronaghan, pilot,
Lt Anthony S. Tilotta, copilot,
Lt Leonard H. Phillips, navigator,
Lt Charles H. Suppes, bombardier,
Sgt James A. Hinds, flight engineer,
Sgt Lee V. Millar, assistant to the flight engineer,
Sgt Ferguson T. Bell, radio operator,
Sgt Charles E. Newburn Jr., assistant to the radio operator,
Sgt Jake E. Penick, air gunner,
Sgt Lewis M. Shepherd, air gunner.
Probable cause:
At the time of the accident, the aircraft was nearly 120 miles off course to the north and flying below the prescribed flight altitude, thus below the elevation of the Bighorn Mountain Range.

Crash of a Consolidated B-24D-CO Liberator in Alamogordo

Date & Time: Jun 22, 1943
Type of aircraft:
Consolidated B-24 Liberator
Operator:
Registration:
41-11871
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
367
YOM:
1941
Location:
Alamogordo
New Mexico
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crashed on take off. No casualties.

Crash of a Consolidated B-24D-CO Liberator III into the Atlantic Ocean: 2 killed

Date & Time: Jun 20, 1943 at 0030 LT
Type of aircraft:
Consolidated B-24 Liberator
Operator:
Registration:
FL906
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
MSN:
210
YOM:
1941
Location:
Atlantic Ocean
All World
Country:
World
Region:
World
Crew on board:
8
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
The aircraft was involved in an escort mission. By night, the crew encountered technical problems with an engine and the captain decided to ditch the aircraft at 0030LT. Two crew members were killed while six others were rescued.
Crew (86th Squadron):
F/Sgt John Richard Fast,
Sgt Hollick.
Probable cause:
Engine failure.

Crash of a Douglas C-49K into the Biscayne Bay: 2 killed

Date & Time: Jun 20, 1943
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-49 (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
43-2009
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
MSN:
6334
YOM:
1942
Location:
Biscayne Bay
Florida
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
The aircraft crashed in unknown circumstances into the Biscayne Bay, killing both pilots. Other source reports the aircraft crashed in Long Beach, California, on February 20, 1945.

Crash of a Consolidated B-24A Liberator near Admire

Date & Time: Jun 20, 1943
Type of aircraft:
Consolidated B-24 Liberator
Operator:
Registration:
40-2356
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
MSN:
14
YOM:
1940
Location:
Admire
Kansas
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
10
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
En route, the aircraft caught fire for unknown reason. The ten crewmen abandoned the aircraft and bailed out. Without pilot, the aircraft went into a spin and crashed in a field located 3 miles north of Admire. No casualties.

Crash of a Consolidated B-24A-CO Liberator in Reykjavik

Date & Time: Jun 18, 1943
Type of aircraft:
Consolidated B-24 Liberator
Operator:
Registration:
AM919
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
10
YOM:
1940
Location:
Reykjavik
Capital Region (Höfuðborgarsvæði)
Country:
Iceland
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
An undercarriage collapsed on landing at Reykjavik Airport. The aircraft slid on runway for several yards before coming to rest. While all occupants were unhurt, the aircraft was considered as damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
Undercarriage collapse on landing.

Crash of a Lockheed L-414 Hudson VI in Khartoum: 17 killed

Date & Time: Jun 16, 1943 at 0835 LT
Type of aircraft:
Lockheed L-414 Hudson
Operator:
Registration:
FK459
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Takoradi – Khartoum
MSN:
414-6935
YOM:
1943
Location:
Khartoum
Khartoum (الخرطوم)
Country:
Sudan
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
14
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
17
Circumstances:
The twin engine aircraft was performing a flight to Khartoum on behalf of the Royal Air Force. On final approach, at a height of 800 feet, pilots completed a last turn to the left to join the glide slope when the aircraft banked left, stalled and crashed in a huge explosion. A passenger was seriously injured while all 16 other occupants were killed. A day later, the only survivor died from his injuries.
Crew:
P/O George Edward Harris, pilot,
Sgt James Lissett, copilot,
Sgt Brian James Cox, wireless operator and air gunner.
Passengers:
Sgt Douglas Elliott Guy Brown,
F/Sgt John Creighton,
W/O Neil Francis Gray,
F/Sgt Grochowski,
Sgt James Sidney Harris,
F/Sgt Albert Partington,
F/Sgt Samuel Leonard Pointon,
W/O Charles Matthew Raven,
S/L George Michael Roddy,
Sgt Ronald William Smith,
F/Sgt Stankowiak,
Francis Charles Tanner,
F/Sgt Tetnowsky,
W/O Tonczak.
Probable cause:
Fuel starvation, probably caused by a partial air lock due to surging of petrol in near empty tanks, was thought to have caused the port engine to cut during the last turn to the left.

