Crash of a Martin B-26 Marauder off Palmyra Island: 4 killed

Date & Time: Apr 1, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Martin B-26 Marauder
Operator:
Registration:
40-1469
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
MSN:
1469
YOM:
1940
Location:
Palmyra Atoll
United States Minor Outlying Islands
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
The crew was performing a flight from Hawaii to Australia. En route, while flying in stormy weather, the control was lost and the aircraft crashed into the sea off Palmyra Island. Four crew members were killed while two others were rescued.

Crash of a Cessna AT-8 Bobcat AT Columbus AFB

Date & Time: Mar 31, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Cessna T-50 Bobcat (AT-8/AT-17/UC-78 & Crane)
Operator:
Registration:
41-25
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
1050
YOM:
1941
Location:
Columbus AFB (Kaye Field)
Mississippi
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The twin engine airplane crashed for unknown reasons upon landing at Columbus AFB (Kaye Field). There were no casualties.
Crew:
Albert L. Segall.

Crash of a Cessna AT-17 Bobcat at Ellington AFB

Date & Time: Mar 31, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Cessna T-50 Bobcat (AT-8/AT-17/UC-78 & Crane)
Operator:
Registration:
42-105
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Location:
Ellington AFB (Houston)
Texas
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The twin engine airplane crashed shortly after takeoff from Ellington AFB in Houston. There were no casualties.
Crew:
James R. Dupler.

Crash of a Polikarpov U-2 in Russia: 2 killed

Date & Time: Mar 31, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Polikarpov Po-2
Operator:
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
MSN:
9506
YOM:
1937
Location:
Russia
All Russia
Country:
Russia
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
The airplane was shot down by enemy fire and crashed somewhere in west Russia. Both occupants were killed, among them an officer from the headquarters.
Probable cause:
Shot down by enemy fire.

Crash of a Lockheed C-40D Electra Junior near Aldama: 3 killed

Date & Time: Mar 30, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Lockheed 12 Electra Junior
Operator:
Registration:
42-38280
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
MSN:
1276
YOM:
1942
Location:
Aldama
Tamaulipas
Country:
Mexico
Region:
Central America
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
The twin engine airplane crashed in unknown circumstances in a mountainous area located near Aldama. All three crew members were killed.
Crew:
Sgt Charles H. Carroll,
1st Lt Theodore J. Corcoran,
Sgt William W. Horgan.

Crash of a Douglas DB-7B Boston III at RAF Debden

Date & Time: Mar 29, 1942 at 1615 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas A-20 Havoc/DB-7 Boston
Operator:
Registration:
W8360
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Debden - Debden
Location:
Debden AFB
Essex
Country:
United Kingdom
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
After touchdown at RAF Debden, the airplane was unable to stop within the remaining distance. It overran and crashed into the perimeter fence, bursting into flames. All three crew members escaped uninjured while the airplane was destroyed by fire.

Crash of a Martin B-26 Marauder off Hickam AFB

Date & Time: Mar 29, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Martin B-26 Marauder
Operator:
Registration:
40-1431
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Hickam - Hickam
MSN:
1431
YOM:
1940
Location:
Hickam AFB
Hawaii
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:
Shortly after takeoff from Hickam AFB, while climbing, the airplane stalled and crashed into the sea. There were no casualties.
Crew:
Julian Jacobi.

Crash of a Junkers JU.88C-6 in Kleverskerke: 3 killed

Date & Time: Mar 28, 1942 at 1535 LT
Type of aircraft:
Junkers JU.88
Operator:
Registration:
R4+TR
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Gilze-Rijen - Gilze-Rijen
MSN:
0178
Location:
Kleverskerke
Zeeland
Country:
Netherlands
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
The airplane crashed for unknown reasons in Kleverskerke, killing the entire crew.
Crew:
Lt P. Heimke, pilot,
Uffz K. Engels, radio operator,
Ogfr E. Vitt, air gunner.

Crash of a Lockheed L-414 Hudson III at RAF Manby

Date & Time: Mar 28, 1942 at 1504 LT
Type of aircraft:
Lockheed L-414 Hudson
Operator:
Registration:
T9417
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Manby - Manby
MSN:
414-2452
YOM:
1941
Location:
Manby AFB
Lincolnshire
Country:
United Kingdom
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
During the takeoff roll at RAF Manby, the twin engine airplane swerved on runway, lost its undercarriage and came to rest, bursting into flames. The entire crew escaped uninjured and the airplane was destroyed by a post crash fire.
Crew:
Sgt R. W. Kennard, pilot +3.
Probable cause:
It is believed that the loss of control was the consequence of an error on part of the pilot who failed to use the rudder to check a swing which developed during takeoff.

Crash of an Armstrong Whitworth AW.38 Whitley V off Petten: 6 killed

Date & Time: Mar 28, 1942 at 0015 LT
Type of aircraft:
Armstrong Whitworth AW.38 Whitley
Operator:
Registration:
T4166
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Tempsford - Tempsford
MSN:
1859
YOM:
1940
Location:
Petten
North Holland
Country:
Netherlands
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Circumstances:
The airplane departed RAF Tempsford on Operation 'Watercress', the first of a series of operations involving the dropping of Dutch agents, code named 'Nordpol Spiel' by the British and England Spiel by the Dutch. The passenger, a Dutch agent (Lt A. A. Baatsen) was parachuted some 30 km north from Zwolle and was almost immediately captured by the German. Shortly after midnight, while cruising along the Dutch coast, the airplane was shot down by a Me.110 and crashed about 500 metres offshore. All six crew members were killed.
Crew:
Sgt William Charles Evans,
P/O Robert William Franklin,
Sgt Kenneth Hailstone,
F/Sgt John Thompson,
P/O Stanley Widdup,
Sgt George Robert Wood.
Probable cause:
Shot down by a German fighter.
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