Crash of a Douglas C-47B-28-DK off Sassandra: 21 killed

Date & Time: May 30, 1945 at 0920 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
44-76406
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Accra - Monrovia
MSN:
15990/32738
YOM:
1945
Location:
Sassandra
Bas-Sassandra
Country:
Ivory Coast
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
18
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
21
Circumstances:
The aircraft was performing a flight from Accra to Monrovia with members of the USAF female corps on board, on behalf of the Air Transport Command. While flying along the shore, the crew sent a brief mayday message when the aircraft dove into the sea and crashed nose down by 45° angle. All 21 occupants were killed.
Crew:
1st Lt Alfred R. Ellis,
F/O Robert E. Mulhern ,
Cpl George A. Shiffman.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A off Kisumu: 1 killed

Date & Time: May 11, 1945 at 0600 LT
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
6807
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Delivery
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Blackbushe – Istres – Rome – Athens – Cairo – Wadi Halfa – Khartoum – Juba – Kisumu – Ndola – Pretoria
MSN:
9879
YOM:
1943
Location:
Kisumu
Nyanza
Country:
Kenya
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
1
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
1
Circumstances:
The crew was performing a delivery flight from Blackbushe, UK, to the airbase of Waterkloof located in Pretoria. Several enroute stops were scheduled in Istres, Rome, Athens, Cairo, Wadi Halfa, Khartoum, Juba, Kisumu and Ndola. Shortly after takeoff from Kisumu Airport, while in initial climb, the aircraft stalled and crashed into Lake Victoria. Both crew members were rescued while the passenger was killed.
Probable cause:
It is believed that the accident may have been caused by katabatic wind that affects the Kisumu region in the early morning.

Crash of a Supermarine Walrus I in Kasfareet AFB

Date & Time: Apr 16, 1945
Type of aircraft:
Supermarine Walrus
Operator:
Registration:
L2287
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Military
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
Location:
Kasfareet AFB
Suez
Country:
Egypt
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
On rotation, a wing hit the runway surface, causing the aircraft to crash. The crew fate remains unknown.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-75-DL in Cairo: 2 killed

Date & Time: Mar 9, 1945
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
42-100944
Flight Phase:
Landing (descent or approach)
Flight Type:
Cargo
Survivors:
No
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
19407
YOM:
1944
Location:
Cairo
Cairo
Country:
Egypt
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
2
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
2
Circumstances:
Crashed on approach to Cairo Airport while on a cargo flight, killing both pilots.
Crew:
2nd Lt Leonard Kepil,
1st Lt Theodore E. Stone.

Crash of a Curtiss C-46A-45-CU Commando in the Sudanese Desert: 9 killed

Date & Time: Feb 23, 1945
Type of aircraft:
Curtiss C-46 Commando
Operator:
Registration:
42-96541
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Desert
MSN:
30203
YOM:
1944
Location:
Sudan
All Sudan
Country:
Sudan
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
9
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
9
Circumstances:
In flight, the pilot lost control of the aircraft following an engine failure. The aircraft crashed in a desert area located some 185 km north of Wadi Seidna AFB, in the suburb of Khartoum. All nine crew members were killed.
Crew:
Cpl John M. Anderson,
Cpt Harold Billups,
Pfc George Brodsky,
2nd Lt Norman Crossley,
1st Lt Frederick P. Downing,
T/Sgt Charles W. Hammock,
S/Sgt Noel A. Holleman,
Pfc Silvio T. Scardapane,
Pfc Milton J. Warrick.
Probable cause:
Engine failure.

Crash of a Curtiss C-46A-45-CU Commando in Casablanca: 13 killed

Date & Time: Feb 23, 1945
Type of aircraft:
Curtiss C-46 Commando
Operator:
Registration:
42-107377
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
27064
YOM:
1944
Location:
Casablanca
Grand Casablanca
Country:
Morocco
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
26
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
13
Circumstances:
Shortly after takeoff from Casablanca-Cazes Airport, while climbing, the aircraft stalled and crashed 3 km from the airfield. Thirteen occupants were killed while 17 others were injured.
Crew killed were:
R. Garrett,
F/O J. Harrington,
1st Lt Stanley E. Indyk,
1st Lt Eric B. Ives,
Sgt R. T. Johnson,
Cpl Watters L. Lamkin,
1st Lt Samuel W. Lipscomb,
Pfc Michael A. Miraglio,
Lt Col Harry Paller,
1st Lt Bernard A. Perlick,
Maj George E. Skiriey,
Cpt E. Wertman,
Lt Col Charles L. Wheaton.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.89 Dragon Rapide near Alexandria: 7 killed

Date & Time: Feb 6, 1945
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DH.89 Dragon Rapide
Operator:
Registration:
SU-ABP
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Desert
Schedule:
Cairo – Alexandria
MSN:
6298
YOM:
1935
Location:
Alexandria
Alexandria
Country:
Egypt
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
6
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
7
Circumstances:
Enroute, the twin engine aircraft christened 'Al Kahira' crashed in unknown circumstances some 60 km south of Alexandria. All 7 occupants were killed.

Crash of a De Havilland DH.60G Gipsy Moth near Dakar

Date & Time: Jan 22, 1945
Type of aircraft:
De Havilland DH.60 Moth
Operator:
Registration:
44-90485
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Plain, Valley
Location:
Dakar
Dakar Region
Country:
Senegal
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
1
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Few minutes after take off from Dakar-Yoff Airport, the engine failed, forcing the pilot to attempt an emergency landing. The aircraft crash landed some 10 miles northeast of the airport and the aircraft was damaged beyond repair. The pilot, 2nd Lt Frank L. Loftus, was injured.
Probable cause:
Engine failure.

Crash of a Curtiss C-46D-10-CU Commando in Port Lyautey

Date & Time: Jan 22, 1945
Type of aircraft:
Curtiss C-46 Commando
Operator:
Registration:
44-77570
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Airport (less than 10 km from airport)
MSN:
32966
YOM:
1944
Location:
Port Lyautey
Gharb-Chrarda-Béni Hssen
Country:
Morocco
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
0
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
0
Circumstances:
Crashed on takeoff. There were no casualties.

Crash of a Lockheed C-60A-5-LO LodeStar off Algiers: 12 killed

Date & Time: Dec 30, 1944
Type of aircraft:
Lockheed C-60 LodeStar
Operator:
Transport Aérien Militaire (TAM)
Registration:
FC-BAD
Flight Phase:
Takeoff (climb)
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Lake, Sea, Ocean, River
Schedule:
Algiers – Marseille – Paris
MSN:
2328
YOM:
1943
Location:
Algiers
Algiers
Country:
Algeria
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
9
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
12
Circumstances:
Few minutes after take off from Algiers Airport, the twin engine aircraft went out of control and crashed into the Mediterranean Sea. All 12 occupants were killed, among them the French Colonel Lionel de Marmier, faithful Officer of the General de Gaulle. He was flying back to Paris to take over the top management of Air France.
Crew:
Robert Guilloux, pilot,
Roger Henry, radio navigator,
Emile Guillot, flight engineer.
Passengers:
Col Lionel de Marmier,
Marcel Duclos.
Probable cause:
The exact cause of the accident was not clearly determined. However, the assumption that the loss of control should be caused by sabotage has not been ruled out.
Subscribe to Africa