Oceania

The airplane departed Mackay to Port Moresby with a crew of six and 35 US soldiers on board, following a permission period. Shortly after takeoff, the captain decided to make a low pass over the airport so the people on ground could take all's leave off. During the last turn, the airplane named 'Miss Every Morning Fixin' went out of control, stalled and crashed in a huge explosion about one km from the runway threshold. A passenger was seriously injured while 40 other occupants were killed. Up to date, worst plane crash in Australia.
Crew (19th BG):
1st Lt Vern J. Gidcumb Jr., pilot,
F/O William C. Erb, copilot,
2nd Lt Jack A. Ogren, navigator,
Sgt David E. Tileston, radio operator,
S/Sgt Lovell Dale Curtis, crew chief,
S/Sgt Frank E. Whelchel, crew chief.
Passengers:
Pfc Jerome Abraham,
Cpt John O. Berthold,
T/5 William A. Briggs,
Sgt Dan H. Busse,
T/Sgt James A. Copeland,
Sgt Carl A. Cunningham,
T/5 George A. Ehrman,
Pvt James E. Finney,
Sgt Leo E. Fletcher,
T/Sgt Alfred H. Frezza,
Pfc Norman J. Goetz,
S/Sgt Roy A. Hatlen,
S/Sgt John W. Hilsheimer,
Pfc Vernon Johnson,
Sgt Donald B. Kyper,
Sgt Charlie O. LaRue,
Pvt Raymond D. Longabaugh,
Pfc Kenneth W. Mann,
Cpl Marlin D. Metzger,
Pvt Charles D. Montgomery,
Pfc John W. Parker,
Pfc Frank S. Penska,
Maj George N. Powell,
Sgt Anthony Rudnick,
Cpl Charles W. Sampson,
Pfc Arnold Seidel,
Cpl Jacob O. Skaggs Jr.,
Cpl Franklin F. Smith,
Cpl Raymond H. Smith,
Pfc Frederick C. Sweet,
Cpl Edward Tenny,
Pfc Dale Van Fosson,
Pvt Ruben L. Vaugh,
Charles M. Williams.
Sources & photos: http://www.ozatwar.com/ozcrashes/qld46.htm

The aircraft was at 500 feet with gear extended over the threshold of strip with the port airscrew feathered due to engine problems. The pilot raised the undercarriage and applied power to starboard engine, but the aircraft pulled to port and begun to loose height and crashed one mile north east of Hughes Strip. The aircraft was destroyed in the impact and ensuing fire.
Crew (2nd Squadron):
F/Lt J. F. Mason,
F/Lt J. R. Wood,
F/O T. W. Swann,
F/Sgt R. J. Flaherty,
F/Sgt R. D. Woods,
Sgt G. R. Rowland,
F/O G. L. Knauer.
Source: http://www.adf-gallery.com.au/

The aircraft left Nouméa-La Tontouta by night bound for Sydney, with 23 US Navy pilots and officers on board. During the initial climb, one of the engine failed. The pilot tried to return to the airport but the aircraft stalled and crashed in the St Vincent Bay, few miles from the airport. All 23 occupants were killed, among them 16 US Navy pilots.
Crew:
1st Lt Robert Wesley Kirkpatrick,
Sgt John Henry Clark,
Robert Leon Parr.
Passengers:
Lt Col Paul Woret,
Lt Cdr Welden Lee Hamilton,
Lt Paul Edward Babel,
Lt Donald Randall Burke,
Lt William Robert Weiss,
Lt Sidney Quick,
Lt John Clifford Liverey,
Lt V. F. Flynn,
Robert Hayewood,
Charles Sterling Hall,
Ordien Fenmore Herr,
Bernard Gordon Robinson,
Jack Foster Young,
Carl Lee Cobb,
Alley Burton Conrad,
Cpl Lewis Ray Baughman,
Pfc Keith Horney,
W. T. Owen,
Col Joseph E. Stevenot,
Ellwin Albert Teal.

Crashed on landing off Port Stephens. Crew fate remains unknown.

During the take off run, the aircraft hit a gun pit, went out of control, veered off runway and came to rest in a field. All five crew members were unhurt while the aircraft was damaged beyond repair.
Crew (18th Squadron):
P/O B. Wetters, pilot,
Cpt Eccles, pilot,
Cpt Jesserun, navigator,
F. Weber, wireless operator,
Vernon McLean, air gunner.

After an uneventful bombing mission over the airfield of Rabaul-Vunakanau, the aircraft was shot down by the pilot of a Japanese fighter over the Lihir Island and crashed in Put Put. Seven crew members were killed while four others were taken PoW.
Crew (43rd BG):
Cpt Joseph W. Geddes, pilot, †
2nd Lt Leon S. King, †
1st Lt Leslie W. Neuman,
2nd Lt Saul Albert, †
2nd Lt William A. Bujold, navigator, †
T/Sgt William R. Moore, flight engineer, †
T/Sgt Emil Gentry, †
S/Sgt Ernest W. Burnside,
Cpl John J. Mulligan,
Pvt John L. Honold, †
Pvt Robert E. George, 15072338.

The aircraft left Port Moresby-7 Mile Airfield in the morning and flew to Dobodura where a stock of bombs was loaded. It left Dobodura to attack the Rabaul-Vunakanau Airport. While approaching the target, the aircraft what shot down by the pilot of a Japanese fighter. All four engines were hit by bullets and the captain ordered his crew to bail out but only three crewmen were able to do so. Out of control, the aircraft went into a spin and crashed into the St George Channel, off Rabaul. All eight other occupants were killed.
Crew (43rd BG):
Maj Paul I. Williams, pilot, †
2nd Lt John S. Rippy, copilot,
M/Sgt Gordon R. Manuel, bombardier,
2nd Lt Richard U. Aguirre, navigator, †
S/Sgt Robert B. Gills Jr., flight engineer, †
Sgt Edward Driscoll, radio operator, †
Sgt Lawrence L. Rexroat, air gunner, †
Sgt Robert A. Curry,
Pfc William R. Smith, air gunner, †
Sgt Joseph F. Murray, air gunner, †
Passenger:
1st Lt Robert F. Heller. †

While performing a maritime patrol flight off the Guadalcanal Island, the seaplane crashed into the sea in unknown circumstances. No trace of the aircraft nor the 12 crew members was ever found.

En route from Dobodura to Port Moresby, the crew encountered poor weather conditions with low ceiling. The aircraft hit the slope of a mountain located in the Owen Stanley range, near Myola Lake, in the region of Kokoda. All five occupants were killed.
Crew (374th TCG):
2nd Lt Lorenzo R. Gower, pilot,
1st Lt Robert W. Wood, copilot,
Cpl Dominic P. Verdi, flight engineer,
Cpl James G. Hickman, radio operator,
Passenger:
Col John H. Brewer.

While landing on a soggy field located in Antil Plains, south of Townsville, the aircraft lost its undercarriage and came to rest. There were no casualties.