Crash of a Consolidated B-24A-CO Liberator off Lofoten Islands: 3 killed

Date & Time: May 28, 1942
Operator:
Registration:
AM924
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Stornoway - Stornoway
MSN:
15
YOM:
1940
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Aircraft flight hours:
450
Circumstances:
The crew left Stornoway at 0500LT on a survey flight over the Norwegian Sea to locate the German battleship christened 'Tirpitz'. Following an unsuccessful mission, the crew was returning to Scotland when flying along the Lofoten Islands coast, the aircraft was attacked by the pilots of three German Messerschmitt Me.109 fighters. The captain was forced to ditch the aircraft along the coast and while four crew members were able to find refuge in a dinghy, all three other occupants were killed in the attack. The aircraft was lost.
Crew (120th Squadron):
F/O Walton,
P/O Corkran,
Sgt T. J. Culnane, †
Sgt Pickering,
Sgt Booker,
F/Sgt E. A. Allgood, †
Sgt B. F. Smith. †
Probable cause:
Shot down by the pilots of German fighters.

Crash of a Consolidated PBY-5 Catalina off Johnston Atoll

Date & Time: May 26, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
2453
Survivors:
Yes
Crew on board:
8
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Lt Ricketts was handling all controls. He made a normal power landing and immediately applied throttle for take off. At a speed of about fifty knots, the plane swerved to the left and then continued into a violent water loop in this direction. The hull of the plane was broken open and partially severed at the navigator's compartment. The plane sank immediately, but personnel were able to escape, injured.
Crew:
Lt Max V. Ricketts, pilot,
William B. Krause,
D. L. Heffelfiner,
D. A. Robertson,
J. L. Pittman,
K. H. Johnson,
Sgt D. T. Rowe,
Cpl J. F. Rooney.
Source: http://www.vpnavy.com/vp11_mishap.html

Crash of a Lockheed L-414 Hudson III off Terschelling: 4 killed

Date & Time: May 15, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
AE525
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
MSN:
414-3880
YOM:
1941
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
While performing a maritime patrol flight, the twin engine aircraft went out of control and crashed into the sea off Terschelling. All four crew members were killed.
Crew (320th Squadron):
F/O J. Stork,
2nd Lt J. M. Mulder,
Sgt A. L. Sens,
AC1 E. de Weerd.

Crash of a Caproni Ca.313 RPS B.16A near Linköping

Date & Time: May 12, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
3337
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
4944
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
En route, a flare was lit inside the cabin (intentionally or accidentally ?). This cause a fire that could not be extinguished by the crew who eventually decided to abandon the aircraft and bailed out. Out of control, the aircraft dove into the ground and crashed in a pasture. While it was destroyed, all four crew members were rescued.
Probable cause:
In flight fire caused by an intentional or accidental ignition of a flare.

Crash of a Lockheed L-414 Hudson III in the Waddenzee: 4 killed

Date & Time: May 8, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
V8981
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
MSN:
414-2525
YOM:
1941
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
While on a maritime patrol flight along the Dutch coast, the twin engine aircraft went out of control and crashed into the Waddenzee. All four occupants were killed.

Crash of a Consolidated PBY-5 Catalina off Misima Island: 9 killed

Date & Time: May 6, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
A24-20
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
MSN:
386
YOM:
1942
Region:
Crew on board:
9
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
9
Circumstances:
While performing a maritime patrol flight off PNG, the seaplane was shot down by the pilot of a Japanese fighter and crashed into the sea off Misima Island. All nine crew members were killed.
Crew (11th Squadron):
S/L Godfrey Ellard Hemsworth, pilot,
Sgt Jack Ronald Counter, pilot,
P/O Leopold Guy McClintock, observer,
Sgt John Percy William Bandy, wireless operator,
LAC Norman Robert Banvill, mechanic,
Cpl Colin Marsden, flight engineer,
LAC Kenneth John Arnott, flight engineer,
LAC Eric Dorman, rigger,
LAC Erwin Bruce Brown, armourer.
Probable cause:
Shot down by a Japanese fighter.

Crash of a Consolidated PBY-5 Catalina off Bougainville Island

Date & Time: May 4, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
A24-18
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
350
YOM:
1941
Region:
Crew on board:
9
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The crew was engaged in a maritime patrol mission off PNG. En route, the seaplane was shot down by the pilot of a Japanese fighter and crashed into the sea. All nine occupants were rescued and taken POW. On November 4, 1942, all of them were executed.
Probable cause:
Shot down by a Japanese fighter.

Crash of a Consolidated PBY-5A Catalina in Dutch Harbor

Date & Time: Apr 23, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
7286
Flight Phase:
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crashed and burned on take off. Crew fate unknown.

Crash of a Grumman JRF-3 on Block Island: 3 killed

Date & Time: Apr 16, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
V190
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Site:
MSN:
1085
YOM:
1940
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
The aircraft departed on a test flight and was diverted to confirm a reported sighting of a submarine southeast of Nantucket. The weather deteriorated and darkness set in after the aircraft departed the station. The rain and gathering darkness limited visibility and the aircraft consequently impacted the cliffs on Block Island, killing all three crew members.
Crew:
Lt Robert J. Lafferty,
AMM1 S. J. Tarapchak,
RM1 W. A. Boutillier.

Crash of a Martin B-26 Marauder in Tufi

Date & Time: Apr 11, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
40-1418
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
1418
YOM:
1940
Region:
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
While performing a regional flight, the aircraft was shot by enemy fire. The pilot attempted to make an emergency landing in a jungle located near Tufi. All seven occupants survived but 47 days were needed to join the nearest city.
Probable cause:
Shot down by enemy fire.