Crash of an Avro 679 Manchester I near Metheringham

Date & Time: Jan 2, 1943
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
L7482
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Swinderby - Swinderby
Region:
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
En route, the crew encountered severe icing conditions and the aircraft's performances were seriously reduced. The crew decided to abandon the aircraft end bailed out. While all seven crew members were found alive, the aircraft crashed in a field and was destroyed.
Probable cause:
Icing.

Crash of a Consolidated PBY-5 Catalina into the Pacific Ocean: 3 killed

Date & Time: Jan 1, 1943
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
04502
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
The accident occurred when the seaplane went out of control as the pilot was trying to avoid a collision with a small boat. The aircraft sunk and was lost. Three crew members were killed while two others were rescued.

Crash of a Consolidated B-24 Liberator in Wright-Patterson AFB

Date & Time: Dec 28, 1942
Operator:
Registration:
41-11872
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
MSN:
368
YOM:
1941
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crashed in unknown circumstances 10 km east of the Wright-Patterson AFB. Crew fate unknown.

Crash of a Lockheed L-414 Hudson IIIA off Alicante: 4 killed

Date & Time: Dec 27, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
FH426
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
The twin engine aircraft crashed in unknown circumstances into the sea off Alicante, killing all four crew members based at Gibraltar.
Crew (223rd Squadron):
Sgt J. S. Greaves, pilot,
Sgt E. Brown, navigator,
Sgt E. V. Evans, bomber,
Sgt J. J. Griffin, bomber.

Crash of a Focke-Wulf Fw.200C-4 Condor on Mt Kvitanosi: 4 killed

Date & Time: Dec 27, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
F8+AK
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
MSN:
0140
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
En route, the four-engine aircraft hit the slope of Mt Kvitanosi located northwest of Vossevangen. Four crew members were killed on impact while two others, injured, walked away to find help. The aircraft was totally destroyed by impact forces.
Crew (2./I./KG 40):
Oblt Waldemar Hackel, pilot, †
Uffz Adolf Liebscher, pilot, †
Fldw Erwin Kopp, radio operator, †
Uffz Walter Schwartz, radio operator,
Gefr Karl Pech, †
Gefr Fritz Albrechts, flight engineer.

Crash of a Martin B-26 Marauder in Reid River

Date & Time: Dec 23, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
40-1481
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
1481
YOM:
1940
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
During the take off run, bound for Papua New Guinea, the twin engine aircraft christened 'Dumbo' swerved and went out of control. It veered off runway and came to rest in flames. While all seven crew members were injured, the aircraft was destroyed by fire.
Crew:
Lt Arthur M. Hughes, pilot,
Lt Louis B. McCord, copilot,
Lt Lineberger, navigator,
Lt. Fred C. Federle, bombardier,
S/Sgt Stanley C. Kotek, flight engineer,
Sgt John H. Hargrove, radio operator,
Pfc Elliot Pasternack, air gunner.

Crash of a Lockheed L-414 Hudson IV in Jabal al Mansuriyah AFB

Date & Time: Dec 22, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
FK391
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
414-6867
YOM:
1942
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
During the take off run from Jabal al Mansuriyah AFB (RAF LG-224), the aircraft swerved, veered off runway and came to rest. No casualties.

Crash of a Lockheed 18-08-01 LodeStar off Kisumu: 12 killed

Date & Time: Dec 19, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
248
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Cairo – Kisumu – Johannesburg
MSN:
2057
YOM:
1941
Location:
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
8
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
12
Circumstances:
After take off from Kisumu Airport, while climbing by night, the crew encountered technical problems to raise the undercarriage because an electrical failure occurred on the undercarriage safety lock circuit. The captain decided to return to Kisumu but the twin engine aircraft crashed into the gulf of Kavirondo, 13 km off Kisumu. All 12 occupants were killed.
Crew (61st Squadron):
Cpt J. D. Mail,
Lt W. B. Lloyd,
Sgt C. V. Flusk,
Cpl LaFayette.
Passengers:
Maj Gen D. H. Pienaar ,
Col F. Theron,
Lt/Col E. V. Frykberg,
Lt/Col E. L. Mackenzie,
Maj J. W. A. Bell,
Maj F. Rawlins,
Cpt P. Bairnsfather-Cloete,
Sgt A. F. Weldon.
Source: ASN
Probable cause:
The combined difficulties of endeavouring to raise the undercarriage and maintain height and speed with a fully loaded aircraft during a night take-off under unfavourable flying conditions gave rise to an error of judgement in which the pilot allowed the aircraft to fly into the water. A contributory cause was the fatigue of the 'elderly pilot' who had flown 1800 miles in the previous 24 hours and had only 6 hours sleep and was trying to reach South Africa at the special request of General Pienaar as soon as possible. No evidence of sabotage was found.

Crash of a Handley Page H.P.54 Harrow II into the Bay of Biscay: 11 killed

Date & Time: Dec 19, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
K7011
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Portreath – Gibraltar
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
4
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
11
Circumstances:
While cruising over the Bay of Biscay, the aircraft crashed into the sea off the Spanish coast in unknown circumstances. None of 11 occupants survived.
Crew (271st Squadron):
S/L Godfrey Allison Brown, pilot,
F/Lt Edward Thomson Halley,
P/O Peter Marsh Burton,
F/O Edwin Buckley Bowen,
F/Sgt Richard George Brett,
F/Sgt John Brister,
LAC Philip Cashmore.
Passengers:
Lt Andrew Jervis Hawkins,
Maj Harold John Palmer,
F/O William Milton Henderson,
F/O John Glen McCauley.

Crash of a Consolidated B-24D-7-CO on Mt Straloch: 12 killed

Date & Time: Dec 18, 1942
Operator:
Registration:
41-23825
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Townsville – Port Moresby
MSN:
620
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
7
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
12
Circumstances:
The aircraft left Townsville at 0815LT bound for Port Moresby. En route, the crew encountered poor weather conditions with heavy rain falls. While cruising at the altitude of 3,000 feet above the Hinchinbrook Island, the aircraft hit the south slope of Mt Straloch located in the south part of the island. All 12 occupants were killed. The wreckage was eventually found by locals in 1943.
Crew (90th BG):
Cpt James E. Gumaer, Jr., pilot,
2nd Lt Dewey G. Hooper, copilot,
2nd Lt David B. Lowe, navigator,
T/Sgt Waldo W. Kellner, flight engineer,
S/Sgt Walter E. Haydt, radio operator,
Passengers:
Col Carroll G. Riggs,
Lt Raymond F. Dakin,
Cpt Carl H. Silber,
Cpt Peter E. Kiple,
Lt John E. Cooper, Jr.,
Robert C. Trevithick,
Tec Michael M. Goldstop.