Crash of a Boeing RB-17C Flying Fortress in Bakers Creek: 40 killed

Date & Time: Jun 14, 1943 at 0600 LT
Type of aircraft:
Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress
Operator:
Registration:
40-2072
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Mackay - Port Moresby
MSN:
2073
YOM:
1940
Location:
Mackay
Queensland
Country:
Australia
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
35
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
40
Circumstances:
The airplane departed Mackay to Port Moresby with a crew of six and 35 US soldiers on board, following a permission period. Shortly after takeoff, the captain decided to make a low pass over the airport so the people on ground could take all's leave off. During the last turn, the airplane named 'Miss Every Morning Fixin' went out of control, stalled and crashed in a huge explosion about one km from the runway threshold. A passenger was seriously injured while 40 other occupants were killed. Up to date, worst plane crash in Australia.
Crew (19th BG):
1st Lt Vern J. Gidcumb Jr., pilot,
F/O William C. Erb, copilot,
2nd Lt Jack A. Ogren, navigator,
Sgt David E. Tileston, radio operator,
S/Sgt Lovell Dale Curtis, crew chief,
S/Sgt Frank E. Whelchel, crew chief.
Passengers:
Pfc Jerome Abraham,
Cpt John O. Berthold,
T/5 William A. Briggs,
Sgt Dan H. Busse,
T/Sgt James A. Copeland,
Sgt Carl A. Cunningham,
T/5 George A. Ehrman,
Pvt James E. Finney,
Sgt Leo E. Fletcher,
T/Sgt Alfred H. Frezza,
Pfc Norman J. Goetz,
S/Sgt Roy A. Hatlen,
S/Sgt John W. Hilsheimer,
Pfc Vernon Johnson,
Sgt Donald B. Kyper,
Sgt Charlie O. LaRue,
Pvt Raymond D. Longabaugh,
Pfc Kenneth W. Mann,
Cpl Marlin D. Metzger,
Pvt Charles D. Montgomery,
Pfc John W. Parker,
Pfc Frank S. Penska,
Maj George N. Powell,
Sgt Anthony Rudnick,
Cpl Charles W. Sampson,
Pfc Arnold Seidel,
Cpl Jacob O. Skaggs Jr.,
Cpl Franklin F. Smith,
Cpl Raymond H. Smith,
Pfc Frederick C. Sweet,
Cpl Edward Tenny,
Pfc Dale Van Fosson,
Pvt Ruben L. Vaugh,
Charles M. Williams.
Sources & photos: http://www.ozatwar.com/ozcrashes/qld46.htm
Probable cause:
The exact cause of the accident was undetermined. Nevertheless, the assumption that an engine failed was not ruled out.

Crash of a Lisunov LI-2 near Maksatikha

Date & Time: Jun 14, 1943
Type of aircraft:
Lisunov LI-2
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-L4035
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Moscow – Leningrad
Location:
Maksatikha
Tver oblast
Country:
Russia
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
En route, the crew encountered problems with the right engine that failed. The Captain reduced his altitude in an attempt to make an emergency landing 30 km southeast of Maksatikha. While the manoeuvre was successfully completed and no one was injured, the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
Fuel flow system failure.

Crash of a Consolidated B-24D Liberator in Idaho Falls

Date & Time: Jun 10, 1943
Type of aircraft:
Consolidated B-24 Liberator
Operator:
Registration:
40-699
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
170
YOM:
1941
Location:
Idaho Falls
Idaho
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crashed landed at Idaho Falls Airport. No casualties.
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