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Crash of a Douglas C-47A-30-DK into the Mediterranean Sea

Date & Time: Jul 29, 1955
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
43-48213
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Tripoli – Athens
MSN:
14029/25474
YOM:
1944
Location:
Mediterranean Sea
All World
Country:
World
Region:
World
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
16
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Enroute from Tripoli to Athens, the crew encountered engine problems and elected to ditch the aircraft 145 km north of the Libyan coast. About 15 minutes after the emergency landing, the crew of a USN SA-16 Albatross was able to evacuate all 18 occupants safely. Later, the C-47 sank and was lost. The crew was performing a flight from Mitiga Airfield to Hassani Airport in Athens.
Probable cause:
Engine failure.

Crash of a De Havilland L-20A in Lorsch: 4 killed

Date & Time: Jul 20, 1955
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DHC-2 Beaver
Operator:
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Location:
Lorsch
Hesse
Country:
Germany
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
3
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
Following a training mission, the single engine was returning to its base and was flying at low height when it collided with an unidentified aircraft that landed safely. Out of control, the Beaver went out of control and crashed 800 meters farther. All four occupants have been killed.

Crash of a Boeing KC-97G -25-BO Stratotanker near Cressey: 10 killed

Date & Time: Jul 13, 1955
Type of aircraft:
Boeing KC-97 Stratotanker
Operator:
Registration:
52-2637
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Refuelling
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Castle - Castle
MSN:
16668
YOM:
1952
Location:
Castle AFB
California
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
10
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
10
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from Castle AFB, while climbing, the aircraft suffered serious technical issues and crashed in a huge explosion about seven miles northwest of the airbase, near the city of Cressey. All ten crew members were killed.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-85-DL on Sitkinak Island: 10 killed

Date & Time: Jun 29, 1955
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
43-15594
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Kodiak – Elmendorf
MSN:
20060
YOM:
1944
Location:
Sitkinak Island
Alaska
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
6
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
10
Circumstances:
While flying in low visibility (marginal weather conditions ?), the airplane hit the slope of a mountain located on Sitkinak Island. All ten occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
It is believed the accident was the result of a controlled flight into terrain.

Crash of a Boeing B-29A-45-BN Superfortress near Owen: 10 killed

Date & Time: Jun 10, 1955 at 2330 LT
Type of aircraft:
Boeing B-29 Superfortress
Operator:
Registration:
44-61780
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Molesworth – Stuttgart
MSN:
11257
YOM:
1944
Location:
Owen
Baden-Württemberg
Country:
Germany
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
10
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
10
Circumstances:
The crew was performing a flight from RAF Molesworth, Cambridgeshire, to Stuttgart. While approaching Stuttgart-Echterdingen Airport by night, the crew was contacted by ATC and rerouted to Fürstenfeldbruck Airbase near Munich due to insufficient visibility caused by foggy conditions. Few minutes later, while cruising at low height, the airplane hit the slope of Mt Teckberg located about 1,5 km east of Owen. All ten crew members were killed.
Probable cause:
Controlled flight into terrain.

Crash of a Boeing KC-97G-22-BO Stratotanker near Fort Myers: 1 killed

Date & Time: Jun 7, 1955
Type of aircraft:
Boeing KC-97 Stratotanker
Operator:
Registration:
52-0891
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Refuelling
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
MSN:
16585
YOM:
1952
Location:
Fort Myers
Florida
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
9
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
An engine failed in flight. All nine crew members decided to bail out and abandoned the aircraft that dove into the ground and crashed in a prairie located two miles north of Fort Myers. Eight crews were found uninjured while one was killed as his parachute failed to open.
Probable cause:
Engine failure in flight.

Crash of a Douglas C-47B-1-DK near Alamogordo: 7 killed

Date & Time: May 30, 1955
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
43-48386
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
MSN:
14202/25647
YOM:
1944
Location:
Alamogordo
New Mexico
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
7
Circumstances:
Few minutes after its takeoff from Holloman Airport, the aircraft hit a mountain located 10 miles northeast of Alamogordo. All seven crew members were killed.

Crash of a Douglas C-47D in Deftinge

Date & Time: May 28, 1955 at 1315 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
43-48479
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Paris – Copenhagen
MSN:
14295/25740
YOM:
1944
Location:
Deftinge
West Flanders
Country:
Belgium
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
The airplane departed Paris-Orly on a flight to Copenhagen-Kastrup. While overflying Belgium, the crew encountered technical issues with an engine. The captain ordered his crew to bail out, and sole on board, he elected to make an emergency landing when the airplane hit trees, lost its tail and crashed in a field. The pilot was uninjured while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair. All four other crew members were uninjured as well.
Probable cause:
Engine failure.

Crash of a Convair B-36J-5-CF Peacemaker near Sterling City: 15 killed

Date & Time: May 25, 1955 at 2305 LT
Type of aircraft:
Convair B-36 Peacemaker
Operator:
Registration:
52-2818
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
No
Site:
Desert
Schedule:
Walker - Walker
MSN:
374
YOM:
1952
Flight number:
Abbott 27
Location:
Sterling City
Texas
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
15
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
15
Circumstances:
While conducting a training mission from Walker AFB, the crew encountered poor weather conditions with thunderstorm activity and turbulences. The airplane lost wing panels, went out of control and crashed in a flat attitude in a desert area located 18,5 miles southwest of Sterling City. All 15 crew members were killed.
Probable cause:
Loss of control caused by heavy turbulences in thunderstorm activity.

Crash of a Douglas C-124C Globemaster II at Thule AFB

Date & Time: May 15, 1955
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-124 Globemaster II
Operator:
Registration:
52-1088
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Schedule:
Thule - Westover
MSN:
43997
YOM:
1952
Location:
Thule AFB (Pituffik)
Qaasuitsup Kommunia
Country:
Greenland
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
7
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crashed shortly after takeoff from Thule AFB while on a flight to Westover AFB. All seven crew members were injured.
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