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Crash of a Boeing B-17G-20-DL in the Lake Grevelingen: 10 killed

Date & Time: Feb 4, 1944
Type of aircraft:
Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress
Operator:
Registration:
42-37975
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Bombing
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
MSN:
8761
Location:
Bruinisse
Zeeland
Country:
Netherlands
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
10
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
10
Circumstances:
The crew was engaged in a bombing mission over Frankfurt. While cruising over The Netherlands, the four engine aircraft was short down by German Flak and crashed into the Grevelingen Lake, off the village of Bruinisse. Four dead bodies were found while all six others occupants were never found.
Probable cause:
Shot down by Flak.

Crash of a Martin B-26B-40-MA Marauder near Texarkana: 7 killed

Date & Time: Feb 3, 1944
Type of aircraft:
Martin B-26 Marauder
Operator:
Registration:
42-43261
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Location:
Texarkana
Texas
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:
The crew was engaged in a training exercise in formation with another Martin B-26B Marauder registered 41-32070 and carrying also a crew of seven. In flight, and in unknown circumstances, both aircraft collided. Out of control, they dove into the ground and crashed some 12 miles east of Texarkana. All 14 occupants of both aircraft were killed.

Crash of a Martin B-26B-35-MA Marauder near Texarkana: 7 killed

Date & Time: Feb 3, 1944
Type of aircraft:
Martin B-26 Marauder
Operator:
Registration:
41-32070
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Location:
Texarkana
Texas
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:
The crew was engaged in a training exercise in formation with another Martin B-26B Marauder registered 42-43261 and carrying also a crew of seven. In flight, and in unknown circumstances, both aircraft collided. Out of control, they dove into the ground and crashed some 12 miles east of Texarkana. All 14 occupants of both aircraft were killed.

Crash of a Curtiss C-46A-15-CU near Mohanbari

Date & Time: Feb 3, 1944
Type of aircraft:
Curtiss C-46 Commando
Operator:
Registration:
41-12414
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
MSN:
26541
YOM:
1943
Location:
Dibrugarh-Mohanbari
Assam
Country:
India
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
While flying north of Mohanbari Airport, the crew was forced to attempt an emergency landing. The aircraft was damaged beyond repair while no one was injured.

Crash of a Consolidated B-24D Liberator in Eastbourne: 10 killed

Date & Time: Feb 2, 1944
Type of aircraft:
Consolidated B-24 Liberator
Operator:
Registration:
41-24282
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
MSN:
1077
YOM:
1943
Location:
Eastbourne
East Sussex
Country:
United Kingdom
Region:
Europe
Crew on board:
10
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
10
Circumstances:
En route, while cruising at low altitude, the four engine aircraft christened 'Ruth Less' hit a hill and crashed near Eastbourne, East Sussex. All ten crew members were killed.

Crash of a Douglas C-39 in Sioux City: 3 killed

Date & Time: Jan 31, 1944 at 0032 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-39 (DC-2)
Operator:
Registration:
38-501
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Plain, Valley
Schedule:
Sioux City - Saint Joseph
MSN:
2059
YOM:
1939
Location:
Sioux City
Iowa
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
The aircraft left Sioux City Airport at 0028LT bound for the Saint Joseph-Rosecrans Airport, Missouri. While climbing, the twin engine aircraft went out of control and crashed 14 km from its departure point. The aircraft was destroyed and all three crewmen were killed.
Probable cause:
Loss of control caused by the explosion of the right engine (number 2) during initial climb.

Crash of a Lockheed A-29-LO Hudson in Allentown

Date & Time: Jan 31, 1944
Type of aircraft:
Lockheed L-414 Hudson
Operator:
Registration:
41-23324
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
MSN:
414-6141
YOM:
1941
Location:
Allentown
New Jersey
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
En route, the crew encountered an unexpected situation and was forced to abandon the aircraft and bailed out. All occupants were unhurt while the aircraft crashed and was destroyed.

Crash of a Consolidated C-87 Liberator Express near Lhasa

Date & Time: Jan 31, 1944
Type of aircraft:
Consolidated C-87 Liberator Express
Operator:
Registration:
41-23682
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Mountains
Schedule:
Kunming - Jorhat
MSN:
648
Location:
Lhasa
Tibet (Xizang)
Country:
China
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
En route, crew encountered poor weather conditions with severe icing and strong winds. The aircraft deviated from the prescribed track and in low visibility, hit a mountain slope located in the region of Lhasa, Tibet. SAR operations were suspended after few days as no trace of the aircraft was found. The wreckage was eventually spotted in July 1994 at the altitude of 14,000 feet in a glacier.

Crash of a Curtiss C-46A-25-CU Commando near Yankai

Date & Time: Jan 31, 1944
Type of aircraft:
Curtiss C-46 Commando
Operator:
Registration:
41-24696
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Mountains
MSN:
26617
Location:
Yankai
Yunnan
Country:
China
Region:
Asia
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
En route, the crew encountered an unexpected situation and decided to abandon the aircraft and bailed out. The aircraft crashed and was destroyed while all four crewmen survived.
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