Crash of a De Havilland DH.89 Dragon Rapide in RAF Sywell

Date & Time: May 17, 1943
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DH.89 Dragon Rapide
Operator:
Registration:
X9457
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Portadown – Sywell
MSN:
6290
YOM:
1935
Location:
Sywell
Northamptonshire
Country:
United Kingdom
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
While approaching RAF Sywell, the pilot was forced to attempt an emergency landing for unknown reason. The aircraft crash landed in a field and was damaged beyond repair. All three occupants escaped uninjured.

Crash of an Avro 679 Manchester IA in RAF Wigsley

Date & Time: May 17, 1943
Type of aircraft:
Avro 679 Manchester
Operator:
Registration:
L7491
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Wigsley - Wigsley
Location:
Wigsley AFB
Nottinghamshire
Country:
United Kingdom
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Swerved on take off, veered off runway and came to rest. No casualties.

Crash of a Douglas C-47-DL in Mt Gingercake: 18 killed

Date & Time: May 15, 1943
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
41-18562
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
MSN:
4687
YOM:
1942
Location:
Jonas Ridge
North Carolina
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
15
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
18
Circumstances:
En route, the crew encountered foggy conditions. While cruising northwest of Morganton, the aircraft hit tree tops and crashed in a wooded area located on Mt Gingercake, few miles south of the small village of Jonas Ridge. All 18 occupants were killed. They were performing a liaison flight from Laurinburg-Maxton AFB.

Crash of a Consolidated B-24 Liberator III in Belfast-Aldergrove: 6 killed

Date & Time: May 14, 1943
Type of aircraft:
Consolidated B-24 Liberator
Operator:
Registration:
FK234
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
130
YOM:
1941
Location:
Belfast-Aldergrove
Antrim
Country:
United Kingdom
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
8
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Circumstances:
Shortly after take off from Belfast-Aldergrove, while in initial climb, the aircraft encountered problems to gain height, hit tree tops and crashed in flames on a hilly terrain. Five crew members were killed while three others were injured. A day later, one of the survivor died from his injuries.
Crew (86th Squadron):
S/L Dennis F. Wykeham-Martin, †
Sgt John M. Leslie, †
Sgt Henry B. Little, †
P/O Henry F. Burney, †
F/Sgt William G. McGhee, †
W/O Harold L. Carter, †
P/O S. Neal,
F/Sgt A. L. Cowan.

Crash of an Airspeed AS.10 Oxford I in RAF Ramsbury

Date & Time: May 11, 1943
Type of aircraft:
Airspeed AS.10 Oxford
Operator:
Registration:
L4534
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Location:
Ramsbury AFB
Wiltshire
Country:
United Kingdom
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crashed on landing. No casualties.

Crash of a Curtiss C-46A-CU Commando off Great Inagua Island: 2 killed

Date & Time: May 7, 1943
Type of aircraft:
Curtiss C-46 Commando
Operator:
Registration:
41-5180
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
MSN:
26382
YOM:
1942
Location:
Great Inagua Island
Inagua
Country:
Bahamas
Region:
Central America
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
The airplane crashed in unknown circumstances into the sea off Great Inagua Island. Two crew members (Inman and Mitchell) were killed and two others were rescued.

Crash of a Curtiss C-46A-CU Commando off Great Inagua Island

Date & Time: May 7, 1943
Type of aircraft:
Curtiss C-46 Commando
Operator:
Registration:
41-5180
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
MSN:
26382
YOM:
1943
Location:
Great Inagua Island
Inagua
Country:
Bahamas
Region:
Central America
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crashed in unknown circumstances into the sea off the Great Inagua Island. Crew fate remains unknown.

Crash of a Canadian Vickers PBV-1 Canso in Gander: 5 killed

Date & Time: May 5, 1943
Type of aircraft:
Canadian Vickers PBV-1 Canso (OA-10 Canso)
Operator:
Registration:
9807
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Gander - Gander
MSN:
CV-241
YOM:
1943
Location:
Gander
Newfoundland & Labrador
Country:
Canada
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from runway 15, while in initial climb, the seaplane went out of control and crashed in flames in the bush near the runway end. Six crew members were killed while the second engineer was seriously injured. The crew was engaged in an urgent operational duties, mainly convoy coverage.
Crew:
F/Lt Brian Anthony Casey, pilot,
F/Lt Joseph John Barsalou, pilot,
F/O James Rayson Wallace Cleeland, navigator,
P/O James Herbert Millar, wireless operator,
Wo2 Alexander Frederick Morrice, wireless operator,
Sgt John Benjamin Stallwood, 1st engineer,
Cpl Urbain Edmond Antoine Dube, 2nd engineer.
Source & photos:
http://www.planecrashgirl.ca/2016/07/13/rcaf-canso-9807/
Probable cause:
The report concludes that Canso 9807 crashed because it “stalled due to climbing at a critical angle in rough air”. The weight of the aircraft may have been a factor, as it was the second incident with a Canso under similar conditions. Therefore, it was recommended that the maximum weight of the aircraft be reduced to prevent further accidents.

Crash of a Consolidated B-24D Liberator near Keflavik: 14 killed

Date & Time: May 3, 1943 at 1530 LT
Type of aircraft:
Consolidated B-24 Liberator
Operator:
Registration:
41-23728
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Bovingdon - Keflavik
MSN:
523
YOM:
1943
Location:
Keflavik
Southern Peninsula (Suðurnes)
Country:
Iceland
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
8
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
14
Circumstances:
The aircraft left RAF Bovingdon on a transatlantic flight to the US with an intermediate stop in Keflavik. While descending to the airport, the crew encountered poor weather conditions with rain falls, low ceiling and a near zero visibility. At an altitude of 1,100 feet and a speed of 139 knots, the aircraft hit a rocky peak with its right wing. It crashed on a mountain slope located southeast of Keflavik and was totally destroyed, except the tail. Fourteen occupants were killed and only the tail gunner survived with minor injuries. At the time of the accident, the captain was reducing his altitude in an attempt to establish a visual contact with the ground.
Crew (93rd Squadron):
Cpt Robert H. Shannon, pilot,
Lt Gen Frank Maxwell Andrews, copilot,
S/Sgt George A. Eisel, tail gunner,
Cpt James E. Gott, navigator,
T/Sgt Kenneth A. Jeffers, radio operator,
S/Sgt Lloyd C. Weir, crew chief,
S/Sgt Paul H. McQueen, air gunner.
Passengers:
Adna W. Leonard,
Br Gen Charles A. Barth,
Col Marlow Krum,
Col Frank L. Miller,
Maj Theodore C. Totman,
Lt Col Fred A. Chapman,
Maj Robert H. Humphrey,
Cpt Joseph T. Johnson.
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