Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim IV near Doha

Date & Time: Dec 17, 1941
Type of aircraft:
Bristol 142 Blenheim
Operator:
Registration:
Z7907
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Desert
Location:
Doha
All Qatar
Country:
Qatar
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The airplane departed Bahrain on a flight to Singapore where the crew was supposed to be transferred. After being refueled by locals in Bahrain, the airplane took off when the port engine started to pack up. Unable to maintain height, the airplane crash landed in a desert area located 10 miles southwest of Doha. The airplane was damaged beyond repair and all three crew members escaped uninjured.
Crew:
Sgt T. Frost, observer,
Sgt D. James, wireless operator +1.
Probable cause:
Engine problems after takeoff because the fuel was contaminated with water. It was later determined that one of the cans used to refuel the airplane contained water.

Crash of a Boeing B-17B Flying Fortress at Geiger Field: 5 killed

Date & Time: Dec 17, 1941
Type of aircraft:
Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress
Operator:
Registration:
38-267
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
2026
YOM:
1938
Location:
Spokane-Intl (Geiger Field)
Washington
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
8
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
After takeoff from Spokane-Geiger Field, while climbing, one of the engine failed. The pilot circled the airfield and elected to return for an emergency landing when the airplane crashed on short final. Five crew members were killed and three others were injured. One of 500 pounds bombs detonated on impact.
Crew:
Cpt Eugene Dimitry Zadontseff, pilot,
S/Sgt Ester Brannon,
Cpl Clarence A. Cunningham,
1st Lt Elbert D. Hoffman,
Avc Edwin Bruce Perkins.
Probable cause:
Engine failure after takeoff.

Crash of an Airspeed AS.10 Oxford I in Gebbies Valley: 4 killed

Date & Time: Dec 16, 1941 at 1405 LT
Type of aircraft:
Airspeed AS.10 Oxford
Operator:
Registration:
NZ280
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Birdlings Flat - Wigram
MSN:
0502
YOM:
1940
Location:
Birdlings Flat
Canterbury Regional Council
Country:
New Zealand
Region:
Oceania
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
The twin engine airplane departed Birdlings Flat at 1355LT on a return flight to Wigram AFB. Ten minutes after departure, while cruising at an altitude of 900 feet in poor weather conditions (rain falls and low clouds), the airplane impacted the slope of a mountain located in the Gebbies Valley, south of Christchurch. All four occupants were killed.
Crew (1st SFTS):
P/O Alan Leslie Marshall, pilot and instructor,
LAC Ronald Stephen Brooker, pilot,
LAC Brian Patrick Fitzgerald, pilot,
LAC William Ian Lindsay, pilot.
Probable cause:
Controlled flight into terrain.

Crash of a Blohm & Voss BV 138C-1 off Copenhagen: 5 killed

Date & Time: Dec 16, 1941
Type of aircraft:
Blohm & Voss BV 138
Operator:
Registration:
6H+EH
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
MSN:
310031
YOM:
1941
Location:
Copenhagen-Kastrup
Hovedstaden
Country:
Denmark
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
Following a crew error, the floatplane crashed upon landing on sea some 5 km south of Copenhagen-Kastrup Airport. The airplane sank and all five crew members were killed.
Crew:
Uffz Heinz Meschede, pilot,
Ofhr Joachim Lippert, observer,
Fw Heinrich Beinkämpen, chief,
Uffz Wilhelm Marcus, chief,
Uffz Otto Weber, air gunner.
Probable cause:
Crew error.

Crash of a Supermarine Walrus I in Colombo

Date & Time: Dec 16, 1941
Type of aircraft:
Supermarine Walrus
Operator:
Registration:
L2208
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Location:
Colombo
Western Province (மேல் மாகாணம்)
Country:
Sri Lanka
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The floatplane crashed upon landing at Colombo-Ratmalana while on a flight from HMS Glasgow. There were no injuries among the crew.

Crash of a Douglas B-18 Bolo in Río Hato: 1 killed

Date & Time: Dec 12, 1941
Type of aircraft:
Douglas B-18 Bolo
Operator:
Registration:
37-10
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Military
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
1871
YOM:
1937
Location:
Río Hato
Coclé
Country:
Panama
Region:
Central America
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
The airplane suffered an engine failure upon takeoff from Río Hato Airfield and crashed. At least one crew member was killed.
Crew:
Merrill F. Patrick.
Probable cause:
Engine failure upon takeoff.

Crash of a Bristol 142 Blenheim IV in Massawa

Date & Time: Dec 12, 1941
Type of aircraft:
Bristol 142 Blenheim
Operator:
Registration:
L4901
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Massawa - Massawa
MSN:
8916
YOM:
1939
Location:
Massawa
Southern Red Sea
Country:
Eritrea
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The airplane suffered an engine failure on approach, crash landed, lost its undercarriage and came to rest. There were no casualties.
Probable cause:
Engine failure on approach.

Crash of a Douglas B-18B Bolo near Big Pine: 8 killed

Date & Time: Dec 12, 1941
Type of aircraft:
Douglas B-18 Bolo
Operator:
Registration:
36-306
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Phoenix – San Rafael
MSN:
1694
YOM:
1936
Location:
Big Pine
California
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
5
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
8
Circumstances:
The airplane departed Phoenix on a flight to Hawaii with an intermediate stop in San Rafael, California. While cruising over the Sierra Nevada Mountain Range, weather conditions deteriorated and the crew encountered poor visibility due to heavy snow falls. The airplane impacted the slope of a mountain located about 10 miles west of Big Pine. As the airplane failed to arrive at destination, SAR operations were initiated but eventually abandoned as no trace was found. The wreckage was eventually found by walkers on July 5, 1942.
Crew:
Cpt James Gordon Leavitt,
S/Sgt Stephen W. Hoffman,
Pfc Samuel J. Van Hamm Jr.
Passengers:
Maj Gen Herbert Arthur Dargue,
Lt Col Charles W. Bundy,
Lt Col George W. Rickey,
Maj Hugh Francis McCaffery,
1st Lt Homer C. Burns.
Probable cause:
Controlled flight into terrain.

Crash of a Douglas B-18A Bolo at Westover AFB

Date & Time: Dec 11, 1941
Type of aircraft:
Douglas B-18 Bolo
Operator:
Registration:
39-17
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
2665
YOM:
1939
Location:
Westover AFB
Massachusetts
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:
The airplane crashed upon landing at Westover AFB and was damaged beyond repair. There were no casualties.
Crew:
Albert J. Wilsey.

Crash of a Douglas B-18A Bolo into the Atlantic Ocean: 1 killed

Date & Time: Dec 11, 1941
Type of aircraft:
Douglas B-18 Bolo
Operator:
Registration:
37-601
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
MSN:
2601
YOM:
1937
Location:
Atlantic Ocean
All World
Country:
World
Region:
World
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
The twin engine airplane crashed in unknown circumstances in the Atlantic Ocean, about 70 miles off Borinquen, Puerto Rico. At least one crew member was killed.
Crew:
Maurice M. Miller.
Subscribe to Military