Crash of a Vickers 417 Wellington III in Grindon: 5 killed

Date & Time: May 22, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Vickers 417 Wellington III
Operator:
Registration:
Z1566
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Feltwell - Feltwell
Location:
Grindon
Staffordshire
Country:
United Kingdom
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
The crew was performing a cross country night training flight from RAF Feltwell. While cruising in low visibility due tot clouds, the aircraft hit a hillside and was destroyed. Five crew members were killed while the sixth occupant was seriously injured.
Crew (75th Squadron):
P/O Andrew Donald Mckay, pilot,
Sgt James Wilfred Beaven, observer,
Sgt Wilfred Hurbert Smeaton, observer,
Sgt John William Bode, wireless operator and air gunner,
Sgt Cyril Hayton, air gunner,
F/Sgt Sidney John Chappell, air gunner.

Crash of a Lockheed L-414 Hudson II near Ambone: 2 killed

Date & Time: May 22, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Lockheed L-414 Hudson
Operator:
Registration:
A16-65
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Ambon - Darwin
MSN:
414-1918
YOM:
1940
Location:
Ambon
Maluku
Country:
Indonesia
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
Few minutes after takeoff from Ambon Airport, the twin engine airplane was attacked by the pilots of two Japanese Air Force Mitsubishi Zero. With one engine on fire, the captain ordered his crew to bail out but only two were able to abandon the aircraft. Two others were killed when the airplane crashed, bursting into flames. Both crew who survived became PoW and were executed on November 22, 1942. Crew from the 2nd Squadron.
Probable cause:
Shot down by two Japanese fighters.

Crash of a Consolidated B-24D-CO Liberator in Barksdale AFB

Date & Time: May 21, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Consolidated B-24 Liberator
Operator:
Registration:
41-11677
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
173
YOM:
1941
Location:
Barksdale AFB
Louisiana
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 on take off in unknown circumstances. No casualties.

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

Date & Time: May 18, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Consolidated B-24 Liberator
Operator:
Registration:
41-1117
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
57
YOM:
1941
Location:
Barksdale AFB
Louisiana
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
8
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
8
Circumstances:
While flying in the vicinity of the Barksdale AFB, the aircraft went out of control and crashed in a huge explosion. All eight crew members were killed.

Crash of a Martin B-26 Marauder in Wright-Patterson AFB

Date & Time: May 17, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Martin B-26 Marauder
Operator:
Registration:
41-7443
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
7443
YOM:
1941
Location:
Wright-Patterson AFB (Dayton)
Ohio
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:
After touchdown at Wright-Patterson AFB, the nose gear collapsed. The aircraft slid for several yards before coming to rest in flames. All seven crew members were able to leave the cabin before the aircraft was destroyed by fire.
Probable cause:
Failure of the nose gear on landing.

Crash of a Boeing B-17E Flying Fortress in Hendricks AFB

Date & Time: May 16, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress
Operator:
Registration:
41-2509
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
2320
YOM:
1941
Location:
Hendricks AFB (Sebring)
Florida
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:
After touchdown at Hendricks AFB, the aircraft went out of control, veered off runway and came to rest. No casualties.

Crash of a Martin B-26 Marauder in Reid River: 8 killed

Date & Time: May 15, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Martin B-26 Marauder
Operator:
Registration:
40-1390
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
1390
YOM:
1940
Location:
Reid River
Queensland
Country:
Australia
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
8
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
8
Circumstances:
Crashed on take off from Reid River Airport, in unknown circumstances. All eight occupants were killed.

Crash of a Lockheed C-40A Electra Junior in Everett: 4 killed

Date & Time: May 12, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Lockheed 12 Electra Junior
Operator:
Registration:
38-542
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
1259
YOM:
1941
Location:
Everett
Washington
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
En route, for unknown reason, the twin engine aircraft stalled, dove into the ground and crashed near Everett-Paine Field Airport. All four crew members were killed.

Crash of an Avro 652 Anson I in Mount Gambier

Date & Time: May 10, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Avro 652 Anson
Operator:
Registration:
A4-46
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Location:
Mount Gambier
South Australia
Country:
Australia
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
On final approach to Mount Gambier, the twin engine aircraft collided with another Avro 652 Anson I registered N4936. The crew was able to continue the approach and to land safely. While all three crew members were unhurt, the aircraft was considered as damaged beyond repair and later scrapped. The fate of the second aircraft remains unknown, as well as the exact circumstances of the collision.

Crash of a Martin B-26 Marauder off Deboyne Island: 7 killed

Date & Time: May 10, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Martin B-26 Marauder
Operator:
Registration:
40-1402
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
MSN:
1402
YOM:
1940
Location:
Deboyne Island
Milne Bay
Country:
Papua New Guinea
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
7
Circumstances:
En route, the twin engine aircraft was shot down by enemy fire and crashed into the sea off Deboyne Island. All seven crew members were killed.
Probable cause:
Shot down by enemy fire.
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