Crash of a Douglas C-54B-1-DC near Biskra: 4 killed

Date & Time: Jun 18, 1945
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-54 Skymaster
Operator:
Registration:
42-72372
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Desert
MSN:
10477
YOM:
1944
Location:
Biskra
Biskra
Country:
Algeria
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
4
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
Crashed in a desert area located some 96 km southeast of Biskra, killing all four crew members.
Crew:
Cpt Lawrence G. Boyts,
F/O Arthur M. Cranmer,
T/Sgt Rowland R. Moss,
Cpl Edward J. Ryan.

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 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 Boeing B-17G-10-BO Flying Fortress in Kingman: 14 killed

Date & Time: Nov 3, 1944
Type of aircraft:
Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress
Operator:
Registration:
42-31296
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
No
Site:
Desert
Schedule:
Kingman - Kingman
MSN:
6410
Location:
Kingman
Arizona
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
14
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
14
Circumstances:
The bomber left Kingman Airport on a gunnery training mission jointly with a USAF Bell P-39Q Airacobra registered 44-2378. While flying at an altitude of 12,000 feet, the pilot of the Bell misjudged the distance between both aircraft, causing the Bell to hit the left wing of the Flying Fortress. At least 15 feet of the left wing was sheared off. Out of control, both aircraft dove into the ground and crashed in a desert area located near Kingman Airport. All 15 occupants on both aircraft were killed.

Crash of a Douglas C-47-DL in Chad: 3 killed

Date & Time: Aug 18, 1944
Type of aircraft:
Douglas C-47 Skytrain (DC-3)
Operator:
Registration:
41-38584
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
No
Site:
Desert
Schedule:
Maiduguri – Geneina
MSN:
4533
Location:
Chad
All Chad
Country:
Chad
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
3
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
3
Circumstances:
The aircraft disappeared en route from Maiduguri to Geneina, Sudan. No trace of the aircraft nor the crew was found. It is believed the aircraft may have crash in the Chad desert or in the northwest of Nigeria.

Crash of a Consolidated B-24J-5-FO Liberator near Boron: 9 killed

Date & Time: Jul 2, 1944
Type of aircraft:
Consolidated B-24 Liberator
Operator:
Registration:
42-50780
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
No
Site:
Desert
MSN:
2665
Location:
Boron
California
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
9
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
9
Circumstances:
The aircraft left Edwards AFB for a training exercise. In unknown circumstances, the four engine aircraft crashed in a desert area located 20 miles east of Boron. All nine occupants were killed.

Crash of a Consolidated B-24E-25-FO Liberator near Wilccox: 4 killed

Date & Time: Mar 22, 1944
Type of aircraft:
Consolidated B-24 Liberator
Operator:
Registration:
42-7350
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Military
Survivors:
Yes
Site:
Desert
MSN:
338
Location:
Willcox
Arizona
Country:
United States of America
Region:
North America
Crew on board:
9
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
0
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
4
Circumstances:
En route, the aircraft crashed in unknown circumstances some 22 miles southeast of Willcox, Arizona. Five crew were injured while all four others were killed.

Crash of a Consolidated B-24J-40-CO Liberator near Idaho Falls: 7 killed

Date & Time: Jan 8, 1944 at 2040 LT
Type of aircraft:
Consolidated B-24 Liberator
Operator:
Registration:
42-73365
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Training
Survivors:
No
Site:
Desert
Schedule:
Pocatello - Pocatello
MSN:
2935
YOM:
1942
Location:
Idaho Falls
Idaho
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 night training flight in the region of Idaho Falls and Pocatello. En route, pilot lost control of the aircraft that crashed in a desert area located some 50 km west of Idaho Falls. All seven crewmen were killed.
Crew:
Richard A. Hedges,
Lonnie L. Keepers,
Robert W. Madsen,
Richard R. Pitzner,
Louis H. Rinke,
Charles W. Eddy,
George H. Pearce Jr.

Crash of a Short S.25 Sunderland III in Libya: 19 killed

Date & Time: Nov 5, 1943 at 2245 LT
Type of aircraft:
Short S.25 Sunderland
Operator:
Registration:
G-AGIB
Flight Phase:
Flight
Flight Type:
Scheduled Revenue Flight
Survivors:
No
Site:
Desert
Schedule:
Cairo - Djerba - Poole
YOM:
1943
Location:
Tobruk
Butnan (البطنان)
Country:
Libya
Region:
Africa
Crew on board:
9
Crew fatalities:
Pax on board:
10
Pax fatalities:
Other fatalities:
Total fatalities:
19
Circumstances:
While cruising over Libya by night and in good weather conditions, one the right engine caught fire. The crew reduced his altitude in an attempt to make an emergency landing in the desert but while descending, the aircraft went out of control and crashed in flames some 150 km southeast of Tobruk. All 19 occupants were killed.
Probable cause:
According to officials, a fire with very high intensity broke out on one of both right engines and quickly spread to the right wing that separated during the descent, causing the plane to crash.
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