Crash of a Martin B-26A-1 Marauder off Benghazi: 6 killed

Date & Time: Dec 16, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
FK367
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
MSN:
7422
YOM:
1941
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Circumstances:
The crew was engaged in a maritime patrol flight over the Mediterranean Sea when the aircraft was shot down by mistake by the pilot of a RAF Spitfire and crashed into the sea. All six occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
Shot down by friendly fire.

Crash of a Consolidated PBY-5A Catalina into the Atlantic Ocean

Date & Time: Dec 14, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
7245
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
8
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The pilot was forced to ditch the aircraft for unknown reason some 210 km off Natal. While the aircraft sunk and was lost, all eight crew members were quickly rescued.

Crash of a Consolidated PBY-5A Catalina off Mokapu'u Point: 6 killed

Date & Time: Dec 13, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
05027
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Crew on board:
8
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Circumstances:
The seaplane crashed in unknown circumstances of Mokapu'u Point. Six crew members were killed while two others were rescued.

Crash of a Lockheed L-414 Hudson IIIA in Batchelor: 1 killed

Date & Time: Dec 4, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
A16-232
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Batchelor - Batchelor
MSN:
414-6480
YOM:
1942
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
The crew was engaged in a survey flight over the Wetar Strait, off the Indonesian province of Timor. En route, the twin engine aircraft was attacked by the pilot of a Mitsubishi Zero. Several bullets hit the right engine and fuel tanks. The aircraft became uncontrollable but the crew was able to leave the area and to return to Batchelor for a safe landing. Later, RAAF officers confirmed the death of a crew member while four other occupants were unhurt. The aircraft was considered as damaged beyond repair.
Crew (2nd Squadron):
F/O A. A. Cambridge,
Sgt G. H. Cooper,
Sgt T. I. Gunn,
F/O J. M. Barnes,
Sgt G. J. Thame. †
Probable cause:
Hit by enemy fire.

Crash of a Short S.25 Sunderland I in RAF Invergordon: 11 killed

Date & Time: Nov 26, 1942 at 0643 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
DD851
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Invergordon - Invergordon
Region:
Crew on board:
11
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
11
Circumstances:
The crew was engaged in an antisubmarine patrol flight off the British coast on behalf of the fourth Operational Training Unit. Shortly after take off from RAF Invergordon, while climbing, the engine number three failed. Few seconds later, this engine caught fire and fell off, causing severe vibrations. The crew lost control of the aircraft that crashed in a huge explosion on a railway road located 3 km northeast of the Invergordon's Station. All eleven occupants were killed.
Crew (4th OTU):
Sgt Donald Charles Beattie,
S/L James Gordon Brown,
Sgt Francis William George Cosgrave,
F/L William Fedoruk,
Sgt Milton Lynn Hill,
F/O Garth Borland Johnson,
F/L John Alfred Johnson,
P/O Charles Marland Kendall,
W/O Clare Kinton,
W/O Fredrick John Peters,
F/Sgt James Edward Porret,
F/O John Hodgson Shand.
Probable cause:
Failure of a connecting rod on the engine number 3, causing the failure of the engine that caught fire and detached.

Crash of a Consolidated PBY-5 Catalina off Exmouth: 1 killed

Date & Time: Nov 26, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
2407
Survivors:
Yes
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
9
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
Shortly after take off, the pilot was forced to attempt an emergency landing for unknown reason. The flying boat hit a large wave and large quantities of water entered the plane through the bombing window position in the bow. The aircraft sank in 18 feet of water and was lost. The captain was killed while eight other occupants were injured.
Source: ASN

Crash of a Consolidated PBY-5A Catalina into the Pacific Ocean: 9 killed

Date & Time: Nov 26, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
02951
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
9
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
9
Circumstances:
The crew was engaged in a night maritime patrol flight over the Pacific Ocean. En route, while cruising some 80 km off the north coast of Oahu Island, the seaplane crashed into the sea in unknown circumstances. No trace of the aircraft nor the crew was ever found.

Crash of a Lockheed L-414 Hudson VI into the North Sea: 4 killed

Date & Time: Nov 22, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
EW903
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
MSN:
414-6787
YOM:
1942
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
The crew was engaged in a maritime patrol flight off the Dutch coast when the twin engine aircraft crashed into the sea in unknown circumstances. No trace was ever found.
Crew:
Sgt C. L. G. van Heugten,
Sgt L. A. Hoogteiling,
J. de Ligt,
J.A. den Ouden.

Crash of an Avro 652 Anson I off Prestwick

Date & Time: Nov 14, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
K6309
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crashed in unknown circumstances into the Firth of Clyde, off Prestwick. All four crew members were quickly rescued while the aircraft sunk and was lost.

Crash of a Martin PBM-1 Mariner near Banana River NAS: 11 killed

Date & Time: Nov 11, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
1256
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Banana River - Banana River
MSN:
1256
Crew on board:
11
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
11
Circumstances:
The crew was engaged in a maritime patrol flight. In unknown circumstances, while flying in the vicinity of the Banana River NAS, the seaplane caught fire and crashed. All 11 occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
In flight fire.