Crash of a Boeing B-17C Flying Fortress near Malang: 7 killed

Date & Time: Feb 3, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress
Operator:
Registration:
40-2062
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Test
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Malang - Malang
MSN:
2063
YOM:
1940
Location:
Malang
West Java
Country:
Indonesia
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
7
Circumstances:
The crew was involved in a test flight from Malang-Singosari Airfield. While returning to base, the four engine bomber was shot down by a Japanese fighter and crashed in a field located 30 km south of the airport, bursting into flames. All seven crew members were killed.
Crew (30th BS):
Cpt Ray L. Cox, pilot,
1st Lt John E. L. Huse, copilot,
S/Sgt John U. Sowa,
Sgt Arthur E. Karlinger,
Sgt John S. Penny,
Pfc Jack E. Bingham, air gunner,
Pvt Don H. Barnes, air gunner.
Probable cause:
Shot down by a Japanese fighter.

Crash of a Douglas A-20 Havoc I in Mereworth Wood: 1 killed

Date & Time: Jan 21, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Douglas A-20 Havoc/DB-7 Boston
Operator:
Registration:
BD116
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Test
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
West Malling - West Malling
Location:
Mereworth Wood
Kent
Country:
United Kingdom
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
The crew was engaged in a local test flight out from West Malling Airfield. While circling in the vicinity of the airport, the airplane went out of control and crashed at Mereworth Wood. The pilot was killed and the radio operator was injured.
Crew:
W/O James Hopewell, pilot,
Sgt C. W. Cragg.
Probable cause:
It is believed that the accident was the consequence of a loss of control due to flight control malfunction.

Crash of a Dornier DO.217E-2 at Soesterberg AFB: 3 killed

Date & Time: Jan 17, 1942 at 1055 LT
Type of aircraft:
Dornier DO.217
Operator:
Registration:
U5+MM
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Test
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Soesterberg – Soesterberg
MSN:
1155
YOM:
1941
Location:
Soesterberg AFB
Utrecht
Country:
Netherlands
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
The crew was completing a local test flight at Soesterberg AFB when the airplane crashed for unknown reasons. All three occupants were killed.
Crew:
Lt K.-H. Franck, pilot,
Uffz H. Seeger, observer,
Gefr A. Freijtag, air gunner.

Crash of a Blohm & Voss BV 138 off Travemünde

Date & Time: Jan 17, 1942
Type of aircraft:
Blohm & Voss BV 138
Operator:
Registration:
NA+LW
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Test
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
MSN:
2001
YOM:
1942
Location:
Travemünde
Schleswig-Holstein
Country:
Germany
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The crew was engaged in a local test flight when the floatplane crashed while taking off from the bay off Travemünde. All four occupants were injured.

Crash of a Vickers 406 Wellington II in Strensall: 5 killed

Date & Time: Jan 5, 1942 at 1015 LT
Type of aircraft:
Vickers 406 Wellington II
Operator:
Registration:
W5589
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Test
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Pocklington - Pocklington
Location:
Strensall
North Yorkshire
Country:
United Kingdom
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
The crew departed RAF Pocklington on a test flight. One of the engine failed in flight, forcing the pilot to attempt an emergency landing when the airplane crashed in a pasture in Strensall. All five crew members were killed.
Crew:
F/Sgt Osborne Bayfield Le Furgey, pilot,
F/Sgt Peter Wityck, pilot,
Sgt James David Garrow,
Sgt William Alan Robertson, wireless operator,
F/Sgt John Burton Gayfer, air gunner.
Probable cause:
Engine failure in flight.

Crash of a Boeing Y1B-17A Flying Fortress at Dow AFB

Date & Time: Dec 19, 1941
Type of aircraft:
Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress
Operator:
Registration:
37-369
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Test
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Dow - Dow
MSN:
1987
YOM:
1937
Location:
Dow AFB
Maine
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
9
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The airplane departed Dow AFB on a local test flight with a crew of nine on board. Shortly after takeoff, one of the engine failed. The airplane lost height and crashed, bursting into flames. All nine crew members were rescued, among them three were seriously injured.
Crew:
Carl T. Goldenberg +8.
Probable cause:
Engine failure after takeoff.

Crash of a Lockheed 14-H2 Super Electra in Moscow: 2 killed

Date & Time: Dec 18, 1941
Type of aircraft:
Lockheed 14 Super Electra
Operator:
Registration:
CCCP-L3453
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Test
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Moscow - Moscow
MSN:
1495
YOM:
1939
Location:
Moscow-Khodynka
Moscow oblast
Country:
Russia
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
The airplane departed Moscow-Khodynka Airport on a local test flight, carrying one passenger and two crew members, one pilot and one mechanic. After takeoff, while in initial climb, the left engine failed. From a height of about 90-100 metres, the airplane initiated a left turn, stalled, entered a flat spin and crashed in the Petrovski Park located near the Air Force Academy not far from the airport, bursting into flames. The pilot was seriously injured and the flight mechanic and the sole passenger were killed.
Probable cause:
For undetermined reasons, the left engine failed shortly after takeoff, at a critical stage of the flight, causing the airplane to lose height quickly and making it impossible to recover. The pilot, although experienced on the PS-84, had no experience on this type of aircraft and even less experience in engine failure conditions.

Crash of a Vickers 416 Wellington IC at RAF Snaith

Date & Time: Dec 14, 1941 at 1145 LT
Type of aircraft:
Vickers 416 Wellington IC
Operator:
Registration:
Z8849
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Test
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Snaith - Snaith
Location:
Snaith AFB
Yorkshire
Country:
United Kingdom
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The airplane overshot and crash landed at RAF Snaith and was damaged beyond repair. A crew was injured.
Crew:
Sgt M. D. Lewis.

Crash of a Lockheed L-414 Hudson I near RAF Docking: 6 killed

Date & Time: Dec 1, 1941 at 1600 LT
Type of aircraft:
Lockheed L-414 Hudson
Operator:
Registration:
AM718
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Test
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Bircham Newton - Bircham Newton
MSN:
414-2800
YOM:
1941
Location:
Docking AFB
Norfolk
Country:
United Kingdom
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Circumstances:
The twin engine airplane departed RAF Bircham Newton on a test flight with six crew members on board. After practicing circuits and landings, it was seen flying at a height of about 50 feet with the undercarriage down when it stalled and crashed in an open field located two miles from RAF Docking. The airplane was destroyed and all six crew members were killed.
Crew:
P/O Anthony Francis Nielsen Ladefoged, pilot,
Sgt Frederick Albert Mackey, pilot,
AC1 Richard Chadwick,
AC1 Hilton Arthur Lobergan,
Sgt Franklin Lewis Morgan, wireless operator,
AC1 Harold Sutcliffe.

Crash of a Douglas A-20A Havoc in Stanford

Date & Time: Dec 1, 1941 at 1545 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas A-20 Havoc/DB-7 Boston
Operator:
Registration:
40-165
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Test
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Wright-Patterson - Wright Patterson
Location:
Stanford
Kentucky
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 pilot departed Wright-Patterson AFB, Dayton, on a solo test flight. While cruising at an altitude of 3,000 feet in marginal weather conditions over Kentucky, both engines lost power and failed. The pilot bailed out and parachuted to safety while the airplane entered an uncontrolled descent and crashed in a field in Stanford.
Crew:
Lt Robert W. Edwards, pilot.
Probable cause:
The pilot abandoned the airplane due to a fuel exhaustion while flying in poor weather conditions.
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