Military | Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives

The airplane departed Elefsis AFB near Athens on a ferry flight to Dessau. While cruising over Bavaria, the crew encountered foggy conditions when the airplane impacted hilly and wooded terrain near Buchsee. All four crew members were killed.
Crew:
Lt Hermann Hain,
Uffz Heinz Bäcker,
Ogfr Kurt Haberland,
Gfr Hans Lukas.

Probable cause:

Controlled flight into terrain.

Crash of a Douglas C-33 near Winterset

Date & Time: Dec 23, 1941

Type of aircraft:

Douglas C-33 (DC-2)

Operator:

Registration:

36-79

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

MSN:

1512

YOM:

1936

Location:

Winterset

Iowa

Country:

United States of America

Region:

North America

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

Following an engine failure in flight, the crew bailed out and abandoned the airplane that dove into the ground and crashed near Winterset. There were no injuries among the crew.
Crew:
Charles W. Himes.

Probable cause:

Engine failure in flight.

Crash of a Martin 166 WH-3 into the South China Sea: 4 killed

Date & Time: Dec 23, 1941

Type of aircraft:

Martin B-10 (Model 139 & 166)

Operator:

Registration:

M-555

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Site:

Lake, Sea, Ocean, River

Schedule:

Singkawang - Palembang

MSN:

790

YOM:

1936

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The airplane departed Singkawang on a flight to Palembang with four crew members on board. It failed to arrive at destination and is believed to have crashed somewhere in the South China Sea. Lost without trace.
Crew:
Jan Beens,
Hendricus Joseph Theodorus Engelbert,
Theodorus Jacobus Sebertus van der Sluijs +1.

Crash of a Consolidated LB-30 Liberator in Tucson

Date & Time: Dec 23, 1941

Type of aircraft:

Consolidated LB-30 Liberator

Operator:

Registration:

AL621

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

MSN:

119

YOM:

1941

Location:

Tucson

Arizona

Country:

United States of America

Region:

North America

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The airplane crashed in Tucson following a fuel exhaustion. There were no casualties.
Crew:
Clyde B. Kelsay.

Probable cause:

Fuel exhaustion.

Crash of a Junkers JU.52/3mge in Klimbach: 3 killed

Date & Time: Dec 23, 1941

Type of aircraft:

Junkers JU.52

Operator:

Registration:

NN+MA

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Site:

MSN:

303

YOM:

1935

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The airplane crashed in unknown circumstances in Klimbach, Bavaria. A crew member, Cpl Ludwig Piendel, and both passengers (two civilians) were killed.

Crash of a Lockheed 10A Electra near Ismailia

Date & Time: Dec 23, 1941

Type of aircraft:

Lockheed 10 Electra

Operator:

Registration:

AX699

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

MSN:

1097

YOM:

1936

Location:

Ismailia

Country:

Egypt

Region:

Africa

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

For unknown reasons, the pilot was forced to attempt an emergency landing near Ismailia Airport. The airplane was damaged beyond repair and there were no injuries among the occupants.

Crash of a Martin B-26 Marauder in Jackson: 5 killed

Date & Time: Dec 21, 1941

Type of aircraft:

Martin B-26 Marauder

Operator:

Registration:

40-1472

Flight Phase:

Takeoff (climb)

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Site:

Airport (less than 10 km from airport)

MSN:

1472

YOM:

1940

Location:

Jackson-Medgar Wiley Evers (Allen C. Thompson)

Mississippi

Country:

United States of America

Region:

North America

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The airplane suffered an engine failure just after take off from Jackson Airport and crashed. All five crew members were killed.
Crew:
1st Lt John Joseph Doerr, pilot,
2nd Lt Claude Amede Knight,
2nd Lt Robert A. Saner,
2nd Lt Leslie M. Shimeall,
Sgt Harold A. Wissinger.

Probable cause:

Engine failure after takeoff.

Crash of a Focke-Wulf Fw.200C-3 Condor in Soba Valley: 6 killed

Date & Time: Dec 21, 1941

Type of aircraft:

Focke-Wulf Fw.200 Condor

Operator:

Registration:

F8+FH

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Site:

Mountains

MSN:

Location:

Country:

Region:

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The four engine airplane departed Bordeaux-Mérignac Airport on a mission over the sea. While cruising over the Bay of Biscay, the crew became lost. The airplane continued to the south until it impacted the slope of a mountain located in the Soba Valley. The wreckage was found at an altitude of 1,000 metres. All six crew members were killed.
Crew (I/KG40):
Sgt Michael Obermeyer +5.

Probable cause:

Controlled flight into terrain.

Crash of a Junkers JU.88A-1 near Lake Prášil: 4 killed

Date & Time: Dec 20, 1941

Type of aircraft:

Junkers JU.88

Operator:

Registration:

CO+ON

Flight Phase:

Flight

Flight Type:

Military

Survivors:

Site:

Plain, Valley

MSN:

0089

Location:

Lake Prášil

Plzeň Region (Plzeňský kraj)

Country:

Czech Republic

Region:

Europe

Crew on board:

Crew fatalities:

Pax on board:

Pax fatalities:

Other fatalities:

Total fatalities:

Circumstances:

The airplane crashed in unknown circumstances in a wooded area located near Lake Prášil, near the border with Germany. All four crew members were killed.