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Crash of a North American B-25D-30 Mitchell off Tarpum Bay

Date & Time: Jun 6, 1944
Type of aircraft:
North American B-25 Mitchell
Operator:
Registration:
FW154
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
MSN:
100-23498
YOM:
1942
Location:
Tarpum Bay
South Eleuthera
Country:
Bahamas
Region:
Central America
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The airplane crashed in unknown circumstances into the sea some three km off Tarpum Bay, South Eleuthera. All three crew members were rescued few hours later. The aircraft sank and was lost.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-30-DL in Oujda: 16 killed

Date & Time: Jun 3, 1944
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
FD886
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Biskra – Oujda
MSN:
9538
YOM:
1943
Location:
Oujda-Angad
Oriental
Country:
Morocco
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
13
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
16
Circumstances:
The aircraft left Biskra at 0643LT on a routine transport flight to Oujda. Five minutes before its own signaled ETA, the pilot took advantage of a hole in the cloud over which he had been flying for some considerable time, to get below the cloud. Upon breaking cloud, the aircraft was seen to circle in a valley. Unaccountably, the aircraft was seen to turn to port and climb into cloud away from a road and valley, which was clear, with visibility 4 to 5 miles below cloud. The mountaintop was covered by drifting cloud at the time and the aircraft was climbing steeply when it crashed. It crashed into the side of a mountain, killing 16 on board. One passenger survived.
Source:
http://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=19440603-2
Probable cause:
An Inquiry into the accident found that "the accident was a gross error of judgement by the pilot in flying blind unnecessarily when uncertain of his position, and for the navigator’s poor navigation who did not use all means at his disposal."

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-1-DK near Myitkyina: 7 killed

Date & Time: Jun 1, 1944 at 0900 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
FZ563
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Supply
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Sylhet - Sylhet
MSN:
12098
YOM:
1943
Location:
Myitkyina
Kachin State
Country:
Myanmar
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
7
Circumstances:
The Dakota was one of 18 aircraft which left Sylhet in formation at 0600LT to drop supplies in Burma. In company with five other aircraft, FZ563 was to drop at position 25.10°N 96.26°E. It was last seen in the vicinity of Myitkyina, Burma, dropping supplies on the target at 0845LT. It was raining at the time and weather conditions on the whole route extremely were bad. It was assumed that the pilot tried to return under the cloud base. All other aircraft returned safely but nothing further was heard of FZ563 or its crew (215th Squadron).
Sources:
http://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=19440601-0
Missing with no known grave by Alan Storr.

Crash of a Avro 683 Lancaster III in Sommelsdijk: 8 killed

Date & Time: May 28, 1944
Type of aircraft:
Avro 683 Lancaster
Operator:
Registration:
LM459
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Bombing
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Location:
Sommelsdijk
South Holland
Country:
Netherlands
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
8
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
8
Circumstances:
The aircraft was involved in a bombing mission over Leopodsburg, Belgium. While overflying The Netherlands, the aircraft went out of control and crashed in a field located in Sommelsdijk, southwest of Rotterdam. All eight crew members were killed.

Crash of a Handley Page H.P.63 Halifax VI in RAF Woodbridge: 1 killed

Date & Time: May 28, 1944
Type of aircraft:
Handley Page H.P.63 Halifax VI
Operator:
Registration:
LW519
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Bombing
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Breighton - Woodbridge
Location:
Woodbridge
Suffolk
Country:
United Kingdom
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
The aircraft left RAF Breighton on a bombing mission over Leopoldsburg, Belgium. On the return trip, while flying over The Netherlands by night, the bomber was attacked by a German fighter. The rear gunner, Sgt D. B. Bell, maybe panicked, bailed out and was killed. The aircraft continued to RAF Woodbridge but on approach, the captain decided to make an emergency landing for unknown reason (short of fuel ?). The aircraft crash landed and was damaged beyond repair while all six occupants were injured.

Crash of a Short S.29 Stirling III in Cliffe Park: 4 killed

Date & Time: May 27, 1944
Type of aircraft:
Short S.29 Stirling
Operator:
Registration:
LK502
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Wigsley - Wigsley
Location:
Rudyard
Staffordshire
Country:
United Kingdom
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
8
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
The crew was involved in a night photography exercise and left RAF Wigsley bound for the Menai Bridge and back. En route, at least one engine failed and the aircraft lost height. The captain ordered his crew to abandon the aircraft but only four crew members were able to bail out before the aircraft crashed. Four crew members survived while all four others were killed.
Crew (1654th HCU):
F/O Gordon Noble Leach, pilot, †
F/S Frederick Thomas James Nicholls, flight engineer,
F/S Arthur C. Brett, flight engineer,
F/S Geoffray Norman Wise, navigator,
Sgt D. C. Watson, bomb aimer,
F/S Bernard David Fine, wireless operator, †
Sgt Harry Ward, air gunner, †
Sgt Charles David Howes, air gunner. †
Probable cause:
Engine trouble.

Crash of an Airspeed AS.10 Oxford I in RAF Castle Combe

Date & Time: May 26, 1944
Type of aircraft:
Airspeed AS.10 Oxford
Operator:
Registration:
L4632
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Supply
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Location:
Castle Combe AFB
Wiltshire
Country:
United Kingdom
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
On approach to RAF Castle Combe, the aircraft stalled, hit an electric pole and crashed short of runway. Both crew members were injured while the aircraft was destroyed.

Crash of an Avro 683 Lancaster I in Thurgarton: 7 killed

Date & Time: May 26, 1944
Type of aircraft:
Avro 683 Lancaster
Operator:
Registration:
L7578
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Location:
Thurgarton
Nottinghamshire
Country:
United Kingdom
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
7
Circumstances:
The crew was involved in a training mission. En route, while cruising at low altitude, the bomber hit tree tops and crashed in a field. All seven crew members were killed.
Crew (44th Squadron):
P/O George Benjamin Sanderson, pilot,
Sgt James Graham Middlemas, flight engineer,
Sgt Albert Dennis Clark, navigator,
P/O Archibald Thomas Noble, bomb aimer,
Sgt Bernard Broe, wireless operator and air gunner,
F/S Dennis Wright, air gunner,
Sgt Derek Nicholls, air gunner.
Probable cause:
Investigations were unable to determine the exact cause of the accident. Nevertheless, it was shown that the crew was inexperienced.

Crash of a Handley Page H.P.57 Halifax III in Hank: 7 killed

Date & Time: May 25, 1944 at 0128 LT
Type of aircraft:
Handley Page H.P.57 Halifax III
Operator:
Registration:
LV905
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Bombing
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Breighton - Breighton
Location:
Hank
North Brabant
Country:
Netherlands
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
7
Circumstances:
The aircraft left RAF Breighton at 2255LT on May 24 on a bombing mission to Aachen. While overflying The Netherlands by night, the aircraft was shot down by the pilot of a German Messerschmitt Bf.110 and crashed in a field located one km south of Hank. All seven crew members were killed.
Crew (78th Squadron):
P/O E. B. Wilson, pilot,
Sgt W. J. White, flight engineer,
F/O S. C. Peterson, navigator,
F/O N. A. Marston, bomb aimer,
Sgt J. Henderson, wireless operator,
Sgt G. H. Butler, mid upper gunner,
Sgt J. T. L. Leblanc, rear gunner.
Source: http://www.realaero.com/LV905.htm
Probable cause:
Shot down by a German fighter.

Crash of a Handley Page H.P.57 Halifax III in Acht: 3 killed

Date & Time: May 25, 1944 at 0110 LT
Type of aircraft:
Handley Page H.P.57 Halifax III
Operator:
Registration:
LK885
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Bombing
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
City
Schedule:
Snaith - Snaith
Location:
Eindhoven
North Brabant
Country:
Netherlands
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
By night, the bomber went out of control and crashed in Acht, in the suburb of Eindhoven. Three crew members were killed while all four other occupants were taken POW.
Crew (51st Squadron):
P/O W. Carl Lawson, †
Sgt. Willford Gosnay, †
Sgt Stan Beech, †
Sgt J. H. Noel,
Sgt K. C. Minifie,
Sgt B. A. M. Fraser,
Sgt Joe Hooks.
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