Crash of a North American B-25J-25NC Mitchell in Barksdale AFB

Date & Time: Feb 2, 1949
Operator:
Registration:
44-30894
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Barksdale - Barksdale
MSN:
108-34169
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The crew was completing a local training sortie in Barksdale AFB. In unknown circumstances, the aircraft collided with another USAF North American B-25 Mitchell registered 44-29445. While 44-30894 crash landed in a field located near Curtis, about three miles south of the airbase, 44-29445 exploded in midair and crashed. All five crew members on board 44-30894 were injured while both pilots of 44-29445 were killed.

Crash of a North American B-25J-20NC Mitchell in Barksdale AFB: 2 killed

Date & Time: Feb 2, 1949
Operator:
Registration:
44-29445
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Barksdale - Barksdale
MSN:
108-32720
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
The crew was completing a local training sortie in Barksdale AFB. In unknown circumstances, the aircraft collided with another USAF North American B-25 Mitchell registered 44-30894. While 44-30894 crash landed in a field located near Curtis, about three miles south of the airbase, 44-29445 exploded in midair and crashed. All five crew members on board 44-30894 were injured while both pilots of 44-29445 were killed.

Crash of a Boeing B-29A-45-BN Superfortress into the Atlantic Ocean: 15 killed

Date & Time: Jan 26, 1949
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
44-61775
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
MSN:
11250
YOM:
1944
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
15
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
15
Circumstances:
The aircraft was performing a flight from Dakar to UK. While approaching the Canary Islands, it crashed in unknown circumstances some 35 miles south of the Spanish archipelago. No trace of the aircraft nor the 15 crew members was found.

Crash of a Boeing B-29A-60-BN Superfortress near Malmstrom AFB: 3 killed

Date & Time: Jan 21, 1949
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
44-62098
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
11575
YOM:
1944
Crew on board:
12
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
Shortly after a night takeoff from Malmstrom AFB, the aircraft went out of control and crashed in a prairie located seven miles northeast of the airbase. Three crew members were killed while nine others were injured.

Crash of a Douglas C-54G-15-DO Skymaster near Fassberg: 1 killed

Date & Time: Jan 18, 1949 at 1330 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
45-0563
Flight Type:
Survivors:
Yes
Schedule:
Berlin – Fassberg
MSN:
36016
YOM:
1945
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
On approach to Fassberg Airport, the four engine aircraft went out of control and crashed in a field located 10 km from the runway 27 threshold. A crew member was killed while two others were seriously injured. They were performing a cargo flight from Berlin, taking part to the Berlin Airlift.

Crash of a Boeing B-29A-70-BN Superfortress near Lochgoilhead: 20 killed

Date & Time: Jan 17, 1949 at 0950 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
44-62276
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Scampton - Keflavik - Schilling
MSN:
11753
YOM:
1944
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
16
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
20
Circumstances:
The aircraft was performing a flight from RAF Scampton (Lincolnshire) to Schilling AFB (Smoky Hill AFB) in Salina, Kansas, with an intermediate stop in Keflavik. While flying over Scotland at an altitude of 8,500 feet, the pilot encountered poor weather conditions and requested to ATC the permission to climb to 14,400 feet. Shortly later, at a speed of 500 km/h, the four engine aircraft hit the slope of the Stob na Boine Druim-fhinn mountain located two miles northwest of Lochgoilhead. The aircraft was destroyed by impact forces and a post crash fire and all 20 occupants were killed.
Crew:
1st Lt Sheldon C. Craigmyle, pilot,
1st Lt Myrton P. Barry, copilot,
1st Lt Richard D. Klingenberg, navigator,
1st Lt Robert A. Fritsche, bombardier.
Passengers:
T/Sgt Delbert E. Cole,
M/Sgt Wayne W. Baker,
T/Sgt John B. Lapicca,
S/Sgt Malcolm W. Bovard,
Sgt Anthony V. Chrisides,
Sgt Rufus W. Mangum,
Pfc Jack L. Heacock,
M/Sgt Henry P. Prestoch,
T/Sgt Frank M. Dobbs Jr.,
Sgt Cecil G. Jones,
Sgt Charles W. Hess,
Pfc Robert Brown Jr.,
T/Sgt Rufus G. Taylor,
Sgt Paul W. Knight,
Pfc Frederick N. Cook,
Pfc Bruce J. Krumhols.
Probable cause:
The exact cause of the accident was not determined with certainty. However, the assumption that the loss of control was caused by heavy icing conditions was not ruled out.

Crash of a Fairchild C-82A-15-FA Packet in Harnett: 3 killed

Date & Time: Jan 14, 1949
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
44-23010
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Fayetteville - Fayetteville
MSN:
10054
YOM:
1944
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
The aircraft left Fayetteville-Pope AFB for a local training sortie with 36 paratroopers on board. En route, the crew encountered an unexpected situation and ordered all passengers to bail out. After the last paratrooper evacuated the cabin, the aircraft went out of control, dove into the ground and crashed in a field located in Harnett, about 17 miles northeast of the airbase. All three crew members were killed.

Crash of a Douglas C-54D-5-DC Skymaster in Frankfurt: 3 killed

Date & Time: Jan 12, 1949 at 0005 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
42-72629
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Berlin – Frankfurt
MSN:
10734
YOM:
1945
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
During the final approach completed by night, the four engine aircraft crashed 4 km short of the runway threshold. All three crew members were killed. They were performing a cargo flight from Berlin, taking part to the Berlin Airlift.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-90-DL near Mineral: 3 killed

Date & Time: Jan 7, 1949 at 2244 LT
Operator:
Registration:
43-15931
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Site:
Schedule:
Maxwell - Ogden - McChord
MSN:
20379
YOM:
1944
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
The crew was performing a flight from Maxwell AFB (Alabama) to McChord AFB in Washington with an intermediate stop in Ogden-Hill AFB, Utah. The aircraft left Ogden-Hill AFB at 1934LT. At 2244LT, the crew informed ATC he was starting the descent to McChord when the aircraft hit the slope of a mountain located 4 miles southwest of Mineral. The aircraft was destroyed and all three crew members were killed.

Crash of a Douglas C-54G-5-DO Skymaster in Garstang: 6 killed

Date & Time: Jan 7, 1949 at 1645 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
45-0543
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Frankfurt – Burtonwood
MSN:
35996
YOM:
1945
Region:
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
2
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
6
Circumstances:
The four engine aircraft left Frankfurt-Main Airport at 1312LT Bound for RAF Burtonwood. Following an uneventful flight, the crew started the descent from the north and went through thick clouds when the airplane hit the slope of the Stake House Fell Hill located near Garstang, about 55 km north of RAF Burtonwood. The aircraft was destroyed and all six occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
Investigation revealed that a strong signal from commercial radio station North of the Burtonwood base was interfering with the Burtonwood Range signal, causing the radio compass on board aircraft to continue to indicate that the base was to their North even after they had passed to the North of the Range Station.