Crash of a Douglas C-47-DL in Brisbane: 23 killed

Date & Time: Mar 27, 1943 at 0512 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
A65-2
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Brisbane – Sydney
MSN:
6149
YOM:
1942
Location:
Brisbane
Queensland
Country:
Australia
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
19
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
23
Captain / Total flying hours:
121
Circumstances:
One minute after take off from Brisbane-Archerfield Airport by night, while in initial climb, the aircraft entered a patch of fog, banked to the left up to vertical position and crashed in a wooded area located 1 mile south of the airport. All 23 occupants were killed. The aircraft had also the civil registration VH-CTB.
Crew:
F/O Alexander Ken Arnold, pilot,
Sgt Joseph Hammond, copilot,
LAC Samuel Ivan Wiles, fitter,
Sgt Lyle Carter Morgan, wireless operator.
Passengers:
Sgt John Atherton,
LAC Thomas William Beckley,
P/O David Andrew Blackley,
LAC John Edward Chinner,
Sgt Robert William Tylden Chisholm,
LAC Kevin Francis Flanagan,
LAC Charles Paton Eric Fly,
Cpl Violet May Gunning,
Maj E. H. Halliwell, US Army,
Cpl Ruth Ada Hills,
Acw Florence May Jackson,
Sgt Max Irvenia Thomas Jarvis,
LAC Terrence Joseph Kelly,
LAC Kenneth Owen Paton,
1st Lt F. M. Skinner, US Army,
Lt Irwin Leo Smith,
P/O Alfred Tatlock,
LAC Geoffrey Frederick Waters,
Cpl Thomas Keith McDowell Watt.
Source: http://www.adf-gallery.com.au & Grahame Higgs
Probable cause:
At the time of the accident there was much speculation about the loss of an engine, although the investigation team could find no evidence of any unserviceability with any of the aircraft systems. Ultimately the investigation in 1943 cited error of judgement and poor technique on the part of the pilot as the cause. Hopefully today we would not be so damning. Final verdicts of pilot error are not acceptable anymore. Pilots do not set out to crash airplanes so what happened to cause this crew to err. In this case it could be a case of Spatial Disorientation, or as Bob Livingstone has suggested, caged Gyros, both of which can lead rapidly to loss of control. In his defense, F/O Arnold had only 121 hours on type of which a mere 14 hours were as captain.

Crash of a Lockheed L-414 Hudson IIIA in Honiara: 2 killed

Date & Time: Mar 26, 1943 at 1300 LT
Type of aircraft:
Lockheed L-414 Hudson
Operator:
Registration:
NZ2061
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
414-6507
YOM:
1942
Location:
Honiara
All Solomon Islands
Country:
Solomon Islands
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
During the take off run at Honiara Airport, a tyre burst. The twin engine aircraft went out of control, veered off runway and came to rest in flames into a ravine. Bombs stored in the cargo bay exploded and the aircraft was totally destroyed. Two crew members were killed while three others were seriously injured.
Crew (3rd Squadron):
F/O Nelson Warner, †
F/Sgt John Jerrat, †
F/L K. King,
Sgt H. Baker,
Sgt B. Dillner.
Probable cause:
Loss of control during take off run caused by a tyre burst.

Crash of a Noorduyn Norseman IV off Metlakatla: 7 killed

Date & Time: Mar 26, 1943
Type of aircraft:
Noorduyn Norseman
Operator:
Registration:
2481
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Ketchikan - Metlakatla
MSN:
54
YOM:
1941
Location:
Metlakatla
Alaska
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
3
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
7
Circumstances:
The single engine aircraft was performing a liaison flight between Ketchikan and Metlakatla, on Annette Island. Upon arrival, it apparently ran into heavy snow falls and while attempting to land in the Metlakatla harbor, the aircraft flew into the water, striking with the starboard float or wing first, cart wheeling on the starboard wing and came to rest on its nose in approx ten to twelve feet of water. All seven occupants were killed.
Crew:
Fred Burpee Curry 3
Passengers:
3 US Officers.

Crash of a Curtiss R5C-1 Commando in Bolling AFB: 4 killed

Date & Time: Mar 24, 1943 at 1200 LT
Type of aircraft:
Curtiss C-46 Commando
Operator:
Registration:
39492
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Anacostia-Bolling
MSN:
26429
YOM:
1943
Location:
Bolling AFB
Washington DC
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
On final approach to Bolling AFB, aircraft stalled and crashed in a huge explosion short of runway. All four occupants were killed.

Crash of an Avro 679 Manchester I in RAF Swinderby

Date & Time: Mar 24, 1943
Type of aircraft:
Avro 679 Manchester
Operator:
Registration:
L7453
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Swinderby - Swinderby
Location:
Swinderby AFB
Lincolnshire
Country:
United Kingdom
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Shortly after take off, while in initial climb, an engine caught fire. The crew decided to land immediately while the landing gear have just been retracted. The aircraft belly landed and skidded few yards before coming to rest. All seven crew were uninjured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
Engine fire.

Crash of a Consolidated B-24D Liberator in Assam: 10 killed

Date & Time: Mar 21, 1943
Type of aircraft:
Consolidated B-24 Liberator
Operator:
Registration:
42-40069
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Kunming – Chabua
MSN:
3160
Location:
Assam State
Assam
Country:
India
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
10
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
10
Circumstances:
The aircraft christened 'Pregnant Swan' most probably crashed in a mountainous region of Assam while on a flight from Kunming to Chabua. No trace of the aircraft nor the crew was found.
Crew:
Maj Robert W. Fensler, pilot,
Gerald E. Owens, copilot,
S/Sgt Erle H. Thayer, flight engineer,
Phillip G. Huffman,
Louis F. Verhaegen,
S/Sgt Alvin Jack Lenox 4.

Crash of a Boeing B-17E Flying Fortress off Pavuvu Island

Date & Time: Mar 20, 1943
Type of aircraft:
Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress
Operator:
Registration:
41-9216
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
MSN:
2688
YOM:
1941
Location:
Pavuvu Island (Russell Islands)
All Solomon Islands
Country:
Solomon Islands
Region:
Oceania
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 Pavuvu Island. Crew fate unknown.

Crash of a Boeing B-17E Flying Fortress off Pavuvu Island

Date & Time: Mar 20, 1943
Type of aircraft:
Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress
Operator:
Registration:
41-9214
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
MSN:
2686
YOM:
1941
Location:
Pavuvu Island (Russell Islands)
All Solomon Islands
Country:
Solomon Islands
Region:
Oceania
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 Pavuvu Island. Crew fate unknown.

Crash of a Consolidated B-24D-CO Liberator III in Reykjavik

Date & Time: Mar 18, 1943
Type of aircraft:
Consolidated B-24 Liberator
Operator:
Registration:
FK232
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
145
YOM:
1941
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:
After touchdown at Reykjavik Airport, the four-engine aircraft was unable to stop within the remaining distance. It overrun and came to rest. There were no casualties.
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