World

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Fairfield AFB - Hickam AFB

MSN:

12657

YOM:

1944

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The aircraft left Fairfield-Saisun AFB in California at 0237LT on a flight to Hickam Field, Honolulu, with a crew of five on board. At 0805LT (PST), the last radio contact was heard. As the aircraft never arrived at destination, SAR operations were conducted and eventually suspended one week later on April 9, 1944. No trace of the aircraft nor the crew was ever found.

Crash of a Lockheed PV-1 Ventura V in the Mediterranean Sea: 5 killed

Date & Time: Apr 1, 1944

Type of aircraft:

Lockheed PV-1 Ventura

Operator:

Registration:

FP633

Flight Phase:

Survey / Patrol / Reconnaissance

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Schedule:

Oran - Oran

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The crew was engaged in a maritime patrol flight over the Mediterranean Sea. En route, the twin engine aircraft was shot down by mistake by a RAF Beaufighter and crashed into the sea. All five crewmen were killed.
Crew (500th Squadron):
F/O Wayne Sheldon Shea,
F/O Vernon Clifford Pockson,
P/O Frederick Joseph Schmidt,
W/O Henry Ernest Parsloe,
Sgt John Philip Taylor.

Probable cause:

Shot down.

Crash of a Douglas C-54A-DO Skymaster into the Atlantic Ocean: 6 killed

Date & Time: Mar 25, 1944

Type of aircraft:

Douglas C-54 Skymaster

Operator:

Registration:

41-37274

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Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)

MSN:

3064

YOM:

1943

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The four engine aircraft was shot down by British fighters because it was approaching a ships convoy. The airplane was carrying dive flap modification kits for P-38's.

Probable cause:

Shot down.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A Dakota III into the Pacific Ocean: 2 killed

Date & Time: Mar 17, 1944

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Registration:

FL650

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North American B-25 Mitchell

MSN:

12079

YOM:

1943

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The twin engine aircraft crashed in unknown circumstances into the Pacific Ocean, off the coast of British Columbia. No trace of the aircraft nor the crew was ever found.

Crash of a North American B-25 Mitchell in the Pacific Ocean: 3 killed

Date & Time: Feb 27, 1944

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

N5-191

Flight Phase:

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Yes

Site:

Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)

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En route, crew was forced to ditch the aircraft into the Pacific Ocean. A crew was rescued while all three others were killed. The reason of the occurrence is unknown.

Crash of a Douglas R4D-1 in the Pacific Ocean: 14 killed

Date & Time: Feb 16, 1944

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

01989

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Consolidated PBY Catalina

Schedule:

Seattle - Kodiak

MSN:

4553

YOM:

1942

Location:

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Crew on board:

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Circumstances:

En route, while cruising over the North Pacific, the aircraft disappeared in unknown circumstances. SAR operations were conducted and eventually suspended few days later as no trace of the aircraft nor the 14 occupants was ever found.

Crash of a Consolidated PBY-5A Catalina in the Gulf of Mexico

Date & Time: Feb 12, 1944

Type of aircraft:

Operator:

Registration:

08535

Flight Phase:

Survey / Patrol / Reconnaissance

Flight Type:

Survivors:

Yes

Site: