Crash of a Consolidated PBY-5 Catalina into the Gulf of Mexico: 8 killed

Date & Time: Nov 17, 1943
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
04473
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
8
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
8
Circumstances:
During a maritime patrol mission, while circling around a merchant ship, the seaplane went out of control and crashed into the Gulf of Mexico, killing all eight crew members.

Crash of a Short S.25 Sunderland III into the Bay of Biscay: 12 killed

Date & Time: Nov 10, 1943 at 1755 LT
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
EK572
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Pembroke Dock - Gibraltar
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
8
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
4
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
12
Circumstances:
While approaching the Spanish coast, the aircraft was shot down by the pilot of a German fighter and crashed into the Bay of Biscay, killing all 12 occupants.
Probable cause:
Shot down by a German fighter.

Crash of a Consolidated PBY-5A Catalina into the Pacific Ocean: 9 killed

Date & Time: Nov 6, 1943
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
34035
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
North Island - Kaneohe
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
9
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
9
Circumstances:
Disappeared en route from North Island-Halsey Field NAS (San Diego) to Kaneohe Bay NAS, Hawaii. No trace of the aircraft nor the crew was ever found.

Crash of a Consolidated B-24D-CO Liberator into the Tyrrhenian Sea: 8 killed

Date & Time: Oct 24, 1943
Operator:
Registration:
41-11767
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Foggia – Catania
MSN:
263
YOM:
1941
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
8
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
8
Circumstances:
Lost without trace on a flight from Foggia to Catania. Probably crashed into the Tyrrhenian Sea. No trace of the aircraft christened 'Shanghi Lil' nor the crew was ever found.

Crash of a Douglas C-47A-40-DL into the Pacific Ocean: 14 killed

Date & Time: Oct 20, 1943
Operator:
Registration:
42-23965
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Hickam - Palmyra Island
MSN:
9827
YOM:
1943
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
8
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
14
Circumstances:
En route from Hickam AFB (Honolulu) to Cooper Airfield on Palmyra Atoll, the aircraft disappeared into the ocean while approaching Palmyra. As the aircraft did not arrive, SAR operations were conducted but eventually suspended few days later as no trace of the aircraft nor the 14 crew members was found. The last radio contact with the crew reported a position about 80 km northeast of Palmyra Atoll.
Crew:
Lt Col James P. Barr Jr.,
Maj Elmer C. Best,
1st Lt Charles F. Bowers,
Cpt Jack E. Copeland,
S/Sgt Raymond G. Curtis,
T/Sgt Thomas W. Graves,
1st Lt William H. Henderson,
S/Sgt Carmelo A. Lauricella,
2nd Lt Vincent Leonard,
Cpt Floyd S. Lewis,
Cpt George H. McIlwain,
Cpt Marvin F. Stahl,
Pfc Louis A. Tomasulo,
1st Lt John J. Zidzik.

Crash of a Martin B-26A-1 Marauder into the Adriatic Sea: 5 killed

Date & Time: Oct 19, 1943
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
FK127
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
Yes
MSN:
7375
YOM:
1941
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
6
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
While on a maritime patrol flight, the aircraft suffered an engine failure. The crew attempted to ditch the aircraft that crashed into the sea. While the copilot was rescued, all other occupants were killed.
Crew:
F/O A. M. Cameron, †
F/O G. Ingram, †
F/Sgt N. B. Williams, †
F/Sgt O. V. Proud, †
Sgt C. Leslie, †
Sgt Ritche.
Probable cause:
Engine failure.

Crash of a Lockheed L-414 Hudson IIIA into the Arafura Sea: 5 killed

Date & Time: Oct 15, 1943
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
A16-178
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Milingimbi - Milingimbi
MSN:
414-6350
YOM:
1941
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
5
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
5
Circumstances:
The crew left Milingimbi shortly after 1230LT on a shipping reconnaissance patrol. The aircraft failed to return and most probably crashed into the Arafura Sea. No trace of the aircraft nor the crew was found.
Crew (2nd Squadron):
P/O J. P. Oldridge, pilot,
Sgt R. F. N. Drake-Brockman, navigator,
F/Sgt D. N. Rumble, wireless operator air gunner,
F/Sgt J. F. Cullen, wireless operator and air gunner,
Sgt D. J. Petch.

Crash of a Martin PBM-3C Mariner into the Caribbean Sea: 10 killed

Date & Time: Oct 6, 1943
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
6534
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Waller - Waller
MSN:
2987
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
10
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
10
Circumstances:
The crew left Waller Field NAS at Trinidad on a maritime patrol flight. The aircraft failed to return and is supposed to have crashed into the Caribbean Sea, killing the entire crew.

Crash of a Consolidated B-24D-15-CO Liberator into the Pacific Ocean: 10 killed

Date & Time: Oct 6, 1943
Operator:
Registration:
41-24041
Flight Phase:
Flight Type:
Survivors:
No
Schedule:
Pocatello - Pocatello
MSN:
836
YOM:
1943
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
10
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
10
Circumstances:
The aircraft left Pocatello Airport at 0551LT on a training mission with 10 crew members on board. The program consisted on an overflight of Klamath Falls, Oregon, Fort Dick, California, then over the Pacific Ocean and eventually Hamilton Field before returning to Pocatello with an arrival scheduled in the evening. The crew contacted ground around 0820LT to confirm they overflew Klamath Falls about one hour earlier and this was the unique radio contact. Nothing further was heard from the aircraft or its crew. As the aircraft did not return to its base, SAR operations were conducted but eventually suspended after few days as no trace of the aircraft nor the crew was found. It is believed that the aircraft may have crashed into the Pacific Ocean, along the Oregon or California coast, but no trace was ever found.
Crew:
2nd Lt Donald E. Benton,
2nd Lt John J. Boniface,
2nd Lt Harry F. Brennan,
Sgt Connie C. Hagmeier,
Sgt Neil L. Hall,
2nd Lt Joseph L. Hertle,
Sgt Norman J. Moore,
Sgt Edward R. Pettrony,
S/Sgt Robert H. Schmidt,
Sgt James B. Shelton.

Crash of a Consolidated PBY-5A Catalina into the Gulf of Mexico: 9 killed

Date & Time: Oct 2, 1943
Type of aircraft:
Operator:
Registration:
05013
Flight Phase:
Survivors:
No
Country:
Region:
Crew on board:
9
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
9
Circumstances:
Lost without trace in the Gulf of Mexico with 9 crewmen on board.