Crash of a Consolidated B-24A-CO Liberator in RAF Talbenny: 11 killed

Date & Time: Jan 29, 1943
Type of aircraft:
Consolidated B-24 Liberator
Operator:
Registration:
AM913
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Casablanca - Talbenny
MSN:
4
YOM:
1940
Location:
Talbenny AFB
Pembrokeshire
Country:
United Kingdom
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
15
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
11
Circumstances:
On final approach to RAF Talbenny, the pilot lost control of the aircraft as a result of an engine's explosion. The aircraft came down in a field few miles short of runway threshold. Eight occupants were seriously injured while eleven others were killed.
Probable cause:
An engine exploded on approach and fell off, causing the aircraft to be uncontrollable.

Crash of a Douglas UC-67 Dragon near McDavid: 10 killed

Date & Time: Jan 26, 1943
Type of aircraft:
Douglas B-23 Dragon
Operator:
Registration:
39-43
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
MSN:
2729
Location:
McDavid
Florida
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:
Crashed in unknown circumstances east of McDavid, Florida, killing all ten occupants.

Crash of a Douglas UC-67 Dragon in Washington DC

Date & Time: Jan 22, 1943
Type of aircraft:
Douglas B-23 Dragon
Operator:
Registration:
39-55
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
2741
Location:
Washington DC
District of Columbia
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Shortly after take off from Washington DC Airport, the twin engine aircraft stalled and crashed on the runway edge. All seven crew members were seriously injured while the aircraft was destroyed.
Probable cause:
The accident was caused by an engine failure shortly after rotation.

Crash of a Douglas R4D-1 in Flagstaff: 6 killed

Date & Time: Jan 21, 1943
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
05051
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
MSN:
4555
YOM:
1942
Location:
Flagstaff
Arizona
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Circumstances:
In flight, the twin engine aircraft hit the slope of Fremont Peak located 7 miles north of Flagstaff. The aircraft was destroyed upon impact and all six crew members were killed.

Crash of a Douglas A-20B-DL Havoc near Macapá: 3 killed

Date & Time: Jan 20, 1943 at 1315 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas A-20 Havoc/DB-7 Boston
Operator:
Registration:
41-3361
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Georgetown – Belém
MSN:
5691
Location:
Macapá
Amapá
Country:
Brazil
Region:
South America
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
The crew departed Atkinson Airfield in Georgetown, Guyana, at 1036LT on a ferry flight to Belém. The airplane was last seen at 1310LT by a pilot. As it failed to arrive at destination, SAR operations were initiated but eventually suspended on February 5 as no trace of the airplane nor the crew was found. It is believed that the airplane may crash around 1315LT in a jungle of the State of Amapá.
Crew:
Lt H. L. McClelland, pilot,
Pvt J. N. Gordon, air gunner,
Sgt G. R. McCollum, air gunner.
Final Report:

Crash of a Bristol 130 Bombay I in Sedada

Date & Time: Jan 19, 1943
Type of aircraft:
Bristol 130 Bombay
Operator:
Registration:
L5841
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Location:
Sedada
Misrata (مصراتة )
Country:
Libya
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
During the take off roll, a tyre burst. Severe vibrations caused the undercarriage to collapse and the aircraft slid on runway before coming to rest. While all occupants escaped unhurt, the aircraft was considered as damaged beyond repair.
Probable cause:
Tyre burst on take off.

Crash of a Consolidated B-24D-CO Liberator near Tucson: 11 killed

Date & Time: Jan 18, 1943
Type of aircraft:
Consolidated B-24 Liberator
Operator:
Registration:
41-11887
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
MSN:
383
YOM:
1941
Location:
Tucson
Arizona
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
11
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
11
Circumstances:
En route, the four-engine aircraft went out of control, dove into the ground and crashed on the slope of a mountain located south of Tucson. SAR operations were conducted but suspended after few days as no trace of the aircraft nor the crew was found. Eventually, the wreckage was found two months later on a mountainous and isolated area located south of Tucson. All 11 crew members were killed.
Probable cause:
The official cause of the accident was attributed to a pilot error, although the accident report indicated that the tail section was not found in the wreckage. The tail was found many years later several miles away. Thus, speculation is that in flight structural failure may have caused the crash.

Crash of a Consolidated C-87 Liberator Express into the Atlantic Ocean: 26 killed

Date & Time: Jan 17, 1943 at 2300 LT
Type of aircraft:
Consolidated C-87 Liberator Express
Operator:
Registration:
41-11708
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Accra – Georgetown – Natal
MSN:
204
YOM:
1941
Location:
Atlantic Ocean
All World
Country:
World
Region:
World
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
20
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
26
Circumstances:
While overflying the Atlantic Ocean by night, on the leg from Georgetown (Ascension Island) to Natal, while on a flight from Accra to Natal, the aircraft disappeared into the Ocean around 2300LT. SAR operations were conducted for several days but eventually suspended as no trace of the aircraft nor the crew was found. Two life vests were discovered on a Brazilian beach few days later.
Probable cause:
US military authorities reported that at the time of the accident, whose causes remain unknown, weather conditions prevailing above the center of the Atlantic Ocean were marginal due to the presence of thick clouds and heavy rain falls. It is also reported that lifeboats were found on seas nearly 100 km east of Recife on February 4, 1943, with dead bodies on board. This means that some passengers escaped the accident and managed to take refuge in dinghies. Analyses carried out on the bodies determined that the last survivor died of fatigue, hunger and thirst on February 3, 1943, two weeks after the accident. Without concrete elements, no part of the aircraft having been found, investigators were unable to determine the exact cause of the accident.

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

Date & Time: Jan 17, 1943
Type of aircraft:
Consolidated B-24 Liberator
Operator:
Registration:
41-11844
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Site:
Plain, Valley
MSN:
340
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 in unknown circumstances 15 miles northwest of Alamogordo. Crew fate remains unknown.

Crash of a Douglas C-49D near Waller AFB: 1 killed

Date & Time: Jan 16, 1943
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-49 (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
41-7718
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
4143
YOM:
1941
Location:
Waller AFB
All Trinidad and Tobago
Country:
Trinidad and Tobago
Region:
Central America
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
At least one crew member was killed when the aircraft crashed in unknown circumstances north of Waller AFB, some 10 km east of Piarco Airport.
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