Military | Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives

The crew left Horn Island Airport at 2300LT on a combined flight to Salamaua (PNG) with three other similar aircraft. While flying over the Coral Sea, the aircraft crashed in unknown circumstances. No trace was ever found.
Crew (32nd Squadron):
F/Lt Patrick Randal McDonnell,
P/O Alexander Mackay Petrie,
P/O Randolph Loring Fairfax,
Sgt Murray Charles Ellis.

Crash of a Douglas C-49E in Premier: 21 killed

Date & Time: Jul 1, 1942 at 1200 LT

Type of aircraft:

Douglas C-49 (DC-3)

Operator:

Registration:

42-56093

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

Schedule:

Battle Creek – Cincinnati – Florence

MSN:

1976

YOM:

1937

Location:

Premier

West Virginia

Country:

United States of America

Region:

North America

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

While approaching Cincinnati-Lunken Field Airport in poor weather conditions, the crew made three attempts to land without success. During the fourth attempt, the aircraft speed was too high and it hit hard the runway surface. The captain increased engine power and decided to continue to Florence, South Carolina. Few minutes later, while cruising in poor weather conditions (thunderstorm and turbulence), the aircraft banked left and right and eventually went out of control. From a height of 250 metres, it lost successively part of its wings and elevators, dove into the ground and crashed in an open field. The aircraft was totally destroyed by impact forces and post crash fire and all 21 occupants were killed.

Probable cause:

According to the Board of investigations, it appears the aircraft lost parts of wings and elevators when it dove into the ground, most probably due to forces exceeding their design and certification. For undetermined reasons, the captain decided to continue the flight to Florence following a missed landing at Cincinnati Airport. Due to a heavy landing, the wings' and elevators' structure was slightly damaged and moderate to severe turbulence in the region also contributed to the wings' and elevator' structural weakness. Poor discipline and judgment is also reproached to both pilots as they should complete the landing procedure at Cincinnati and perform an inspection of the aircraft, which was not performed. Eventually, accumulation of ice on carburetors associated to a certain torsion during the hard landing was considered as a contributory factor as the carburetors did not work properly during the last segment of the flight.

Crash of a Boeing B-17E Flying Fortress in Greenland

Date & Time: Jun 28, 1942

Type of aircraft:

Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress

Operator:

Registration:

41-9108

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

MSN:

2580

YOM:

1941

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Crashed in unknown circumstances somewhere in Greenland while being transferred from the US to Europe. There were no casualties but the aircraft christened 'Alabama Exterminator' was damaged beyond repair.

Crash of an Airspeed AS.10 Oxford I near Jahra

Date & Time: Jun 26, 1942

Type of aircraft:

Airspeed AS.10 Oxford

Operator:

Registration:

L4667

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

En route, while on a supply mission, the pilot encountered poor weather conditions and attempted to make an emergency landing near Jahra, some 24 km west of Kuwait City. While the aircraft was damaged beyond repair, all three crew members were unhurt.

Crash of a Lockheed L-414 Hudson III in Bremen: 4 killed

Date & Time: Jun 26, 1942

Type of aircraft:

Lockheed L-414 Hudson

Operator:

Registration:

T9435

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

MSN:

414-2470

YOM:

1941

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The crew was engaged in a bombing mission to Bremen, Germany. While approaching its target, the twin engine aircraft was shot down by the German Flak and crashed in flames. All four occupants were killed.

Probable cause:

Shot down by the German Flak.

Crash of a Consolidated B-24D-CO Liberator in Lordsburg: 2 killed

Date & Time: Jun 23, 1942

Type of aircraft:

Consolidated B-24 Liberator

Operator:

Registration:

41-11920

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

MSN:

416

YOM:

1941

Location:

Lordsburg

New Mexico

Country:

United States of America

Region:

North America

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

While overflying New Mexico, a fire erupted and forced all ten crew members to bail out. Out of control, the aircraft dove into the ground and was destroyed by impact forces and post crash fire. While eight crew members were unhurt, two others were killed as their parachute did not open properly.

Probable cause:

Unknown in flight fire.

Crash of a Consolidated B-24D-CO Liberator in Davis Monthan AFB: 8 killed

Date & Time: Jun 20, 1942

Type of aircraft:

Consolidated B-24 Liberator

Operator:

Registration:

41-11851

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

MSN:

347

YOM:

1941

Location:

Davis-Monthan AFB

Arizona

Country:

United States of America

Region:

North America

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Crashed in unknown circumstances near Davis Monthan AFB. All eight crew members were killed.

Crash of a Consolidated PBY-5 Catalina into the Gulf of Paria: 12 killed

Date & Time: Jun 19, 1942

Type of aircraft:

Consolidated PBY Catalina

Operator:

Registration:

2399

Flight Phase:

Landing (descent or approach)

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Location:

Port of Spain

All Trinidad and Tobago

Country:

Trinidad and Tobago

Region:

Central America

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Crashed into the Gulf of Paria, off Port of Spain, during a night landing. The seaplane sunk and was lost, causing the death of all 12 occupants.

Crash of a Tugan LJW7 Gannet in Canberra

Date & Time: Jun 15, 1942 at 1325 LT

Type of aircraft:

Tugan LJW7 Gannet

Operator:

Registration:

A14-5

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

MSN:

TA-59

YOM:

1937

Location:

Canberra

Australian Capital Territory

Country:

Australia

Region:

Oceania

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Shortly after takeoff from Canberra Airport, the port engine failed. The aircraft lost height, impacted trees and crashed 3 km from the runway end. The aircraft was destroyed and all four crew members were injured.
Crew:
F/Lt B. W. Graham,
Sgt R. C. Kupsch,
Sgt J. P. Craig,
Sgt G. G. Smith.

Probable cause:

Failure of the left engine after takeoff.

Crash of a Douglas DC-2-120 in Kolar

Date & Time: Jun 14, 1942

Type of aircraft:

Douglas DC-2

Operator:

Registration:

DG473

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

MSN:

1308

YOM:

1934

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

En route, the captain was forced to attempt an emergency landing for unknown reason. While landing in a field near Kolar, some 60 miles east of Bangalore, the aircraft lost its undercarriage and ended up in flames. While there was no casualties, the aircraft was destroyed by fire.