United States Air Force - USAF (since 1947)

The aircraft left Istres-Le Tubé Airbase in the morning to try to locate an USAF C-47 that disappeared in the region three days earlier. In fact, this C-47 registered 44-76443 crashed on the Cheval Blanc mountain, killing all 11 occupants. Around noon, the crew of the B-17 localized the wreckage of the C-47 on the east slope of the mountain and while flying to close from the terrain, the aircraft went out of control, maybe due to downdraft, and hit the north slope of the same mountain, near the village of Chanolles. The aircraft was destroyed on impact and eight of the ten occupants were killed. Two crew members, among them a pilot, survived. The pilot decided to leave the area to find help but his dead body was found in an isolated area on March 25, 1948. The only survivor, Sgt Angelo La Salle, was rescued few hours later.

The aircraft left Istres-Le Tubé AFB at 1237LT bound for Udine with an intermediate stop in Pisa. While flying over the Alps, the crew encountered poor visibility with snowstorm and strong winds. In such conditions, the captain decided to return to Istres but was unable to locate his position with certainty. Few minutes later, while flying northwest of the village of Château Garnier, the aircraft hit the slope of Mt du Cheval Blanc culminating at an altitude of 2,323 meters. The wreckage was spotted by the crew of a USAF B-17 based in Germany two days later. On site, rescuers did not find any survivors and among the passengers were five children aged 5, and women of US soldiers based in Udine. The day after the wreckage was found, the US B-17 crashed in the same region, killing its entire crew of nine.

On final approach to Andrews AFB, the aircraft was too low, hit a building and crashed. A crew member was killed while three others were injured.

Crashed shortly after takeoff from Elmendorf AFB, killing all nine crew members.

The crew left Ladd Army Airfield in the day for a 15 hours training sortie. While flying over the Seward Peninsula at low height, the four engine aircraft christened 'The Clobbered Turkey' hit the slope of Mt Hot Springs. The aircraft was written off but all eight crew members survived. Two of them decided to walk away to find help but were found dead few days later. Six other occupants were rescued later and three rescuers were killed as well during the salvage operations.
Crew:
Lt Vern H. Arnett, pilot,
Lt Donald B. Duesler, copilot,
Lt Frederick E. Sheetz, navigator,
Lt Lyle B. Larson, flight engineer,
Lt Francis Schaack, radar operator,
T/Sgt Wilbur E. Decker, electrical mechanic,
Sgt Olan R. Samford, radio operator,
S/Sgt Leslie R. Warre, photographer.
Source:
http://vintageairphotos.blogspot.ch/2014/12/the-legacy-of-clobbered-turkey-tragedy_19.html

On final approach to Memphis in marginal weather conditions, the aircraft banked right, dove into the ground and crashed in a wooded area located 4 miles short of runway threshold. All 20 occupants were killed.

One minute after a night takeoff from Goose Bay, while in initial climb, the pilot encountered serious difficulties to gain height, informed ground and elected to return. Shortly later, the four engine aircraft stalled and crashed in flames in a wooded area located 13,5 km north of the airport. Six occupants were seriously injured while 23 others were killed.

Crashed 11 miles northeast of Elgin following an engine failure. Occupant fate unknown.

After his departure from Pisa Airport, the crew encountered very poor weather conditions with alto-cumulus, heavy snow falls and wind from the southeast up to 25 knots. Due to the wind, the aircraft went off course up to 50 km to the west, and due to poor visibility, the crew was unaware of this course deviation. The aircraft hit the slope of a mountain located near Trappa and was destroyed. SAR operations were conducted but eventually suspended few days later as no trace of the aircraft was found. On January 31st, 1948, Italian skiers found the wreckage of the aircraft and 20 dead bodies in an isolated area. According to some US military Officers, at least two passengers survived the crash but died few hours later.

While cruising in a thunderstorm area, the aircraft went out of control and crashed in Mt Magazine, about five miles northwest of Havana, Arkansas. All six crew members were killed.